Frequently Asked Questions

+COVID Response

COVID Guidance will be updated as the state releases new guidance. At this time we are following recomendations from the State, King county and CDC.

+Day Camp Arrival and Departure Times

At Camp Don Bosco: Drop off: 8:30am-9am I Pick Up: 3:30 pm-4pm

Bus stops and times can be found on the Day Camp page.

+ General

Who owns/operates CYO Camps? The camps are a ministry of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle.

How long has CYO been in operation? CYO in Seattle was formed in 1950 by the work of Archbishop Connolly and Gordie Hamilton. Some of the original traditions have passed down for over 70 years!

Does my child have to be Catholic to attend camp? No. Camp is a welcoming place and we invite everyone to attend camp with the hospitality of Christ. Our camps are designed to help campers develop a personal relationship with God and to experience some of the Catholic faith while doing fun activities. Any child whether Catholic or not will have a fun experience.

Who goes to CYO camp? The majority of our campers are Catholic and are from the Archdiocese of Seattle which spans from the Oregon border to the Canadian border, from the Cascade Mountains west, however we do have non-Catholic campers, campers from all over the Northwest, and even from other parts of the world!

How do I get my day camper to and from day camp? This year we will have a bus running from various parishes in the Seattle area. Parents or those on the pick up/drop off list can drop off and pick up campers. Photo ID is required for pick up.

+ Facilities

Where are the CYO Camps? Both camps are nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains on the eastern edge of the Snoqualmie River Valley.

Directions to Camp Don Bosco and Camp Hamilton

• Camp Don Bosco is located between the towns of Carnation and Fall City, off of highway 203. From Seattle via Highway 520 or I-90, it is approximately a 45-minute drive. 1401 324th Ave NE Carnation, WA 98014
• Camp Hamilton is located near the end of Lake Fontal Road, which you can find off of Highway 203 midway between Monroe and Duvall. From Seattle, Camp Hamilton is approximately a 1-hour drive. 25405 Lake Fontal Road Monroe, WA 98272

Can I tour camp? Yes, at this time we are only offering individual tours of the camps. Please contact our office to arrange a time to tour our properties at 425-333-6135.

What do the cabins and bathrooms look like? At Camp Don Bosco all of the cabins are within short walks to flushing toilets or showers. The cabins for our youngest campers are fully enclosed with lights, heaters and bathrooms. Our older campers live in beautiful wood open-air cabins nestled in the woods.

At Camp Hamilton all of our cabins are enclosed with lights and heat. The bathrooms are vault toilets or port o potties like the bathrooms at a state park. We also have flushing toilets in our main camp area.

What is the camp’s security like? The safety of your child is of foremost importance to us. We conduct background checks on all our staff and volunteers. All staff members wear identifying name badges and we have a strict no visitor policy. A CYO representative immediately greets anyone that arrives at camp and anyone who needs to be on property that is not a staff member is escorted at all times.

+ Program and Staff

What will my child’s spiritual experience look like? Catholic spirituality is at the heart of everything we do at camp. We begin each day with morning prayer, we pray before meals, we have activities during the day that center around Catholic social teaching and we close each day with evening prayer. Mass is celebrated on Sunday mornings if we are in session. Our prayers and themes are all developmentally appropriate for our various aged campers and are designed to help each camper become more enthusiastic about their faith life. A mix of prayer, song, and service experiences help campers to realize how their faith is alive.

I’m thinking of sending my camper more than one week. Does the camp experience change from week to week? Yes! Every week is new and exciting with different themes, activities and adventures.

What does a typical day look like at Camp Don Bosco?

• 7:15am Wake Up
• 8:00am Breakfast
• 8:50am Day Camp Bus Arrives
• 9:00am Morning Prayer
• 9:30pm Morning Activity Rotations
• 12:30pm Lunch is Served
• 1:30pm Afternoon Activity Rotations
• 3:45pm Day Camp Bus Leaves
• 6:00pm Dinner & Evening Details
• 7:00pm Camp Wide Game
• 7:45pm Evening Prayer
• 8:30pm Campfire
• 10:00pm Lights Out

What does a typical day look like at Camp Hamilton?

• 7:15am Wake Up / Sunrise Activities
• 8:00am Breakfast
• 9:00am Morning Prayer
• 9:30am Morning Activity Rotations
• 12:30pm Lunch is Served
• 1:30pm Siesta (rest time in cabins)
• 2:30pm Afternoon Activity Rotations
• 6:00pm Dinner & Evening Details
• 7:00pm Camp Wide Game
• 7:45pm Evening Prayer
• 8:30pm Campfire
• 10:00pm Lights Out

How does CYO Camps hire their staff? Our staff are recruited from around the country and across the world. We look for college students and other young adults who are excited about their faith and will be excellent role models for your child. All staff go through an application process that includes an interview, references, and a criminal background check. Staff members attend an intensive training that covers child development, behavior management, and how to foster the growth of faith. Many camp staff are teachers or are studying to become teachers.

Is there a camp store? Yes! The store will carry snacks, candy and CYO camp merchandise.

+ Health Care

How do you provide medical care at camp? Most of our summer staff are CPR and 1st aid trained. A registered nurse is responsible for distributing medication and responding to emergencies if they arise supervises health care at camp. We also have a nursing supervisor with over 35 years of nursing experience and more than 10 years with CYO who supervises our summer nurses. All staff are trained in our camps' emergency procedures. We have experienced earthquakes and forest fires out at camp and we have proven procedures for safety in the event of emergencies of all kinds.

How will I be contacted if my child is injured or sick? In the event of an injury or if a child becomes ill beyound the basic first aid and minor illness outlined in our standing orders the nurse will call to inform you of treatment and next steps. This might include large cuts, abrasions, heat and cold related illness, etc. If you're child develops a fever or is vomiting we will ask you to come pick them up to prevent spread of the illness to the rest of camp.

How do you manage sunscreen, hydration, and mosquito repellent? Campers carry their bug spray, water bottle, and sunscreen to camp activities. Counselors remind campers regularly to use them. Younger campers are assisted in application.

What do I do if my child has special needs? The most important thing we strive for at camp is that all children are successful. By partnering with parents CYO Camps can accommodate some children with special needs that do not require one-on-one care or supervision. Please contact our office to put together a camper success plan prior to arrival or if you have any questions 425-333-6135.

Health exams and attending camp While CYO Summer Camps does not require a health exam to attend camp, we do strongly encourage one within the previous 6 months.

+ Food

What if my child requires a special diet? We can accommodate most special diets at camp. Our camps nut free, including tree nuts and peanuts, to ensure no cross contamination. We have successful accommodated children who are vegetarian, vegan, celiac and many more! For more information or if you have questions please contact our food service manager Danny 425-333-6135 or daniel.grasseschi@seattlearch.org.

How do picky eaters survive at camp? Our camp food is very kid-friendly while still being nutritious. We offer options at every meal to make sure that your child is getting enough good nutrition.

+ Behavior Management

What does CYO do to help kids get along with their peers? Our counselors are trained on bullying prevention and group building. The first day is spent making sure that everyone in the cabin feels included and has friends. We have also found that active engagement and supervision are key and make sure that the campers are monitored and engaged. It is our number two priority (after physical safety) that your child (and every child) is emotionally safe and happy while at camp.

What is your policy on behavior problems? We focus on prevention and using Christian morals to help campers understand why certain behaviors are unsafe or unkind. If the behavior is more chronic or disruptive we will contact the parent early in the process to try and work with the child to make them successful. If that does not work we will send the child home.

What is your policy on disciplinary actions? CYO provides a fair and consistent disciplinary plan handled by experienced staff. We inform parents about important incidents and will seek your help to come up with a game plan to help your child be successful. We provide parents with exact behaviors and measures taken and discuss what works at home/school to see if it can be replicated at camp.

1. We use the moment as a teachable moment to share what needs correcting and provide a verbal warning against the actions as needed, when able help to provide solutions to mitigate the behavior or provide ways to avoid the behaviors.
2. Depending on the case we provide a second verbal warning again noting actions from step 1 or proceed to step 3.
3. We provide a written warning or camper contract about actions to be corrected, set goals for success and contact parents to involve them in the process.
4. If these steps do not work the camper is sent home

+ Phone Calls and Cell Phones

Campers are not allowed to make or receive phone calls or to have cell phones at camp. We know that this can be a difficult seperation from you as a parent, however, this distance is key to the growth your child will experience at camp. To check on your child's progress, you may call the camp and speak with one of the camp staff. The Camp Office is open from 9am – 5pm each day. Staff can be reached by calling 425-333-6135. If your child is requesting a call home we will contact you and arrange a time to talk that is not desruptive to the program.

If your child is experiencing homesickness past the first afternoon we will contact you to create a strategy for helping the camper be successful. This may include a special note you email to them or in some cases a phone call. In some extreme cases the camper will need to be picked up early. In these cases we work with you and the camper to celebrate the amount of time they made it at camp. So you can build off of that success in future camp or sleep over experiences. We believe that every day at camp can be a success.

+ Registration

How do I request my child be placed with a friend/relative? During the registration process you will be asked if you would like to make a cabin mate request. Please type in the FULL NAME of the camper you would like your child placed with. Both campers need to be registered for the SAME PROGRAM and SAME CAMP LOCATION. For example, a camper registered in horse camp can only be a cabin mate with other horse campers. If you get a friend to register for camp after you have already registered just email our office and we will make a note of the cabin mate on your registration form.

Are there payment options for registration? Yes, when you register online it will ask you if you would like to make a full payment now or to sign up for automatic payments. All balances are due 30 days prior to the start of your camper’s session.

What is the cancellation policy? If you cancel your registration at least two weeks prior to the starting date of the session, total payment, less the $100.00 non-refundable deposit will be refunded by check or ACH. Cancellations made after two weeks prior to the starting date will result in the loss of all fees paid. If a camper leaves camp early due to homesickness, parent request or for discipline reasons, there will be no refund.

What do I do if my child is put on the waitlist? We carefully monitor our waitlists and will notify you by email as soon as we have an opening. You will have 24 hours to get back to us before we move on to the next camper on the list.

What if I need to make a change to my registration? If you have any changes to your registration (change of dates, transportation, program, etc) you can do it in your Ultracamp account or contact us.

+ Discounts and Fees

What are the Camp Fees? Camp Don Bosco, Hamilton and Nanamakee are a ministry of the Archdiocese of Seattle. We work hard to keep tuition at an absolute minimum. The cost to house, entertain, supervise and feed more than 300 people six days a week, 24 hours a day adds up quickly. However, if you compare it to other similar camps, you’ll find it to be competitive on price and well below the national average. We also strive to not burden our families with extra or hidden fees. Our tuition covers all activities, supplies and a camp t-shirt. Many other camps charge extra for these. Our only fee is $30 for non-sufficent funds for a returned check.

Are there any discounts?Yes. Your camper will receive a $25 discount for each additional day camp session after the 1st one. Your camper will recieve a $50 discount for one additional resident sessions after the first one. There is also a one time $50 sibling discount for each additional camper you register for both day camp and resident camp (on your account).

+ Financial Aid

HOW TO APPLY: Our extensive financial aid bank is available to assist all families in making camp affordable. Partial awards make camp possible for all families regardless of income level. We also set aside money to issue full tuition awards to campers with the help of Catholic Community Services and the Archdiocesan Housing Authority. Please note that only one scholarship is awarded per camper for the summer.

1. Apply for Financial Aid when registering for camp. You will be asked how many dependents your family supports, what your annual income from was from your most recent tax form, and any special circumstances we need to consider. We use the following Table to calculate awards. The percentage represents the amount of scholarship you would recieve. Scholarships do not cover bus fees or camp store deposits.
2. Reserve your spot with a $50 deposit while registering, just click on other payments options at check out.
3. Within one week you will receive your award announcement via email.

If the financial aid award is not enough to make camp affordable…

• Option 1: Contact our office (cyo@seattlearch.org) and see if we have additional funding to award.
• Option 2: Talk to your parish and/or your local Knights of Columbus chapter to see if they will sponsor part of your remaining camp fee.