Olympic Park Institute

It’s been many years since I went to OPI for a fifth grade camping trip. The memories remain with me are vivid with trails, scenic views of water, and friendships. A woman named Bonney guided us and shared the park experience.
Activities (a classroom without walls)
–Team building exercises
–Warm grub, I remember the homemade mac n cheese
–Hiking, beautiful waterfalls
–Night time walk in the dark… it was pitch black and we were instructed to use our other senses to increase awareness
–Insects glass display, wildlife learning
As the years go by, I realize more and more how experiences such as this shaped my view of environmentalism in the Pacific Northwest and helped me appreciate the human interaction with the natural world.
I cherish those memories at camp

I went to OPI in 2008 during a school camping trip for an entire week! It was one of the most memorable and extraordinary trips ever. OPI is settled right inside Olympic National Park, one of the most beautiful places you will ever see.
You can feel that you are surrounded by history, especially the beautiful cabins and buildings. It is very serene.
Camp guides and counselors were very knowledgeable and kind, and the food was delicious!
I was so moved by this place, especially Lake Crescent, I hope to one day return for another camping trip or wedding! :)

I left my heart at Olympic Park! Settled in the along the edge of Lake Crescent, OPI has breathtaking lake and mountain views and is the perfect place for any retreat/​event out in nature!
I came here for a wedding where the couple celebrated the entire weekend. The venue was able to comfortably fit the entire wedding party, equipped with cabins, cafeteria and even outdoor adventures! Walking distance from plenty of hiking trails, OPI is the perfect place to keep your wedding party entertained for the entire weekend!

I just returned from a family vacation for twenty (my daughter’s sixth grade class!) at OPI. We were there five fun-​filled days. As noted, accommodations aren’t deluxe but the entire OPI facility is in remarkable condition given the large number of historic structures. Unlike Yosemite Village and other comparable national park sites, this one is serene and with far fewer visitors. The OPI staff are amongst the best in their field and when staff openings do occur, often times applicants will number two to three hundreds times the number of openings. Whether it’s for a wedding, class field trip, or family outing, I can’t say enough about this place. I’m hoping for a return trip when my son reaches sixth grade!

My friends and I came here for a weekend wedding. If you’re thinking of having a wedding with a clear blue lake and luscious green mountains as your backdrop, this is a great place to do it.
We had some free time to take advantage that Lake Crescent had to offer such as kayaking, hiking, and swimming. If you can, do it all. There’s a harder hike that ascends for 1.7 mi (we didn’t do that) and another easier hike that leads to a waterfall.
Lake Crescent is serene and blue for kayaking unless there are motorboats going by. Then the water ends up being choppy. I found out from Wikipedia that the reason why the water is so blue is because it is devoid of nitrogen, preventing the growth of algae. Another must see visit…

I just attended a weekend wedding at this location and it was AWESOME!
Lake Crescent has the most beautifully clear water (absent of nitrogen, hence no algae according to Jen S.‘s research while we were visiting). Kayaking, canoes, down to earth staff, and beautiful scenery.
The cabins are fun and just a step up from camping. It felt like summer camp. The stars are extremely bright from here, due to low lights in the surrounding area. Shooting stars galore…
Highly recommended for a visit if the situation permits.