Every community has traditions that form the bond that holds it together - KapKa is no different.
Before the beginning of the school year, there is a camping weekend which is a great way for new families to ease into the community. We open the school year with a potluck picnic in August and the Elders (1st graders) and Elder-Elders (2nd graders) have an overnight stay at Camp Long with the teachers. We come together in the fall for our annual, adults-only fun(d)raising party and for our community Stone Soup lunch at school on the day before Thanksgiving. Before the winter holidays we accompany the kids on their evening lantern walk, celebrating the solstice with lights and song. Our party auction in February is the kick-off for a series of kid and adult events, including game parties, craft lessons, nature hikes, etc., hosted by KapKa families for KapKa families. We play and relax together on Mother’s Day weekend at Camp Orkila on Orcas Island, and we celebrate the completion of the school year at the pot-luck Moving-Up Ceremony in June.
Camp Long Overnight
Kicking off the new school year in September with a sleepover at Camp Long, West Seattle, is a 
Making dinner at Camp Longlong-standing KapKa tradition. This special event is for Elders (First Graders) and Elder-Elders (Second Graders).
During this retreat, children reunite with their friends and renew their bonds with their teachers. Classmates are welcomed into their family groups, priming them for the learning ahead. Amidst the meal preparations, songs and talks, our Elders and Elder-Elders take on the responsibility of being young leaders at KapKa.
Back to the Top
Mother's Day at Camp Orkila
For years, KapKa families have been enjoying this Orcas Island getaway on Mother's Day weekend. It's a community retreat that's about only one thing: HAVING FUN TOGETHER!
Sunset at Camp Orkila
YYMCA's Camp Orkila is a pristine, 280-acre campus with breathtaking sound and mountain views. We spend our time, beachcombing, kayaking, hiking to the pond, practicing archery or riflery, exploring the tree house, doing arts, crafts and pottery, and climbing on the indoor wall. The children are free – and safe – to run with their friends, explore the huge grounds and stretch themselves in new activities.
Looking for critters
KapKa alumni families often attend Family Camp, so we all have a chance to renew old ties, make new friends, and feel our community expand in the fresh, clean air.
Back to the Top
- We celebrate ways we have grown this year.
- Some wishes for the future written by the child and the child's family members may be presented.
- Students are symbolically promoted to the next level.
Moving On Ceremony
We sing songs, thank the teachers, enjoy an enormous potluck, and play on the beach.
