Core Values

At Ocean Park Camp we believe that camp is a place to learn about the outdoors, to take risks, to try new things, to have fun, and to build community. Life is a time of great learning and discovery, and we want every person to have a safe(r) space to learn about themselves and those around them.

We believe that proximity to others that hold different identities is an opportunity to learn, engage, and build empathy. All our liberation is bound together. Continual learning, in addition to action, is needed to make our programs and our community safe(r), inclusive, equitable and just.

The work of Ocean Park Camp is grounded in United Methodist traditions and honors the diverse spiritual journeys of all. We believe all people are created in God’s image and that inclusive community is essential to our success.

We welcome people of all:

• races
• religions
• national origins
• abilities
• gender identities
• sexual orientations
• socio-economic backgrounds

We invite youth to recognize the agency and power they have in their own lives as well as in their communities. We create a sense of belonging at camp through restorative practices, humble curiosity, personal responsibility, and unbounded creativity.

Our staff is continually learning when it comes to equity and diversity. We are not experts and we will mess up. We see engaging with our community as an important part of this process. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us. We are happy to further explain why we have chosen these policies.

Race and Ethnicity Statement

Ocean Park Camp believes that proximity to others that hold different identities is an opportunity to learn, engage, and build empathy.

We acknowledge that summer camps are historically white spaces. Through intentional, critically conscious programming we aim to build systems that amplify the voices of Black and brown communities. We commit to reimagining spaces and developing programs that will counteract the harm caused by oppressive systems and structural racism.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the land on which we occupy today as the traditional and ancestral home of the people of the Chinook Nation. Ocean Park Camp & Retreat Center also acknowledges that it was founded upon exclusions and erasures of many indigenous peoples, including those whose land this institution is located. This acknowledgment demonstrates a commitment to beginning the process of working to dismantle the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism.

We recognize that a land acknowledgment is not enough. We commit to ongoing prioritization of unlearning internalized biases.

Learning and Sharing, not Evangelism

Ocean Park Camp believes that proximity to others that hold different identities is an opportunity to learn, engage, and build empathy.

Ocean Park Camp is owned by the PNW Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. We will, at times, be discussing teachings based on Protestant Christian philosophy and we will be offering campers and staff to partake in the Christian practice of Communion. These discussions and activities are completely voluntary. Further, we welcome campers and staff from different religious or spiritual traditions or non-religious campers to share their voices and to ask questions. Ocean Park Camp is not about converting campers or staff with a religious agenda. It is a place of discovery, where deeper connections, curiosity and adventure can change a life, and inspire new ways of thinking and understanding.

Accessibility Statement

Ocean Park Camp believes that proximity to others that hold different identities is an opportunity to learn, engage, and build empathy.

It is a better world when everyone can go to camp. As we make facility upgrades or consider staffing needs, we try to make our property and program more accessible for as many people as we can. We want to accommodate everyone, but realize that there are limitations to whom we can safely serve or provide a meaningful program.

If you would like to know how our current facilities and staff might meet your accessibility needs, please reach out so we can discuss what might be best for your camper.

Gender Discrimination

Ocean Park Camp believes that proximity to others that hold different identities is an opportunity to learn, engage, and build empathy.

We acknowledge how our patriarchal culture has been built into the scaffolding of our society. We are continuing to learn about the negative effects this has on people of all genders. Ocean Park Camp strives to create a community that works against these limitations so everyone feels safe(r) to explore and be themselves.

Gender and Sexuality Statement

Ocean Park Camp believes that proximity to others that hold different identities is an opportunity to learn, engage, and build empathy.

Ocean Park Camp is committed to creating a space where all campers can participate in authentic self-expression and be celebrated for exactly who they are. As a Methodist camp and retreat center we uphold the belief that trans*, non-binary, and queer campers are part of God’s good creation.
Our culture is operating within the gender binary and we are exploring how that negatively affects the idea of a safe and affirming space. It is not Ocean Park Camp’s mission to change or question anyone’s identity. We do not ascribe to or participate in harmful practices such as conversion therapy.

Camperships

Ocean Park Camp believes that proximity to others that hold different identities is an opportunity to learn, engage, and build empathy.

We acknowledge that camp has traditionally been most accessible to those of greater economic means. We want to make sure every kid can come to camp, so we never turn a child away for lack of ability to pay our camp fees.

We fundraise throughout the year for camperships to make this possible.

If you are in need of a campership please contact us.

If you would like to donate to our campership fund and give the gift of camp please Donate

Ocean Park Camp and Retreat Center also offers the perfect setting for groups looking to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and connect with nature. With a range of facilities and activities, experienced staff, and a commitment to providing a quality experience, Ocean Park Camp is the ideal choice for group retreats in Washington.