Wa-Ya Outdoor Institute

Who We Are: 

Wa-Ya was founded by and continues to be led by Native women.  Our mission is to weave together outdoor survival, science, and Indigenous culture and perspective to provide all youth regardless of income, an opportunity for learning about outdoor science, connecting with nature; and using that connection to foster a sense of belonging, self-confidence, and stewardship.

What We Do:

Camp Wa-Ya, a nomadic summer camp based in Olympia, takes kids outdoors to hike, swim, climb, kayak, and explore the public lands of the South Sound. All of our programs include Indigenous culture, environmental education, outdoor adventure, and fun!

Each week, a Native elder joins the entire camp to share their experience, stories, and music with all of the kids. This connection to Indigenous culture runs through all of our programs and influences everything we do.

We offer Day Camps for kids ages 6-13 and overnight Adventure Camp (backpacking and sea kayaking) trips for youth ages 11-17.  We also have a paid High School Leadership Internship.

Wa-Ya is an inclusive camp that welcomes everyone!

Why We Are Asking for Donations:

It is part of our mission at Wa-Ya to make camp accessible to every child and we do this through the generous contributions of members of our community.  The Wa-Ya Scholarship Program provides camp scholarships to support children whose families may not otherwise be able to afford a camp experience.  Every dollar donated goes into our scholarship fund.  Help us send more kids to camp today!

For more information about our programs, visit www.wayaoutdoorschool.com