Camtown Youth Festival
Each year on the 2nd Saturday
in June at Crown Park
Map and Directions
Click the following links to the Camtown informational pages including this year's activities, voluteering, donating, and more.
About Us
Activities
Art Show Entry Form
Entertainment
Food
Funding
Kids Flea Market
Poster Contest
Volunteering
Camas Parks and Recreation program coordinator Krista Bashaw wanted to create a summer festival that catered directly to local youth, so she went to the experts – kids. “I wanted to incorporate the students in the planning process because I thought it would be a good learning experience for them and for Camas. Our community youth have a lot to offer our city. This project has shown me – and others – even more how imaginative, intelligent, thoughtful and industrious our youth can be.” Working alongside teacher Gail Welsh with active consultation from the students at Welsh’s Skyridge Middle School’s Leadership Class, and with participation from numerous students and community volunteers, the first Camtown Youth Festival took place on June 22, 2002.
The Camtown Youth Festival is an annual event typically held the second Saturday in June. The festival offers free admission, a variety of games (large inflatables, carnival, and interactive games), craft activities, entertainment, food, art show, a kids flea market, and youth information tables. The event is well attended, bringing in over 2,500 participants each year. Additional information on the Camtown Youth Festival can be found in the City of Camas Parks and Recreation Spring and Summer newsletters, press releases in the C-W Post Record, Columbian, and Oregonian newspapers, school flyers, local magazines, libraries, a variety of eating establishments, or by phone at 360-834-5307.
Event Coordinator: Krista J. Bashaw, 360-834-5307, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
* excerpts taken from the Camas-Washougal Post Record, reporter Clarice Keating, 6/11/02.
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What fun things can I do? See below for a sample list of festival activites from past Camtown events.
ACTIVITIES (games, crafts and more)
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Entertainment
What type of entertainment can I expect during the festival?
The Camtown Youth Festival offers a wide variety of entertainment – juggling clowns, marching bands, singers, dancers, magicians, school choirs and bands, unicyclists, martial arts, crazy science, and skateboard demonstrations are just some of the entertainers who have performed during the last few years.
The entertainment is family and youth oriented and appropriate for ages 2 to 16. Performers include children (school choirs, dancers, etc.) to adults (clowns, musicians, etc.). Three "stages" run during the entire festival – one stage is for the younger crowd and includes entertainment suitable to ages 2 to 8-10; the second stage is designed for the “older” kids, aged 8-10 to 16 and a thrid stage highlights our local dance groups. In 2009, a youth “garage” bands stage was added with several local youth bands participating.
Look here in May for details.
How is the entertainment selected?
First, a brain-storming session is held with the Skyridge Leadership class to help guide our Committee to the “in” types of entertainment. They let us know who they want to hear and what types of entertainment they want to see. The students are most helpful in directing us to the popular school-age bands. Then, the search begins to look for the entertainers.
We also hear about entertainment from other sources, be it other individual’s recommendations, musicians or entertainers who have heard about the festival, or ones we’ve booked in the past at any one of the many festivals and events the City of Camas has to offer.
How can I become an entertainer at your festival?
The entertainers at the Camtown Youth Festival are either students, youth performers, or adults providing kid-favorite entertainment. If you are a kid-oriented entertainer and would like more information on how to get involved with the Camtown Youth Festival, please contact Krista at the contact information below.
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The Camtown Youth Festival Student Committee selects the types of food to be offered at the festival. Local non-profits are given priority. Food vendors must comply with County Health Department regulations (for requirements, call 360-397-8428). If you are a food vendor and would like to be included on the Camtown Vendor List, please contact the chairperson listed below or call Krista Bashaw at Camas Parks and Recreation, 360-834-5307.
Food to be found at last year's Camtown Youth Festival:
- Chew Chew Express – hamburgers and hot dogs
- Chewy’s Really Big Burrito – burritos, burrito bowls, taco salad, nachos, etc.
- Friends of the Camas Community Center – Krispy Kreme donuts
- Kettlecorn Mania – kettlecorn and Hawaiian punch slushee drinks
- Kidz with Ice – novelty food items
- PaPa Murphy’s – pizza
Food Chairperson: Sabrina Bower, 360-834-9145, email:
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FUNDING
How is Camtown funded?
Funding for the Camtown Youth Festival comes from a variety of sources including the City of Camas Parks & Recreation budget, sponsorships, grants, and donations (monetary and in-kind).
Why should I donate?
Businesses, organizations, and individuals donate their money or goods for a variety of reasons. Our past donators have donated:
- to help support a free community event
- for a tax write-off
- to give back to their own community
- for name recognition for their business or organization
- to show support for the youth of our community
If you have donated or wish to donate for other reasons, please let us know – we’d be glad to add your name and your reason to our on-going list!
Students are involved in all planning stages for this event. Special presentations can be made by the students to your organization, business or corporation regarding the Camtown Youth Festival.
Where is my donation going?
Donations go towards 100% of the biggest summer event for the youth of our community. Your donation pays for or provides for supplies, entertainment, advertising, and/or games.
How do I donate?
Monetary donations should be made by check to Camas Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 1055, Camas, WA 98607. The City of Camas is considered a 170(c)(1) entity as described in the IRS tax code. Our tax ID number is #91-6001233.
In-kind or material donations: A variety of donated items are used each year for the festival. Some items are donated for us to keep while others are provided at no charge during the festival. Past examples include: tents, supplies for craft activities, tshirt screens, entertainment, staging office space, lumber, gift certificates, city and county services, and more.
This is a community event and it takes a community to support it. We thank you for your contribution!
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The Camtown Kids’ Flea Market was designed so youth could have a venue to learn a little bit about business – expense, profit, customer service, product display, time management, communication, and more. The market has blossomed to an activity that draws between 30 to 40 kid vendors each year.
The Flea Market allows kids to sell or trade their home-made arts and crafts or their good, but unwanted toys, games, or clothes. Pre-registration is required: A 10’x10’ space is rented (see below for fees) and the vendors provide their own tables, chairs, canopy cover, display décor, supplies, and wares. Visitors can purchase items from our young vendors, or toys/crafts might also be traded at the flea market. Items must be in good condition and children must have adult supervision present.
There are some restrictions to what can be sold at the kids' flea market - we do not allow raffles, ticket sales, food sales, or commercial (new) wares. And, we do not allow any performances or open music at the booths (it detracts from the scheduled entertainment); listening to music via a headset is fine. No adult items are allowed and adults are not allowed to craft youth-related items. Keep it kid-focused, kid-made, and kid-friendly.
Early Bird Registration by June 1: $4.00
Flea Market Items that have been approved in the past (just a sampling):
- Used stuffed animals
- Used youth games, toys and books
- Home-made jewelry (i.e. friendship bracelets, beaded jewelry)
- Home-made lip balm
- Home-grown flower seedlings
- Home-made bookmarks
- Duct tape wallets
- Used trading cards
- Used kid clothing (in good condition)
Flea Market Items that will not be approved:
- Bottled water, canned soda, etc.
- Commercial items (i.e. Dollar Store or new clothing items to resell)
- Food (baked, cooked, canned, etc.)
- Raffle tickets
- Ticket sales
- Face painting
- Pre-purchased flower starts to resell
How do I become a vendor for the Kids’ Flea Market?
- Read the above information. Call the Camtown Coordinator (number listed below) if you have any questions regarding the type of item to be sold.
- Fill out a Camas Parks and Recreation registration form (click here for form) and return form with vendor fee as instructed. You may also call with a credit card to register by phone (360-834-5307).
- A Kids’ Flea Market Vendor Booth Regulations form will be mailed to you once the registration form is received. It must be filled out, signed, and returned by June 6, 2012. Enclosed with the form will be a cover letter explaining set-up details for the day of the festival, an event site map (to show where you check in and the general area for vendors), and driving directions to the park.
If you would like further information on the flea market or have questions regarding the flea market items you would like to sell, please contact Krista Bashaw, Special Events Coordinator, at 360-834-5307 or
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Get involved, have some fun, give back to your community – volunteer at the Camtown Youth Festival the second Saturday in June.
Who can volunteer?
Anyone can volunteer! Both long-term and short-term volunteers are used to plan and run the festival. Volunteers come from the schools, churches, social & service organizations, and the community.
Long Term volunteers: Festival planning begins in September with the Camtown Youth Festival Committee, Skyridge Middle School Leadership Class, and the City of Camas Parks and Recreation. If you are interested in helping with the planning by either being a Chairperson on the Committee or assisting with the committee work, you can contact Krista at the contact information below for a volunteer application. Long-term volunteers must be approved through the application process and are subject to criminal checks and driving record checks.
Short-term volunteers: Many, many volunteers are needed the day of the festival. It takes between 150 to 200 volunteers to run the 4-hour event! Volunteer tasks include helping set-up before the event and tear-down after the event, running the games, helping kids with the crafts activities, monitoring the entertainment stages, working with the information tables, working at the kids’ flea market, handing out flyers, being runners, and so much more! Any age can volunteer, but children under the age of 14 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Why should I volunteer?
Because we need you! But if that’s not enough, here are more reasons why you should volunteer:
- be a good role model to your child
- meet community service hours for your school
- gain experience interacting with the public
- won’t be bored at home
- spend some fun time helping with your friends and family
How do I volunteer?
It’s easy! Just contact Krista at the information listed above.
What do I do once I’ve been accepted as a Camtown Youth Festival volunteer?
Once you’ve been accepted as a Camtown volunteer, your volunteer tasks and “work” time will be arranged with the volunteer coordinator.
Long-term volunteers can expect to meet at least once a month during the planning process. Additional time will be needed depending upon your volunteer responsibilities.
Short-term volunteers - on the day of the festival, at your scheduled time, you will check-in at the “Volunteer Tent” where you will be given an volunteer ID badge and directed to your work area. If you’re signed on to help at the festival, you’ll be contacted with details as we get closer to the event.
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