Preparing your Child For Camp

Success at camp and how to avoid homesickness:
We want to help you as a parent to set up your child for success at camp. While homesickness is very rare here at Ocean Park where we play hard all day, we wanted to inform you about some tips and techniques to help your child prepare for a week away from their normal routine. Please visit this link for an excellent article published by the American Camp Association.

For additional information on preparing your child for camp, read this article written by HuffPost.

Important Camp Information

Elementary
Dates: July 12-17
Arrival – Sunday, July 12, 1pm – 2pm
Departure – Friday, July 17, 10:30am – 12pm. Please feel free to arrive in time to participate in our closing campfire at 11am.

Mid – High
Dates: July 19-25
Arrival – Sunday, July 19, 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Departure – Saturday, July 25, 10:30am – 12pm. Please feel free to arrive in time to participate in our closing campfire at 11:30 a.m.

How to get here:

The Ocean Park Retreat Center is located at 28511 Vernon Avenue. It is 1.1 miles north of the 4-way stop in the town of Ocean Park on the west side of the Long Beach Peninsula in SW Washington.

These directions are to travel north on the east side (Willapa Bay) on the peninsula. The east side has less traffic than on the ocean/west side which goes through the small towns.

FROM SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (3 ½ – 4 Hours driving time)

• Take I-5 S to Olympia, Washington.
• Merge onto US-101 N via exit 104 toward Port Angeles/Aberdeen.
• Take WA-8 W toward Montesano/Aberdeen. WA-8 W becomes US-12 W.
• Take the WA-107 ramp toward Montesano/Raymond.
• Turn left onto S Main Street.
• Proceed straight onto WA-107.
• Turn left onto US-101. Continue through Raymond and South Bend toward Long Beach, WA  (app. 1 hr).
• Turn north (right) onto Sandridge Road (has a light) and continue north approx 1 mile to 3-way stop.  Continue north 10 – 10.5 miles to Bay Avenue in Ocean Park. There is a stop sign at Bay Ave.
• Turn left (west) onto Bay Avenue and continue .7 mile to 4-way stop. 
• Turn right (north) onto Vernon Ave. Continue north on Vernon Ave. about 1.1 mile to camp. 
• Turn left at the Ocean Park Retreat Center sign.
• Go down gravel road to stop sign. There is a directory board that will show you where to park.
• At stop sign in front of office, turn left to RV Park.

***NOTE: If you miss the turn onto Sandridge, continue straight for .4 mile to flashing red lights. Turn right (north) onto WA-103 N (Pacific Ave.) on the west side of peninsula. Continue north 11 miles until you get to the 4-way stop in Ocean Park. Continue north 1.1 miles to camp. This takes you through Long Beach. (lots of tourists – lots of traffic!)

FROM PORTLAND, OREGON and VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON   (2 ½ – 3 Hours driving time)

• Take I-5 N to Longview, WA. Exit 36. Take this exit.
• Merge onto WA-432 W (Tennant Way) toward WA-4 (Longview / Long Beach).
• Turn left onto WA-433 (Oregon Way). Continue to follow WA-433. (Industrial area) Stay in left lane. Cross over Lewis & Clark Bridge to Oregon and merge onto US-30 West  (right turn and up the hill). **Viewpoint 1 or 2 coming up the hill offers a great view of Columbia River, port, and Longview. **Stop and take a break; it’s about 2-21/2 hours to the camp – all two lane roads.  🙂 
• Follow US-30 W to Astoria, Oregon. (Approximately 1 1/2 hours).
• Continue through Astoria and follow signs for US-101 and Astoria – Megler Bridge. Stay in right lane.
• Turn right onto US 101 (just past KFC). Cross Astoria – Megler Bridge (across Columbia River) to Washington.
• Turn left at end of bridge and go towards Long Beach Recreation Area.
• Continue to follow US-101 for 9 miles to Alternate US-101.
• Turn right (north) onto Alternate US-101 and continue .6 mile to stop sign.
• Turn left (west) onto US-101. Continue for 1.8 miles to Sandridge Road.
• Turn right (north) onto Sandridge Road (there is a stoplight). Continue north approx 1 mile to 3-way stop. Continue north 10 – 10.5 miles to Bay Avenue in Ocean Park. There is a stop sign at Bay Ave. 
• Turn left (west) onto Bay Avenue and continue .7 mile to 4-way stop. 
• Turn right (north) onto Vernon Ave. Continue north on Vernon Ave. about 1.1 mile to camp.  
• Turn left at the Ocean Park Retreat Center sign.
• Go down gravel road to stop sign in front of office. Check in at office – if no one is there, turn left into the RV Park.

 ***NOTE:  If you miss the turn onto Sandridge, continue straight for .4 mile to flashing red lights. Turn right (north) onto WA-103 N (Pacific Ave.) on the west side of peninsula. Continue north 11 miles until you get to the 4-way stop in Ocean Park. Continue north 1.1 miles to camp.