Spring is in full swing on Camano Island, and there’s a lot blooming across our business community! From the final days of Shop Local Win Local (ends on the 30th!) to upcoming events and networking opportunities, we’re excited to keep the momentum going as we head toward a vibrant summer season.

If you haven’t had a chance to explore participating businesses or share the event with your customers, now’s the time! Passports are still available, prizes are piling up, and there’s a great buzz around town. It’s been incredible to see the creativity and energy local businesses have brought to this campaign—thank you for making it such a success!

In this edition, you’ll find updates, reminders, and ways to stay connected, supported, and engaged. As always, thank you for being a vital part of our Chamber—we’re better together!

Want to be featured? If you’d like to be highlighted in an upcoming newsletter, showcased on social media, or have feedback to help improve your Chamber experience, we’d love to hear from you!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Shop Local Win Local Spring 2025 is Here!

The Camano Island Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Stanwood Commerce Alliance, is thrilled to kick off the 4th Annual Spring Shop Local, Win Local Event!

🗓️ April 15–30

Support our community by shopping at any of the 21 participating local businesses. For every $20 spent, you’ll earn a stamp on your event passport. Fill it up and submit it for a chance to win amazing prizes!

🎁 Want to see what you could win?

Visit the event page below for full details and prize photos.

Let’s shop small, support local, and win big together!

May Membership Meeting

Who Should Attend: Anyone interested in harnessing AI to enhance their organization or business.

Imagine attending a single session that gives you the tools to secure a $100,000 grant for your business. That’s exactly what happened after one attendee applied insights from our past workshop with Brandon! Now, it’s your turn to tap into AI’s potential to streamline operations, boost efficiency, and maximize your impact.

This session isn’t about complex tech talk—it’s about real, actionable tools you can start using right away. Whether you want to improve fundraising, simplify daily tasks, or communicate more effectively, AI can help make it happen.

You’ll learn how to craft precise prompts in ChatGPT for clear and effective communication, create compelling visuals and presentations to engage your audience, and use AI to optimize workflows so you can focus on what matters most. No tech expertise is required—just bring your curiosity, your computer, and an open mind. Don’t miss this chance to discover how AI can take your organization to the next level!

Speaker:

Brandon Ericson: Owner of Camano Commons Marketplace and A.I. Expert

We will meet at Primal for lunch at 11:30 and then go over to the library for the information portion of the meeting!

The cost of lunch is $20 (which includes a 20% gratuity for the catering staff plus an online transaction fee and taxes) Please pre-pay for lunch prior to the meeting – a link to payment is included at the end of the RSVP form.

FREE SQUARE STAND

Jesse from Baked Café is offering a free Square iPad holder to any local business owner who could use it.

We’re not sure which iPad size it fits, but it’s available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’re interested, just click below to email us, and we’ll connect you with Jesse!

The Camano Center

Attention Community Members!

Please help the Camano Center Board of Directors and Leadership Staff with our upcoming strategic planning by filling out this anonymous survey.

Please use the safe and secure link to access the survey below or visit our website at http://www.camanocenter.org and click the link for the survey in the pop-up box.

We also have a paper survey available at the Camano Center front desk for anyone that would prefer to do it that way.

We appreciate your time and support, and look forward to hearing more from you about how the Camano Center and 2nd Chance Thrift Shop can best serve our community.

Camano Arts Association

🚨🚨BIG NEWS!!! – Party at the Gateway THIS Saturday!🚨🚨

The Camano Gateway Gallery is our Studio Tour stop #20! AND the location of the MAP Student Art Exhibition. The Opening Reception is this weekend, Saturday, April 26 from 4pm to 6pm! We’d LOVE to see you there!

The exhibition of art work by students from Stanwood High School continues through June 8 with extended hours during the Studio Tour! The show has been made possible as part of CAA’s MAP (Mentor Assistance Program) which provides art supplies and artist mentors to the Stanwood Camano School District. The initiative is part of CAA’s vision to enrich the lives and the culture of the greater community through the visual arts.

Students are exhibiting works in stained, fused and mosaic glass, ceramics, photography, painting and drawing. These students are talented artists and the show is fun and exciting to visit, either during the Annual Camano Island Studio Tour and after.

The Gateway Gallery is located at the junction of Hwy 532 and E. Camano Dr. on Camano Island.

Take Survey for Island County Parks!

Island County Parks and Public Works have been working to update Chapter 7 Element of the Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) Plan of the Comprehensive Plan and provide a long-term vision for conservation areas, trails, parks, and indoor facilities in Island County using results from a resident outreach survey (409 completions), 4 workshops, and 4 open houses throughout Whidbey and Camano Islands with residents, conservation groups, trail, park, and indoor facility users.

The purpose of the PROS Plan is to provide guidance for the County’s management and development of conservation, trail, and park properties for the next 6-20 years. We have completed a draft assessment of County open spaces, trails, parks, and facilities and developed draft proposals for park improvements and financing that we would like your input on.

This survey will help us understand your opinion and priorities on possible conservation, trail, park, and indoor facility projects and financing of the County’s overall park system.

P: 360.629.7136

E: [email protected]

www.camanoisland.org

370 NE Camano Dr. Suite 5 PMB 344 Camano Island, WA 98282