Port Townsend
YHP Port Townsend postponed to 2021
Given the continued threats to public health due to COVID-19, we have come to the difficult decision to postpone this year’s program until summer 2021. We have been closely monitoring recommendations from the governor, Washington State Parks, and the National Park Service about outdoor group recreation and believe that this is the safest and most responsible choice.
While we are very disappointed to be cancelling this year’s program, we are also committed to hosting next year’s YHP in Port Townsend and are already working with our partners to transfer over plans.
If you applied to this summer’s YHP and will still be of high school age in 2021, we hope that you will consider applying again next year! Make sure to sign up for the YHP mailing list to receive updates on the new 2021 dates and application schedule.
We share your disappointment about this year’s program but are already looking forward to next year’s adventure. During this time of uncertainty and after it comes to an end, Washington’s historic and cultural spaces will be more important than ever as we re-anchor our communities. We very much hope that you will join us to learn from and contribute to that effort at next year’s Youth Heritage Project. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at or 206-624-9449.
YHP 2021: Maritime Washington National Heritage Area
The location and focus of YHP changes each year to provide participants with the chance to explore new parts of our state and focus on pressing, real-world issues in the realms of history, preservation, and resource management. In 2021, we are thrilled to host YHP in Port Townsend so that our participants can explore the recently designated Maritime Washington National Heritage Area.
Washington’s iconic Victorian seaport—with its grand waterfront, abundant natural resources, thriving maritime trades, and still operational historic tall ships—will provide an excellent historic laboratory for our participants. From our base at historic Fort Worden, YHP students will immerse themselves in local maritime culture and have the chance to experience the coastline by land and by sea. Participants will explore how Port Townsend honors its maritime heritage and work with local partners to provide their own perspectives on how the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area can support tourism and economic development for the region.
We hope you are able to join us for four days of maritime exploration, hands-on learning, and active adventures at this year’s YHP!
Cost and Application Details
This program is FREE OF COST for those accepted through generous funding from our partners and sponsors. For students accepted to the program, all lodging, meals, and activity costs are covered for the duration of YHP. Students are responsible for their own travel to and from Port Townsend; however, we do offer a limited shuttle between Seattle and Port Townsend before and after the program. If the cost of transportation to and from Port Townsend/Seattle is prohibitive for your family, please contact us by email or call us at 206-624-9449 to discuss potential options.
Any high school-age youth may apply; this includes seniors who will graduate in the spring of 2021 and 8th graders who will enter high school in fall of 2021. We are also seeking teachers to attend as group leaders. All applications are individual—students apply independently of their teachers and vice versa.