End of Resident Camp 2010

Well, today is a gloomy day for two reasons.
1. The weather is pretty gloomy (but normal for Oregon)
2. All the staff are packing up the summer into little boxes. The teen tents are taken down, the cabins are cleaned out, archery & bouldering wall were disabled, Art Palace is being packed into boxes, the store is boxed up, challenge course will be taken down later today.

However, on a happier note, we are also currently planning SUMMER 2011! Who's excited for that? I know I am. :D

Just a few reminders...
* if you have discovered that you forgot something at camp, please contact westwind@ywca-pdx.org or call Sarah at 503-294-7476. All lost and found items have been shipped to the downtown YWCA office and are awaiting to be claimed. As of September 1, 2010, any left over lost & found will be taken to the Goodwill.
* We are still selling our camp DVD for $12. These DVD's are put together from various pictures of camp. Each session, youth sessions 1-6, Mother Child camp, and CampOut each have their own memory DVD. Please contact Sarah for these.

We are so thankful and touched that you all chose to spend the summer with us at Camp Westwind. We have been impacted by each and every one of the participants at camp. You all are truly amazing and wonderful people. Hope to see you next summer!

The last song for you of the summer:
Say When

Say when, will we ever meet again.
Say when, will we ever meet again.
Say when, will we ever meet again.
Say when, will we ever meet again.
Say when dear friend, say when.


Say where, and I'll meet you right there.
Say where, and I'll meet you right there.
Say where, and I'll meet you right there.
Say where, and I'll meet you right there.
Say where dear friend, say where.

Say why, does this parting make me cry.
Say why, does this parting make me cry.
Say why, does this parting make me cry.
Say why, does this parting make me cry.
Say why dear friend say why.

Say who, do I ever love but you.
Say who, do I ever love but you.
Say who, do I ever love but you.
Say who, do I ever love but you.
Say who dear friends say who.

Say when, say where,
Say why, say who,
Say Y-O-O-O-O-O-U.

AT CAMP YOU KNOW ME AS.....
13
Ace
Bola
Bones
Bowette
Bumble
Calypso
Chicken Skin Flynn
Cloud
Dorri
Eire
Feo
Finch
Gex
Gnarwhal
Happy Feet
Hermi
Hoku
Jellyfish
Kicks
Kiwi
Koala
Mac
Mars
Nala
Otter
Paisa
Pepper
Peregrine
Petrie
Philly
Pickle
Pippin
Platypus
Poi
Rascal
Rhapsody
Scrabble
Starburst
Tulip
Vista

CampOut Day 1

Hello Families & Friends!

Today was the first day of our completely last session for summer! (I'm not sure if that should be an "!" or not....) Anyway, today families crossed over the river to join us at Camp Westwind for CampOut! It has been a GORGEOUS day here at camp (sorry Session 6, 5, 4, etc campers!). I believe the weather forecast is supposed to be between 70-80ish the whole 5 days! What a great way to end.

Going back quickly from last session, a couple quotes from our Camper Evaluations.
- Just because someone is a moose, doesn't mean you can't be friends. (A camper's answer to embracing diversity)
- You don't need electronics to have fun. (Answer to: What did you learn during your time at camp?)

Song for the Evening:
Mr. Moon
Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon,
You are out too soon,
The sun's still in the sky

Go back to bed, bed
And cover up your head
And wait 'til the day goes by.

Session 6 Day 6

Say goodnight to you,
Say goodnight, to you
The day is done, and down goes the su-u-un, un,
Say good night to you (and you and you and you)

Well, today wrapped up our last full day of youth camp. We had a great campfire, with lots of skits, songs and dream logs (check out our YouTube channel later for videos).

Campers today participated in Interest Groups this morning, and Round Robins this afternoon. Most campers got at least one of their top 3 choices in Round Robins, which is GREAT! We also had a singing (delicious) lunch, and a BBQ dinner.

It was a great way to end the summer session. Right now, we are having the Bowling Championship! Who are you hoping to win...? Teens, Alpine, Highlands, Sherwood, or Kitchen?

I hope you have enjoyed reading about this week!

"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." - Keri Russell Thank you for choosing to spend your summer with Camp Westwind!

Happy Camping and see some of you tomorrow.

Session 6 Day 5

Good Evening Families & Friends!

I hope everyone has had just as great of a day as we've had here at camp. The weather was nice, the campers are awesome and well, we're just so excited to be here!

Today was a fun packed day. All the units came back from their overnights this morning and had time for some showers, went on to archery, bouldering wall, beach games, and other activities. Some of the cabins in Highlands even went straight into kayaking/hiking Cascade Head! Other cabins also did a great trek up to High Meadow.

Man, what a fantabulous day!

Dinner was a special surprise.... A surprise for both the staff and campers! The Unit Coordinators and Co-Directors decorated the Lodge in an underwater theme... All the staff & Teen 2s dressed up in costume. For the meal, we sang underwater related songs, spoke in whale/underwater, and had backwards dinner (meaning dessert came first). Don't worry though, children (at least at my table) ate the rest of the dinner too!).

I hope everyone has had a great day! Please don't forget to take our poll to the right!

Oh yeah! I failed to mention that yesterday was pigtail appreciation day! Below is the staff with all their pigtails.

Session 6 Day 4

Baby Moon

There's a wee baby moon lying on it's back
With it's funny little toes in the air
And it's all alone in the big blue sky
But the wee baby moon doesn't care.

Baby moon,
Keep shinin' on me,
Baby moon

There's a wee baby moon lying on it's back
With it's funny little toes in the air
And it's all alone in the big blue sky
But the wee baby moon doesn't care.

Good afternoon families and friends of campers and staff here at Camp Westwind! We've had a great day so far, between our delicious breakfast, new interest groups, singing lunch and now packing for overnights!

Our interest groups today were put together by the Teen 2 campers. It was their first interest group and they turned out really well! The choices today were: Bat Cave Beach Games, Mythical Creatures Around Westwind, Diversity Rocks, Art, and Global Cooking. The teens did a great job putting them together and fulfilling the creativity of Camp Westwind for the youth campers.

Singing lunches, now these are always fun! About halfway through the meal (or after everyone has had a chance to get seconds), the staff and campers start singing random songs. Song like: Disney tunes, Popular Songs, and other camp appropriate songs. Both the staff and the campers LOVE doing this kind of meal!

Currently, the camp is prepping for the overnights. Counselors and campers are preparing their sleeping bags and overnight items, while the specialists, UA's and UC's cut and gather the food material for tonight. The weather has opened up nicely, so here's to hoping the rain stays away for the evening!

Meals:
Breakfast - waffles, bacon, strawberries, whip cream, cereal bar, (veggie sausage), orange juice
Lunch - Dino nuggets(!), fries/tots, cut veggies, salad bar and pink lemonade.
Dinner - Packout! Most cabins seem to be having a sort of fajita, enchilada dinner.

Happy Camping!

Session 6 Day 3

Oh Gee

OH, gee how happy I feel
I've got the vision of an automobile,
I don't have to worry where I get my next meal,
'Cause I'm eating chicken and I don't have to steal.

Chorus:
Everything's just going my way,
Every dog's gotta have his own day
Well I've got mine and I'm ready to say
Everything, everything, Everything, everything,
Everything's going my way.


Well, my clothes are tailor made
And my shoes are patent leather Whoo
All you gotta do is stitch yourself together
Take a look at me and Lordy Lordy Lordy
Everything's going my way.

-chorus-


I hope you enjoyed your song of the day! :D Welcome to Session 6 (again, sorry for this being day 3 and the first post!).

Campers have been having a great time so far this week. We've had interest groups:

Spontaneous Dance Party with Kiwi & Pippin: Campers walk and hike around camp breaking into a spontaneous dance party! Campers are encouraged to extend their comfort zone and be themselves through new dance moves.
Bother Beetle Day with Peregrine & Tulip: It's an old Camp Westwind tradition... that encourages campers to appreciate the small things in life.
Explore the Stars with Starburst & Mars: Campers learn the difference between astronomy and astrology. They also discover the differences in peoples personalities.
The Amazing Race with Kicks & Paisa: Campers made team bandanas and are accomplishing various tasks together, while building confidence and friendship.
A Challenging Morning with Finch & Philly: Campers work on problem solving skills through challenge related activities. They build teamwork and cooperation while discussing social challenges and solutions to them within Camp Westwind.

Meals:
Breakfast - eggs, coffee cake, fruit, cereal bar.
Lunch - Grilled Cheese, tomato soup, veggies, goldfish, and salad bar
Dinner - Meatloaf, baked potatoes, veggies, salad bar

Session 5 Day 6

Song for today (although we haven't actually sang it yet):
Percy the Pale-Faced Polar Bear
Up in the land of ice and snow
Where the temperature drops to 40 below
Who's the happiest one up there?
Percy the Pale-Faced Polar Bear

He sleeps all day
And then at night,
Catches a few fish by the pale moonlight
Has not worries, has no cares
Percy the Pale-Faced Polar Bear.

Then one day a hunter came out
And caught poor Percy by the snout
Put him in a great big cage
Percy HOWLED and he GROWLED,
but he couldn't get out!

Now he's living in a zoo,
Funny thing is, he likes it too.
'cause he met his girlfriend there!
Percy the Pale-Faced Polar Bear.
Who?
Percy the Pale-Faced Polar Bear.


What a glorious day here at camp (and I'm not talking about the weather). This morning a lot of cabins opted to have breakfast out of the dining hall, so it was pretty empty except the two Alpine girls cabins. All the teens came back from their amazing overnights. Teen Lead 2 slept out at Merkwood the first night after Eire, Philly & Cowpie just reclaimed it a few days prior.

Cabins today had interest groups!
Skittles Party with Eire & Pippin: Campers use skittles to learn about diversity and to share their love for skittles.
Ninja Academy with Sparkie & Kiwi: Campers learn that becoming ninjas is a way they can express themselves however they want and build confidence; bringing out the inner ninja.
Magical Marvelous Unicorn Exploration with Gnarwhal & Nala: Campers search high and low for Galanthor the Unicorn, so he can teach them the secrets of the forest and possibly the universe.
Pretty Vivacious Choralaries: Fun w PVC with Mac & Cloud: Campers play and make amazing music using PVC piping and their voices.
Explore the Stars with Mars & Starburst: Campers learn the difference between astronomy and astrology. They also discover the differences in peoples personalities.

Campers have been having so much fun! Today, besides Interest Groups, we've had campers partake in archery, challenge course, bouldering wall, nature, hiking, beach games, ninja, kitchen raids, ocean dipping, kayaking, mudmucking (I think I can still smell them) and more! The kids have been all smiles since I've seen them! Tonight we had a Lion King all camp and it was great!

Meals:
Breakfast - packout(ish), coffee cake, sausage, yogurt, cereal bar, milk, fruit
Lunch - Yakisoba noodles, veggies, bbq pork, salad bar, water
Snack - graham crackers, frosting & sprinkles
Dinner - pizza! pepperoni & sausage, cheese, tempe for the vegetarians, baby carrots & celery, salad bar and vanilla ice cream for dessert