The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - As I drove my boys up to do some volunteer work at Camp Touchet last week, I realized that many locals may be unaware of this gem right in our very own Touchet Valley. Camp Touchet is a wooded retreat just ten minutes south of Dayton, on the road to Ski Bluewood.

Covered in mountain pine and fir, with the North Fork of the Touchet River running through it, this 80 acre oasis has all the amenities necessary for a peace­ful retreat, without truly roughing it, unless you want to, of course. While you can't just drop in unan­nounced, the camp facilities are available for rent at very afford­able rates and are ideal for family getaways, reunions, company par­ties or even crafting retreats. The facility stays busy with camps and retreats in June and July, but you'll find plenty of openings the rest of the year.

Owned and operated by the Co­lumbia Basin Baptist Association, the group camp facilities have been dramatically updated and remod­eled over the last several years, with plans for even more updates and additions in the future.

One of the nicest facilities - and the one best suited for groups of eight to 25 people - is Jeremiah House, a newly-remodeled A- Frame. Jeremiah House has a modern, fully stocked kitchen and boasts an impressive gather­ing room downstairs. Bring your lawn chairs, as there's not a lot of seating. But it's a great place to sit around the fire and visit or play games. There are four handicap- accessible bathrooms on the lower level, all with slate tile floors and glass shower enclosures. There are also two lower-level bedrooms for those who would prefer not to navigate the stairs.

A spiral staircase takes you to the upper level which houses six more bedrooms, all with built-in bunks that sleep four. An inner balcony looks over the great room below and an outside balcony offers an impressive view of the entire camp.

Rental of this building includes use of the playfield, basketball court and even a mini obstacle course that the kids enjoy. There are plenty of picturesque spots to have a seat on a log, dangle your feet in the water, and just enjoy the soothing sights and sounds of the river. More adventurous folk can tackle the 'Camp Touchet Trail' and hike to the top of the large hill on the edge of camp. Warning: it's a longer hike than it looks.

If you're looking for a spot to celebrate a group event, and don't want to travel too far, Camp Touchet might be just what you're looking for.

Camp Manager Tony Sykes and his wife, Pam, are easy to work with and happy to answer questions. They can be contacted at 509-382-1803. A camp calen­dar and rental information can be viewed on the camp website at www.camptouchet.org.