Claire Munro
Since the inception of our Day Camps, we’ve had the pleasure of seeing our programs and community grow in breadth and depth. Every season is full of camp magic, laughter, bracelet-making, and outdoor adventure. Historically, camp has had an inevitably stressful registration day as well. In response to feedback provided by camp families, and in an attempt to make the registration process smooth for campers and staff alike, we’ve made the decision to reconfigure registration for our Seattle Day Camp offerings.
In 2023, we were able to serve nearly 700 campers and avoid a stressful registration morning due to this updated system. We're moving forward in 2024 with a similar lottery process. Read on to learn what to expect.
THE LOTTERY SYSTEM
Our ultimate goal in using this process is to create a system that is family friendly, equitable, accessible, and easy to execute. All campers, new and returning, are invited to enroll through our lottery system this January.
Campers can use the lottery to enroll in one week of camp. Individual campers are not limited to one week of enrollment for the whole summer, but will be capped at one week through the lottery process. Please remember that entering the lottery does not guarantee a camper a spot in summer camp.
HOW IT WILL WORK:
- Individual lottery applications will be available on the Seattle Day Camp page from January 2-15, 2024. Each camper may enter the lottery once, ranking each camp week in the application to indicate their most desired camp week to attend (ex. Rockstar Week, Water Week 1, etc.)
- Submissions will be randomized after the lottery closes with a slight priority given to returning campers.
- Campers will be notified of their enrollment results the week of MLK Day. Campers will have five days to accept their offered camp spot. If registration is not completed by that time, the spot will become available during open enrollment on February 1.
- Open enrollment for Overnight Lodge Camps and remaining camp spots will begin February 1.
RULES OF THE SYSTEM:
- The lottery is only for Seattle Day Camp. All overnight Seattle camps and camps in different locations will open for enrollment separately.
- Campers must have a profile on The Mountaineers website to be registered. We recommend your camper’s Youth Information Form and Youth Program Form are updated and complete before entering the lottery.
- If a camper has more than one entry in the lottery, the most recent submission will be accepted and the rest removed.
- Incomplete submissions (anything without a camper’s name, email, and link to their website profile) will not be accepted.
- If you are entering campers who are family members in the system, and you would like for them to register for the same weeks of camp, please enter them in the lottery on the same entry form. If each camper would like to attend different weeks of camp, please enter them in the lottery separately.
- We are unable to honor friend requests through the lottery. However, once your camper is enrolled in camp, you may update their friend request.
- If a camper’s preferred camp weeks are full by the time their application is processed, they will be added to the waitlist of their first choice week.
- Campers are encouraged to rank as many weeks of camp in the application as work for their schedule. Do not feel obligated to rank all 10 weeks unless you are available to attend camp all 10 weeks.
AFTER INPUTTING CAMPER INFORMATION, THE LOTTERY WILL ASK FAMILIES TO RANK THIER CAMP CHOICES, AS SEEN IN THE ABOVE SCREENCAP FROM 2022.
Please reach out with questions throughout the process and thank you for going on this registration journey with us. Reach out to our team or visit our Day Camp page for more information.
OTHER Camp OPPORTUNITIES
We are excited to offer Day Camp on the East Side this summer! Campers ages 6-10 are invited to join us for six weeks of adventure at our Foothills Day Camp in 2024.
We also offer overnight programs at all three of The Mountaineers lodge properties! Join us for a week of outdoor adventure at Overnight Lodge Camp this summer.
Looking for other opportunities to join our Seattle Youth Programs this winter and spring? February and April Break Camps are open for registration. Or, head over to our After-School Programs page to learn about weeknight opportunities this winter and spring.
