Camp Dudley

Camp Dudley is located on Clear Lake, 10 miles east of White Pass Ski Area, one mile off Hwy 12.

We work extremely hard to find young adults that exemplify the four core values of the YMCA: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. While we do advertise on college campuses and utilize the National YMCA Camp job listings, the majority of our camp staff come to us via referrals from former or current camp staff. Who better to know what kind of people we are looking for than people who have worked at camp? All camp staff and nurse volunteers must complete a Washington State Patrol background check prior to their employment or volunteer service.

Before campers arrive, Dudley staff receive over one week of in-depth staff training on topics including camp rules, First Aid & CPR, homesickness, conflict resolution, child abuse and neglect, developmental stages of particular age groups, and much more. We leave no stone unturned to help ensure they are ready for the arrival of campers.

Of our approximately 30 camp staff, the majority have completed one or more years of college. We do hire 16- to 18-year-old staff as assistant counselors and occasionally to fill other non-head counselor positions. All children will have an older Head Counselor and a younger Assistant Counselor.

Accreditation by the American Camping Association means that Camp Dudley meets the high standards for a camp as set forth by the ACA. Every three years, an inspection team reviews every aspect of our program, from hiring to food service, to ensure we meet or exceed the stringent standards of the ACA.

The YAKIMA FAMILY YMCA does not currently provide transportation to or from Camp Dudley. All transportation is the responsibility of the camper’s family.

At Camp Dudley, campers get to choose their own activities. Your cabin group will sit down and plan out your day, picking from a huge variety of options including: swimming, canoeing, archery, arts & crafts, environmental education, rock climbing, low- and high-ropes challenge course, hiking, outdoor cooking, field games…the list goes on and on!

Camp works hard to provide a well-balanced, kid-friendly menu. All meals are served family-style, and a well-stocked salad bar accompanies most lunches and dinners. Being well fed is important because we are busy, so we make sure there is good food to eat, and lots of it! We can accommodate food allergies or dietary needs.

Being homesick is completely natural and can happen to anyone. Even staff and seasoned campers face bouts of homesickness. The best thing parents can do before sending their child to camp is to help them prepare. Share with them what to expect when they arrive at camp and what the week will look like. Help them pack so they know where their belongings are and what they have with them. Once you arrive on site, spend some time acclimating them to the camp setting, discuss the week with the counselor and walk around camp. When parents leave, our camp staff will take over and give the cabin group a tour of camp. We strive to make our schedule predictable, which eliminates fear of the unknown. While activities change on a daily basis, the activity times, meals, and rest hour happen on a fairly predictable schedule. If our staff suspects homesickness, they will provide your camper some personal attention as they are able and is necessary to comfort them. Most instances are passing; however, if it is pervasive, the Camp Director or Program Director will be notified and contact will be made with parents to consult on the issue. Our goal is to ensure campers have a safe and fun experience, and if their homesickness is preventing us from reaching that goal, our preference is that the camper return home or make contact with their parents. We’d rather have a camper go home mid-week and consider returning than be forced to stay all week and ruin the experience.

Should you need to talk with your camper during the week for any reason, call the camp line and we will do our best to get them on the phone with you as soon as possible. In cases of homesickness, the Camp Director or Program Director will call the parents to create a plan of action, and that plan can include having the camper call home if the parents wish. Please note that often a call home can cause or increase homesickness for your camper.

Yes! Mail comes daily throughout the summer, and lunchtime is MAIL TIME! Parents are encouraged to contact their campers with letters or packages from home. Campers’ mail is also sent daily, and stamps and envelopes are available for purchase in the camp store. You can also email your camper through the camp’s email address. We print emails each day and give them to the campers at lunch.

Summer weather is generally beautiful on the lake. Days are usually sunny with temperatures in the mid 80’s, and nights are generally in the 60’s. However, mountain weather can be unpredictable. Please pack your camper with adequate layers and a rain poncho or light jacket. Backpacking programs will receive a separate packing list as the high country can be even more unpredictable.

We are outside a majority of the time, and for two to three weeks during the summer mosquitoes can be severe. We encourage campers to come with bug spray. Bee stings are also a possibility. If your camper is allergic or you suspect a bee allergy, an Epi-pen should be provided with your camper’s medical form.

As part of your registration, you will be provided a packet of information that includes a packing list. Items include clothes, swimming suit, sleeping bag, toiletries, bug spray, and sunscreen. Camp is dirty, and we are outside playing a lot, so please send clothes that can get wet, muddy, or soiled with paint, tree sap, etc.

You may make two buddy requests at registration. Camp tries to keep campers within a calendar year of each other in a cabin. For example, if you are 9 years old, you will generally be in a cabin with 8- to 10-year-olds. Depending on registration, there are times that we’ll go outside of this range, but we strive to keep similar ages together.

A normal week of camp usually has 60 to 80 campers and 30 staff members.

Not a problem. We see campers at all developmental stages at camp, and staff are trained to deal with issues like bed wetting discreetly. Some parents will provide pull-ups for nighttime, and campers can take care of it themselves. A washer and dryer are on site, and camp staff are prepared to take care of washing sleeping bags and pajamas from nighttime accidents. We encourage parents to be open and honest with counselors when dropping off their campers to help us keep an eye out and make sure that your camper is protected emotionally.

Camp Dudley asks for volunteer Doctors and Nurses with current certification to be on staff during the summer. Medical staff is responsible for dispensing medication as well as being on-call for first aid. Occasionally, we will have a week that isn’t covered by volunteer medical staff. For those weeks, we have staff with higher-level first aid training including Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder training.

Each cabin has a Head Counselor and Assistant Counselor. Campers will wake up a buddy and one of the counseling staff, and the group will head to the shower house.

Contact the Camp Director. Camp Dudley is owned and operated by the YAKIMA FAMILY YMCA and is a non-profit organization. Much of what we do for the community is thanks to generous donations of time and money from supporters. If you are interested in donating time, we have a spring work weekend to get camp prepared for summer. Monetary donations, both small and large, make a difference! Our scholarship fund goes toward campers who are interested in attending camp but can’t quite afford the expense. Building funds can be designated toward facility improvements both small and large. We always have a list of items that need work, so please contact us today if you would like to support Camp Dudley.

While Camp Dudley does not hire staff specifically trained to work with campers with special needs, we do look at each case individually and are more than willing to work with families. Over the last several years, we have had several campers with special needs integrate into cabins and have very successful weeks at camp. In certain situations, we might ask for a parent or caregiver to accompany the camper to ensure the proper level of care. If we are not able to suitably accommodate your camper, we will try to suggest alternate programs that would be better suited for your particular camper.