Cama Beach Foundation's Mission
CBF is a nonprofit organization that operates with an all-volunteer staff. Our goal is to support Camano Island State Park and Cama Beach State Park by offering visitors educational and interpretive programs that enhance their visit to the Parks. We coordinate our efforts with Parks staff but we receive no financial support from Washington State Parks.
Our operations are funded by generous donations from people like you and by proceeds from sales at the historic Cama Beach Store, so the next time you visit the parks, be sure to stop by our store located on the beach just north of the cabins.
Our operations are funded by generous donations from people like you and by proceeds from sales at the historic Cama Beach Store, so the next time you visit the parks, be sure to stop by our store located on the beach just north of the cabins.
CBF Supplements Park Activities
We fill in around the core activities offered by Parks: Crafts, Geocaching, Junior Rangers, Nature Walks, and Ranger Talks.
This past summer CBF added offering such as Sky's the Limit, Discovery Wagon, Low Tide Beach Walks, Summer Science, and Who Eats with their Feet.
We're always looking for volunteer docents to facilitate activities.
Learn about being a CBF volunteer ...
This past summer CBF added offering such as Sky's the Limit, Discovery Wagon, Low Tide Beach Walks, Summer Science, and Who Eats with their Feet.
We're always looking for volunteer docents to facilitate activities.
Learn about being a CBF volunteer ...
CBF Operates the Cama Store
Our education activities are partly funded by proceeds from the historic
Cama Beach Store which is stocked with a blend of basic groceries, toys, and educational resources in an atmosphere that’ll transport you back to the 1950s. The historic Cama Beach Store is located on the beach just north of the standard cabins. Stop by and say "Hi" next time you visit the park.
We're always looking for volunteers to staff and stock the store.
Learn about being a CBF volunteer ...
Cama Beach Store which is stocked with a blend of basic groceries, toys, and educational resources in an atmosphere that’ll transport you back to the 1950s. The historic Cama Beach Store is located on the beach just north of the standard cabins. Stop by and say "Hi" next time you visit the park.
We're always looking for volunteers to staff and stock the store.
Learn about being a CBF volunteer ...
The Early Days of CBF
Cama Beach State Park opened Jun 2008
Cama Beach State Park began life as a private fishing resort in 1934. It consisted of about four dozen rustic cabins, a store, boat storage and launching facilities, recreational spaces, and a bathhouse. It remained a family-owned operation until 1989 when the resort, then in disrepair, closed. A few years later the resort was purchased by Washington State Parks. State Parks refurbished the buildings and in June 2008 reopened the site as Cama Beach State Park.
During the first year of operation as a state park, the Cama Beach Store was operated by a concessionaire, but with relatively few customers and staff to pay, the operation could not stay in the black.
Cama Beach Foundation founded Nov 2009
Here’s where the Cama Beach Foundation story begins. Three folks who had volunteered at the Parks Information Desk met with Park officials and decided to form a nonprofit organization, Cama Beach Foundation, to operate the Cama Beach Store and also supplement the Parks’ educational programs.
During our first couple years much of our focus was on learning how to stock and manage the store - there's no book for operating a small, 1950s-themed, seasonal store inside a state park!
Cama Beach State Park began life as a private fishing resort in 1934. It consisted of about four dozen rustic cabins, a store, boat storage and launching facilities, recreational spaces, and a bathhouse. It remained a family-owned operation until 1989 when the resort, then in disrepair, closed. A few years later the resort was purchased by Washington State Parks. State Parks refurbished the buildings and in June 2008 reopened the site as Cama Beach State Park.
During the first year of operation as a state park, the Cama Beach Store was operated by a concessionaire, but with relatively few customers and staff to pay, the operation could not stay in the black.
Cama Beach Foundation founded Nov 2009
Here’s where the Cama Beach Foundation story begins. Three folks who had volunteered at the Parks Information Desk met with Park officials and decided to form a nonprofit organization, Cama Beach Foundation, to operate the Cama Beach Store and also supplement the Parks’ educational programs.
During our first couple years much of our focus was on learning how to stock and manage the store - there's no book for operating a small, 1950s-themed, seasonal store inside a state park!
CBF Today
As we move into the upcoming summer the store is now running smoothly, CBF proudly hosts or participates in a number of special events each year, and we now offer park visitors several educational activities each week. Be sure to check out our Events Calendar!
- CBF is able to offer small grants to those who want to do educational activities or programs within the two parks.
Learn how to apply for a CBF Grant. - For the past several years CBF has been able to fund a summer intern who assists the Parks' Interpretive Naturalist. This position is typically advertised in early Spring. Learn more about CBF's Summer Volunteer.
- Each Fall we celebrate our accomplishments and look ahead to the next season at our Annual Meeting. You're invited to join us!
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CBF named Volunteer Group of the Year-2020!!
Apr 2021
Cama Beach Foundation has been recognized for being "instrumental in helping to continue children’s activities and educational opportunities at Cama Beach during the pandemic. The CBF helped staff create an activities/education station for visitors that included daily take-and-make crafts, park bingo cards and nature guides. They also helped install the CamaCam, which provides an online and real-time view of the beach, Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island and sunsets. As the agency has moved to online programming, CBF also funded new equipment and an iPad for filming."
“With COVID and a new interpreter, CBF has done an amazing job of continuing their education mission at Cama Beach.” said Area Manager Jeff Wheeler.
Thanks "Stanwood Camano News" for doing such a wonderful story on our mission and the award!!
See other State Park volunteers who have been honored.
Apr 2021
Cama Beach Foundation has been recognized for being "instrumental in helping to continue children’s activities and educational opportunities at Cama Beach during the pandemic. The CBF helped staff create an activities/education station for visitors that included daily take-and-make crafts, park bingo cards and nature guides. They also helped install the CamaCam, which provides an online and real-time view of the beach, Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island and sunsets. As the agency has moved to online programming, CBF also funded new equipment and an iPad for filming."
“With COVID and a new interpreter, CBF has done an amazing job of continuing their education mission at Cama Beach.” said Area Manager Jeff Wheeler.
Thanks "Stanwood Camano News" for doing such a wonderful story on our mission and the award!!
See other State Park volunteers who have been honored.
Outstanding Group of the Year - 2010
Our first year was culminated by receiving the 2010 Washington State Parks' Outstanding Group of the Year Award. We were excited to have received this honor from State Parks.
Our first year was culminated by receiving the 2010 Washington State Parks' Outstanding Group of the Year Award. We were excited to have received this honor from State Parks.
Cama Beach Foundation receives the "Volunteer Group" of the year award from Washington State Parks. From l-r: Judi McDougall-CBF Board, Hi Bronson-CBF Board, Joe Taller-Parks Commission Chair, John Custer-CBF Board, Jeff Wheeler-Area Manager, Camano Island State Parks.
Thanks Washington State Parks, for the recognition.
Updated February 10, 2022
