Give a Child the Hope of a Brighter Future
Help us save Cispus so students all around Washington have the chance to discover the leader within
Changing Lives One Child at a Time
The work we do has transformed the lives of countless young people from all walks of life. Our outdoor education and leadership development programs give students the tools to face life's challenges. These stories show you that there's no better investment you could make.
KIMBERLY
"My best memory of Cispus is not from a moment, but from a feeling. Being at Cispus is like visiting your grandma’s house, a place full of love and support where you leave feeling better about yourself and prepared to change the world.”
JAMES
"Cispus Learning Center is the land of opportunity. The opportunity to grow. The opportunity to disconnect. The opportunity to learn about yourself and others. The opportunity to be in touch with and discover your best self. Cispus is the Disneyland for the human spirit!”
CHRISTINA
“I learned so much about the importance of inclusion and how to be more compassionate and connected to people, and I carry those lessons with me everywhere I go. The magic of Cispus is real, and I am so grateful for my time spent there.”
The Cispus Experience
Located in the beautiful Gifford-Pinchot National Forest in the heart of Washington, Cispus Learning Center is the premiere educational camp in the Pacific Northwest. We have a 64-year history of providing unparalleled outdoor education and leadership training to children and youth from all around our state.
Students come to us from diverse backgrounds, looking for time in the mountains and the chance to meet new friends.
But they leave with a newfound sense of the strength they have within them.
At Cispus, they learn to challenge themselves within a safe and supportive community. They learn to trust themselves and others on our state-of-the-art ropes course. And they live a true camp experience for as little as $35/day.
For many students, Cispus will be the only camp they ever attend.
Our Current Need
Since the pandemic struck in March 2020, Cispus has been unable to host any students or campers at our facility. It takes $70,000 a month just to operate the site and support our dedicated staff.
The money has all but run out. We have no doubt that the pandemic will pass and Cispus will begin providing our life-changing services once again. But we need your help to get through this trying time.
Can you remember your first experience with Cispus?
Maybe it was at outdoor school as a young child, or a week-long leadership camp in high school. Or was it when you worked at Cispus as a counselor? Maybe you're an educator and you watched a student blossom after their Cispus experience.
Let's work together to make sure the students of Washington have the chance to see their futures in a different way.
Let's make sure Cispus emerges from this pandemic even stronger than before.
How Your Donations Help
Every year, Cispus Learning Center relies on your generous donations to provide a unique northwest outdoor learning environment to students of all ages.
The Center offers environmental and leader development programs for elementary, middle school and high school students. We also offer our challenge (ropes) course for students and adults. In 2019, we hosted almost 12,700 visitors for over 43,000 days of use.
The pandemic has hit us particularly hard, and we need the generous support of people like you to continue offering our life-changing services to Washington students.
Donate by clicking the button below and change a life today. Plus, all donations are tax deductible. Win-win.