Camp Fire Central Oregon | Light the Fire Within

Tumalo Day Camp

There’s something so magical about spending summer days riverside and under the pines at Tumalo Day Camp in beautiful Tumalo State Park! This unique, unforgettable experience is offered to youth from Pre-K to 7th grade. It features five days of camp through a group outdoor learning experience that lets kids share joy and responsibility while making new, lasting friendships.

Campers are grouped by age and spend most of their days involved in a progression of age-appropriate activities within their designated small groups. But since we like to mix and mingle, our all-camper activities provide regular opportunities for campers to get to know others outside their assigned groups as well.

The fun doesn’t end after 7th grade! Youth in Grades 8-12 can experience camp as Counselors in Training (CITs). Our awesome CITs unplug from technology, build communication and teamwork skills, connect with their community, and explore, grow, and challenge themselves while still enjoying the traditions of camp.

Tumalo Day Camp program details

WHERE: Tumalo State Park (64170 O. B. Riley Rd, Tumalo, OR 97703) in the Day Use area on the west side of O.B. Riley Road.

DATES: 

  • June 24-28
  • July 22-26
  • Aug 19-23

HOURS:

  • 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • August only: Afternoon (PM) extended care 2-5 p.m.

COST:

  • Pre K and Kinder: $375/week
  • 1st-3rd grade: $350/week
  • 4th-6th grade: $380/week
  • 7th grade: $425/week

Lottery registration

Registration for Tumalo Day Camp is done by lottery — no waiting at the computer for registration to open! Sign up any time between Saturday February 3 and Sunday February 11 to be entered into the lottery.

Learn more about TDC lottery


Volunteer at TDC

Volunteer counselors’ kids attend camp free! Volunteers facilitate and help with activities, crafts, games, and songs following a set curriculum for teaching outdoor skills.

Note: Volunteers must pass a background check and attend training on June 9, 2024, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Age group descriptions

Pre-K 
Let the fun begin! Our Pre-K camp is for children 4 years of age. It's a great introduction to a group setting, where campers will start to learn best practices for safety in the outdoors and enjoy nature walks. These kiddos love our daily sing ring, learning simple camp songs, making crafts, and playing games.

Kindergarten
Before Kinders head off to school in the fall, camp is a great opportunity to build their confidence. They will have lots of fun learning camp songs, making crafts, and playing games. They will also begin to learn important skills of what to do if they are lost in the outdoors, and how to make a first-aid kit as a group.

1st Grade
First graders will have big smiles as they learn camp songs, make crafts, and play games. They will also continue to build hiking skills, plus learn important skills like what to do if they are ever lost outdoors, how to make a group first aid kit, and the "10 Essentials" to take with you when adventuring in the outdoors.

2nd Grade
Second graders start to delve a little deeper into building some real skills for enjoying the outdoors and camping safely while still having big fun. A sampling of what we'll cover: what to do if lost, making individual first aid kits, tying basic knots, learning fire safety, and more! Of course, we'll engage in crafts, games and camp songs, too!

3rd Grade
Third graders continue to grow their outdoors skills including: completing a project using knots, identifying animal tracks, planning a lunch hike, brushing up on important fire safety, and planning their own lunch cookout. All that, plus crafts, games, and camp songs make for an action-packed week!

4th Grade 
Fourth graders partake in all the fun of camp, like crafts, songs, and games, but also practice skills such as advanced knots, fire building and fire safety, how to measure distance in paces, the use, care and safety of a pocket knife, planning a longer hike, and outdoor cooking techniques. 4th graders have 1 overnighter at camp: Thursday night, complete with a cookout, campfire, and fun nighttime activities!

5th Grade
Fifth graders start putting their new camping skills into practice! In addition to all our usual camp-nanigans and fun, these kids will further skills such as advanced knots, compass reading, pocket knife use, and outdoor cooking. They will also explore environmental conservation. 5th graders have 1 overnighter at camp: Thursday night, complete with a cookout, campfire, and fun nighttime activities!

6th Grade
Sixth graders will improve their camping skills right along with all the usual awesome camp activities: games, crafts, and songs! Campers will strengthen their skills in conservation, compass use, camping, outdoor cooking, and backpacking. 6th graders have one overnighter at camp: Thursday night, complete with a cookout, campfire, and fun nighttime activities!

7th Grade
7th graders will perfect their camping skills! Campers will add to their knowledge of nature, ecology, compass use, outdoor cooking, and fire safety. 7th graders have 1 field trip and 2 overnighters at camp: Wednesday and Thursday nights, complete with cookouts, campfires, and fun nighttime activities!

8th-12th Grade | Counselors in Training (CITs)
Counselors in Training (CITs) gain valuable volunteer, leadership, and job training experience in a fun group environment. Our CITs unplug from technology, build communication and teamwork skills, connect with their community, and explore, grow, and challenge themselves. CIT Program Details

How to register for Tumalo Day Camp

Lottery First. Registration Second.

  1. Saturday, February 3 – midnight Sunday, February 11: Add your child/ren to the TDC session waitlist. No cost or registration fee to join the waitlist.
  2. Sunday, February 18: If you’ve secured a spot in the lottery, you will receive a waitlist notification at 4 p.m.
  3. By February 25 at 4 p.m.: Secure your spot by completing your registration. Unclaimed spots will be passed to the next child on the waitlist.

What to know about the lottery and selection process

  • Signing up for the lottery does not guarantee that you will get a spot.
  • Those who have previously participated in Tumalo Day Camp will have a better chance of securing a spot.
  • You can sign up for multiple weeks to have a better chance of being selected as you will be entered in the lottery for each week, but you will only be selected for one week of Tumalo Day Camp in the lottery.
  • Please do not sign up for weeks you cannot attend, as you may not be able to switch your week for a different one.
  • If there are spaces available when registration opens after the lottery selection, you can sign up for additional weeks.
  • Please note that August camp is the only week of Tumalo Day Camp that has an extended care option. Camp runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Extended care runs to 5 p.m.
  • We will do our best to get siblings into the same week. We do not guarantee that all siblings will get in, as some age groups are in higher demand than others.
  • If you do not get a spot during lottery registration, you will be kept on the waitlist for all sessions that you signed up for. To increase your chances of getting in, join the waitlist for all sessions that work for your family.

How to know if you got a spot

If you get a spot, you will receive a waitlist notification on February 18th. You must complete your registration within 7 days to secure that spot. after which your spot will be passed to the next person on the waitlist.

Note: If you do not get a spot during lottery registration, you will be kept on the waitlist for all sessions that you signed up for to increase your chances of getting in later.

Low cost options and financial assistance are available for all of our programs!

Camp Fire Central Oregon has a long history of providing financial assistance to families in need. We strive to make all of our programs available to as many youth as possible, regardless of the ability to pay.

We recommend applying for assistance far in advance of the programs you are interested in attending, as funds are limited. Programs are open to all and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical challenges, or sexual orientation.

 

We strive to make all of our programs available to as many youth as possible, regardless of the ability to pay.

Learn about and apply for Financial Assistance.

Because we schedule staff, invest in supplies, and plan for expenses based upon the number of youth we are expecting, we must adhere to our cancellation policies.

Most of our fee-based programs require a $10-25 non-refundable fee at registration (unless specifically noted in the program description).

More about cancellation policies.

Don't wait to register! High-quality youth programs are in high demand and Camp Fire programs are kept small to ensure a great adult:youth ratio and create the best learning experience possible. That means space is limited and many sessions sell out quickly. If the program is sold out, please add yourself to the waitlist.

Read about our registration policies, including making payments, our cancellation policy, and our refund policy.

Our Promise

Young people want to shape the world.

Camp Fire provides the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are.

In Camp Fire, it begins now.

Light the fire within