Gallagher is a summer camp like no other. The cabins are rustic. The sunsets are stunning. Barefeet aren’t only allowed, they’re encouraged.
It’s a place where middle schoolers and high schoolers can embrace nature, friendship, adventure and stewardship in a truly spectacular setting. Away from the stresses of homework and the pressures of social media, it offers teens a much-needed connection to each other and their natural environment.
Life at Camp Gallagher
HIGH SCHOOL SESSIONS
At Camp Gallagher, our high school campers take the lead. It’s up to them to choose the week’s theme, their daily activities and even the time they wake up each morning. Halfway through the week, lodge groups head out on overnights, paddling or sailing to a campsite on the South Sound where they sleep under the stars, cook their own food, and set their schedule according to the tides. Although always under the supervision of our highly trained staff members, campers are given the freedom to own their experience and contribute to camp in a truly meaningful way.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SESSIONS
During our middle school sessions, campers have the opportunity to try out the wide variety of activities Gallagher has to offer while building friendships, confidence, and new passions. Camper interest drives the groups’ daily activities, but our staff also help push campers to expand their comfort zones by taking advantage of opportunities they might not otherwise explore. From working together on the low ropes course to learning more about how to paddle a canoe, from trying out new arts and crafts to playing beloved games like gaga ball and 9-square, we give campers both the support and the flexibility they need to surprise themselves.
Classic Camp Highlights*
Boating — During the week there are plenty of opportunities for campers to enjoy the sparkling waters of Case Inlet on paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and sailboats!
Challenge Course — The Camp Gallagher challenge course gives campers the opportunity to move out of their comfort zones, while also encouraging team-building among lodge groups. Middle school and younger high school campers will focus on low ropes activities that help them connect with their lodge while older high school campers may have the opportunity to extend that collaboration on our vertical playpen.
Meals — Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are a chance for the whole camp to get together and enjoy some delicious meals prepared from scratch by our amazing cooks. Campers are always a bit surprised just how much they love the food at Gallagher!
Overnights — During our 7, 9, and 10-day sessions these one or two-night excursions around the Puget Sound are a longstanding and beloved Gallagher tradition. Whether traveling by canoes, BIG canoe, sailboat, or kayak, lodge groups bond together during overnights and discover the power of teamwork. Once at their campsite, campers work together to set up camp and cook over an open fire. They return to main camp with stronger friendships and plenty of inside jokes! For our 6-day sessions, campers have the opportunity to build their skills during closer-to-home day trips and challenges around camp.
Sundown — For high schoolers, our nightly sundown ceremony gives campers the opportunity to address the entire camp and share whatever’s on their minds. We listen, sing songs, watch the sky light up in reds, oranges, and purples, and then run to the water’s edge to skip stones.
Campfire — At the end of most days, the entire camp gathers around a roaring campfire on the beach. Songs start loud and fast, then slow down once the stars are out and it’s time to head back to the cabins for some well-earned rest.
Themes — Sessions at Camp Gallagher often feature a “theme night” or “theme lunch” where campers dig into our costume box, get creative with craft supplies, and transport themselves to a different place or time. Past theme activities have included, the Gallagher Sundown Film Festival, Camp Gallagher prom, Casino Night, and Halloween in July.
Details — After every meal, campers compete in a game to “win” a camp chore to complete with their lodge. We believe that each member of a session is an integral part of the community, which means we all do our part to keep camp running for the week. While we know most campers may not expect their “camp chores” to be a highlight, we hear from camper after camper how much fun they have singing and dancing as they work with their staff and lodgemates to clean the bathrooms, organize lifejackets, build a campfire, wash dishes, or clean up the shower area.
Please note that campers may not experience all of these highlights as their lodge’s schedule will be based on their collective interests and needs.
Session Types
Intro to Classic Camp
6-Day Session (Middle School): Does not include an off-site overnight excursion. Campers do have the opportunity to build their skills during closer-to-home day trips and challenges around camp.
Classic Camp
7-Day Session (Middle School): Includes a 1-night off-site overnight excursion to campsites around South Puget Sound
9-Day Session (High School): Includes a 2-night off-site overnight excursion to campsites around South Puget Sound
Classic Camp Plus
10-Day Session (High School): Includes a 2-night off-site overnight excursion to campsites around South Puget Sound
2025 Dates and Rates
| Session 1 (HS Classic) | 9th-12th | June 24 - July 2 | 9 days | Assisted Price: $1496 Operating Price: $1618 Sustaining Price: $1754 |
| Session 2 (MS Intro) | 7th & 8th | July 6-11 | 6 days | Assisted Price: $935 Operating Price: $1012 Sustaining Price: $1097 |
| Session 3 (HS Classic) | 9th-12th | July 14-22 | 9 days | Assisted Price: $1496 Operating Price: $1618 Sustaining Price: $1754 |
| Session 4 (MS Classic) | 7th & 8th | July 25-31 | 7 days | Assisted Price: $1122 Operating Price: $1214 Sustaining Price: $1316 |
| SESSION FULL Session 5 (HS Classic+) |
9th-12th | August 4-13 | 10 days | Assisted Price: $1638 Operating Price: $1821 Sustaining Price: $1973 |
| Session 6 (HS Classic) | 9th-12th | August 16-24 | 9 days | Assisted Price: $1496 Operating Price: $1618 Sustaining Price: $1754 |
Costs include sales tax.
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Outdoor adventure has proven benefits to young people, and we believe all young people deserve the chance to access those benefits. We also know that it costs money to run a quality program. We are committed to offering competitive pay in order to best value one of our greatest assets – our staff – and to make working at camp accessible to young adults from all walks of life. We strive to serve tasty, nutritious, and scratch-made food. We are dedicated to stewarding the property, caring for and improving facilities, and maintaining equipment for the safe enjoyment of our campers, and we know that the true cost of camp is out of reach for many families.
Our yearly rates are chosen carefully every year in consideration of the tension between these values, needs, and realities. This year, we are implementing a tuition system that increases access through a tiered fee structure. This structure helps cover the true cost of camp while also increasing access to the Camp Gallagher experience. You choose to pay at the level that works for your family. The choice is confidential and will not impact your camper’s experience in any way.
Sustaining price - Paying at this level represents the full cost of operating camp this summer and contributes to the cost of long-term maintenance and stewardship of the property and facilities. Families who voluntarily pay at this level help ensure the property and program continue to thrive for all campers.
Operating price - Paying at this level represents the basic operating costs of Summer 2025 and reflects the per-person cost of the program this year.
Assisted price - Paying at this level contributes to some of the operating costs of camp for this summer and reflects Camp Gallagher's effort to increase access to camp by providing a below-cost option separate from financial aid. Please select this level if it would be meaningful for your family this year. Choosing this level is separate from the Financial Aid process but does rely on donations and revenue from other sources to cover operating, maintenance, improvement, and other costs of our program and property. Additional aid is available for families who otherwise wouldn’t be able to choose camp this summer.
Campership price - We understand that a below-cost tier may be still out of reach for some families, and we are committed to continuing to increase access to camp. Thanks to the generous support of our community, we also continue to offer full and partial camperships for campers who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend camp. We encourage any family who needs additional support beyond the assisted price to apply for financial aid at campgallagher.org/register/#campership
We use a pre-defined Financial Aid table to calculate awards. You'll receive a response to your application within a week of applying. Scholarship discounts can be applied during or after registration. Also, please keep in mind that camperships should be used for one session per camper in order to provide the experience of Gallagher to as many campers as possible.
If the financial aid award is not enough to make camp affordable, please contact our office (info@campgallagher.org) and see if we have additional funding to award.
Please note: we also have some great gear to share! If campers need to borrow sleeping bags, warm jackets, or other items from the packing list, just let us know.
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