Pathfinder Camporee 2026
Date: September 25-27, 2026
Place: Skagit County Fairgrounds – 501 Taylor St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Guidelines
We are stronger together, and that’s why we want to celebrate Pathfinder Ministry with another exciting Camporee! This time, we are gathering in the beautiful Skagit Valley, in the heart of Mount Vernon, Washington.
The spacious grounds and beautiful surroundings of the Skagit County Fairgrounds make it an awesome location for our Camporee. It will be a wonderful place to camp, worship, connect, and create unforgettable memories together as Pathfinders.
We hope and pray for a safe, meaningful, and fun-filled weekend as we come together to celebrate Pathfinder Ministry, strengthen our friendships, and grow closer to God.
The following information will give you more details of what to expect before and during the event.
REGISTRATION
- Registration opens on Sunday, September 6, through YMMS.
- NO REGISTRATION WILL BE ACCEPTED OUTSIDE YMMS
- How to Register in YMMS?
- If you are experiencing difficulties, contact Gretel youth@wc.npuc.org
- The registration fee for attending the Camporee includes 2 nights of tent camping and bathroom use. The price is per staff member, for guests, and for Pathfinders:
- $18.00 until September 20 and
- $25.00 thereafter
- Full refunds are available until 7 days before the event. Unfortunately, we can’t offer refunds after that cutoff.
This is a dry camp, meaning electric power or water is not available nearby.
- If you plan to bring an RV to the camporee, please note that the fairgrounds do not have full hookups and your RV must be self-contained.
- RV spots with water and power are limited and require an additional $60.00 per site for the entire event.
- Dry camping for an RV would be $30.00.
Please send us the number of kitchen tents, small tents, and RVs, along with their sizes. Fill the form HERE
COOKING AND FIRES
- Skagit County currently has a full burn ban policy in place. The grounds do not feature fire rings or fire pits, and open ground campfires are never allowed at individual campsites.
- Each club will provide its own meals.
- Dishes are to be washed in basins at your campsite. Bring buckets and a strainer for gray water.
- On Sabbath, we recommend planning to have sack lunches (if you choose to). We have intentionally shortened the program to allow your club to enjoy the surrounding area. This is only a recommendation.
- BRING FIRE EXTINGUISHER, FIRST AID KIT, GLOVES, AND WASHING STATION.
ATTIRE
- Class A uniforms for Sabbath morning inspection and morning worship. BLACK SHOES ARE NOT REQUIRED.
- Club field uniforms should be worn while hiking on and off-site and over the weekend.
- Bring rain gear and a set of spare clothing.
MISC. INFORMATION
- BIBLE
- Combined Permission Slip
- Request for Excused Absence – School
- Be sure to bring warm sleeping bags for those cold nights.
- This time, we will use the porta-potties available on the fairgrounds. The fairgrounds don’t have showers, so please plan accordingly.
- Camping sites will be assigned upon arrival.
- Water is available nearby; please bring water containers.
- Dumpsters will be available.
- BRING YOUR TABLES AND CHAIRS. Tables and chairs will not be available at the event. You will also need the chairs for indoor meetings.
- Entrance is through the South Gate.
- Clubs can not arrive before 3 PM on Friday.
- Pets are not allowed.
- Bikes are not allowed.
- Don’t forget to display your club name at the entrance to your camping area.
Sabbath morning is camp inspection. Be sure to bring your club banner, American flag, Pathfinder flag, and guidons. Let’s look sharp!
Schedule (subject to change)
Friday, Sep. 25.
- 03:00 PM Arrival and Registration
- 06:00 PM Supper by Club
- 08:00 PM Vespers
- 10:00 PM Quiet Time
Sabbath, Sep. 26
- 08:00 AM Breakfast by Club
- 09:30 AM Club Inspection
- 10:00 AM Worship
- 11:15 AM Lunch Prep/Lunch
- 12:00 PM Free/Creation Time
- 05:30 PM Dinner by Club
- 07:00 PM Vespers
- 07:45 PM Movie and treat
- 07:45 PM Games by Club (Invite your neighbors!)
- 10:00 PM Quiet time
Sunday, Sep. 27
- 08:00 AM Breakfast and devotional by Club
- 09:30 AM Fun Activities
- 11:30 AM Lunch by Club
- 01:00 PM Clean up and safe travel!
Day-Trip Options from Skagit County Fairgrounds
- These are only suggestions from Pathfinder Leaders in the area. Feel free to do your own search for an amazing experience in God’s creation.
- All these hikes are FREE on National Public Lands Day, on Sabbath, September 26, 2026.
Easy Walk: Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve – Mt. Vernon
20 minutes from Skagit County Fairgrounds
4.4 miles RT, 30 feet elevation gain. Highest Point: 30 feet
This estuary at the saltwater edge of the Skagit River delta is eight miles long and three miles across, and you can travel along a portion of it. This hike can be enjoyed in any season. The easy flat trail makes this an ideal hike for many hikers. Birders will definitely want to bring the binoculars! Before you start, be sure to check out the large tree on the road to the trailhead; there is a pair of bald eagles that sometimes hang out here.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/padilla-bay
https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/shoreline-coastal-management/padilla-bay-reserve
Padilla Bay / Breazeale Interpretive Center
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
10441 Bayview-Edison Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-7242
Open 10 am to 4 pm
Easy Walk: Washington Park – Anacortes, WA
37 minutes from Skagit County Fairgrounds to Parking Lot
2.2-mile loop, scenic views, beach access
Washington Park sits on a peninsula at the west end of Fidalgo Island. The 220-acre city park features camping, a boat launch, day-use picnic sites, and a group tenting area. A scenic paved 2.2-mile loop road winds through the park’s forested hills and meadows with views of the San Juan Islands and Olympic Mountains.
https://www.anacorteswa.gov/560/Washington-Park
Washington Park Loop, Anacortes, WA 98221
Easy Walk: Northern State Recreation Area – Sedro-Woolley, WA
25 minutes from Skagit County Fairgrounds to Parking Lot
4.8+/- miles. 232 elevation gain. There are a variety of meandering trails.
This trail winds through a mix of hardwood and coniferous forest in Northern State Recreation Area. The trail begins at the parking lot off Helmick Road, where restrooms are available. Along the way, you’ll encounter a variety of terrain, from dense forested areas to expansive meadows and gentle creek crossings. Keep an eye out for deer, coyotes, and rabbits. Don’t forget to bring bug spray during the warmer months.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/northern-state-recreation-area-loop
25625 Helmick Rd, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
Beautiful Drive/Picnic Area with trailheads nearby: Diablo Lake
1:45 from Skagit County Fairgrounds to Diablo Lake
Diablo Lake Overlook: A popular roadside stop off Highway 20 with panoramic views, interpretive signs, and restrooms.
Hiking: Popular trails include the moderate Diablo Lake Trail (7.4 miles round-trip) and the scenic Thunder Knob Trail.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/diablo-lake
Easy Hike: Blue Lake
1:27 from Skagit County Fairgrounds to trailhead
4.4 miles RT, 1050 elevation gain. Highest Point: 6,254 feet
At 6254 feet, Blue Lake sits quietly a little over two trail miles from Highway 20. With towering granite peaks, forests, meadows, wildflowers, and of course the beautiful mountain lake surrounded by granite that reaches for the sky, this short hike is easily a classic and should be on your must-hike list. With only 1050 feet of elevation gain this hike is doable for almost everyone. If you’re driving over Highway 20 and don’t have all day, stop for this mountain gem.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/blue-lake
Multiple Hikes: Artist Point – Mt. Baker Ski Area
1:55 from Skagit County Fairgrounds to Artist Point Trailhead
Artist Point is a scenic vista, parking lot, and trailhead at the end of the Mt. Baker Scenic Byway, Washington State Route 542. The road to Artist Point is not plowed in winter, and there is no set closure or opening date. It is closed to vehicles after the first significant snowfall, which can happen anytime between the end of September and the beginning of November, and it is typically open by the beginning of July. In the summer, Artist Point serves as the trailhead and primary access point for Chain Lakes Trail, Ptarmigan Ridge Trail, Table Mountain Trail, and Artist Ridge Trail. One can also hike to Artist Point from Heather Meadows Visitor Center via the Wild Goose Trail. In the winter, Artist Point is a popular snowshoe destination.
Find information about accessible recreation opportunities in the Pacific Northwest National Forests.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/mbs/recreation/artist-point-trailhead
Don’t forget to stop on your way up at Picture Lake to get beautiful pictures of the lake and Mt. Shuksan. You don’t want to miss this iconic stop!!
Moderate Hike: Oyster Dome
34 minutes from Skagit County Fairgrounds to Trailhead
5.0 miles RT, 1050 elevation gain. Highest Point: 2,025
Oyster Dome is a rocky promontory on the western slope of Blanchard Mountain, the grandest member of the Chuckanut Mountain range, an extension of the Cascades that rises directly from the ocean. The sheer cliffs of Oyster Dome offer year-round access to commanding views of the San Juans, Skagit River flats, Olympic Mountains, and Samish Bay.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/oyster-dome
Moderate Hike: Sauk Mountain
1:29 from Skagit County Fairgrounds to the trailhead
4.2 miles RT, 1,200 elevation gain. Highest Point: 5,000 feet
A popular trail with great views of the Sauk and Skagit river valleys, Cascade mountain peaks, and on a good, clear day, the Olympics and San Juan Islands. There will also be plenty of wildflowers to please photographers and hiking plant nerds alike.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/sauk-mountain#hike-full-description
Strenuous Hike: Park Butte
1:20 from Skagit County Fairgrounds to trailhead
7.5 miles RT, 2,200 elevation gain. Highest Point: 5,450 feet
On Park Butte, hike to an historic fire lookout and come face-to-face with Koma Kulshan. Along with unobstructed panoramic views of Mount Baker, the Twin Sisters, and the rest of the North Cascades, the route to Park Butte offers dedicated campsites, wildflower-filled alpine meadows, and a stunning variety of mushroom species.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/park-butte
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