Cispus Forever
Starts With You
Since 1956, AWSL has served hundreds of thousands of students across Washington.
In 1982, we established a permanent home on the Cispus campus, creating a dedicated space for leadership, learning, and growth.
Today, Cispus & the Association of Washington Student Leaders work together in this shared space to develop student leaders, build community, and create lasting impact in schools across our state.
It often begins with a trip to the forest. Maybe it was outdoor school in elementary, a club retreat, a summer leadership camp, or all of the above. Maybe you’ve served on staff, or simply spent a few meaningful days in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Whatever your connection, your story matters. We invite you to share it.
Why Cispus Matters
Cispus Learning Center has a lasting impact on students across Washington. It gives young people experiences that shape how they see themselves, others, and the world around them.
Experiential Learning
At Cispus, students learn by doing. Outdoor experiences like hiking, team-building, and environmental education build real-world skills in leadership, problem-solving, and resilience.
Personal Growth
Students are pushed beyond their comfort zones in a supportive environment. Whether facing a physical challenge or working through a team obstacle, they leave with greater confidence and a stronger sense of who they are.
Community and Belonging
Cispus creates space for connection. Students build meaningful relationships and experience a sense of belonging that often stays with them long after they return home.
Environmental Stewardship
Students develop a deeper understanding of the natural world and their role in protecting it. These experiences build awareness and responsibility that carry forward into their daily lives.
Engagement in Learning
Hands-on experiences help students connect learning to the real world. Many return to school more motivated, more curious, and more engaged.
Positive Adult Role Models
Cispus staff model leadership, care, and commitment. Their influence helps students set goals, build confidence, and see what’s possible for their future.
Cispus isn’t just a place students visit. It’s a place that changes how they think, grow, and lead.
And here is our challenge to you:
Tag 5 friends that went to camp with you! #CispusForever…
Follow our journey.
Cispus Outdoor School
Camp is more than a place. It’s the experience of being together, outdoors, and fully present.
It’s walking between sessions, laughing with others, working through challenges, and sharing meals side by side. These moments stay with students long after they leave.
They begin to ask themselves: Who do I want to be? How will I show up for others tomorrow?
Association of Washington Student Leaders
AWSL believes every student and adult has the ability to lead in their school. To support meaningful social and academic experiences for all, we provide opportunities, support, and resources to:
Examine and address patterns of past and present oppression
Engage, connect, and collaborate with others
Create safe, inclusive schools where every person is valued
Build the confidence and skills needed to succeed in school and in life
By The Numbers
Many students leave Cispus with a renewed sense of hope and a belief in what’s possible for their future.
They begin to understand their role in their community, how to treat others with respect, and how to take responsibility for themselves and the world around them. They see that they are part of something bigger, where people support and encourage one another to grow.
Over the years, thousands of these moments and experiences have shaped students’ lives in lasting ways.
"I've noticed over my 25 years working at Cispus a common refrain. Away from the hustle and bustle of their lives surrounded by green forests, living in community, and entirely focused on the purpose. I often hear a version of this statement: "I'm the best version of myself at camp." Without the ability to explore who we are in a supportive space that challenges us to grow, we never learn the possibilities of our full potential.”
— Joe Fenbert