Camp in the CITY!

Hello from Camp Westwind in the City!

We’ve been super busy these last two sessions in the city! Filming movies, growing sprouts, swimming at local pools and fountains, visiting Powell’s, checking on our giant zucchini in the garden and singing camp songs in Pioneer Square (in costume!) are just a few of the things we’ve checked off our lists already!

During Session One, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, our campers successfully completed a scavenger hunt each day. They raced through the city looking for clues, solved riddles, discovered Portland legends, became rulers of Camp Westwind in the City and even found a missing program director!  Between scavenger hunts, campers also learned about Greek and Native American myths. Jam, Rolo, Lil’ Frog and Mowgli gave a stellar performance of the myth “Eagle and Nature’s Lessons” on Tuesday, and all of our counselors were outstanding tour guides for campers at the Portland Art Museum on Wednesday. 

A highlight of the week was touring City Hall and meeting with City Commissioner Dan Saltzman. The Commissioner regaled campers with stories about the vault that used to store gold in City Hall, the flag of Portland, and City Hall ghosts. Unfortunately, we didn’t find the ghosts, but the tour guide helped us find the time capsule buried there. One camper said he couldn’t choose his favorite activity for the week – swimming at Dishman Pool or the City Hall tour!

Our theme for Session Two, “Freeze Frame”, had campers thinking about composition, balance, and lighting. Their biggest challenge for the week was to create their own films in their bridge groups. Luckily, Blinker came in from the beach to provide lots of acting classes, improv games, and songs. Campers also got some help from Emilie, a filmmaker from Hollywood Theatre, who taught them about flip books, vintage cameras, and stop motion animation. The movies turned out great! Parents and YWCA staff are gathering tomorrow during the Freeze Frame Film Festival to watch the movies, munch on some popcorn, and view the polaroid photographs and sun prints in the camp art gallery.

Portland finally had some sunny, warm weather on Wednesday and campers celebrated by frolicking in Keller and Lovejoy fountains and by tasting samples at the Farmer’s Market. All the sunshine also assisted campers in making sun prints in the garden this morning, and in having a blast at Peninsula Pool this afternoon. We’re looking forward to the rooftop BBQ tomorrow and watching all of our movies!

Stay tuned to hear about Westwind in the City’s Session 3: We’re the Kids in America next week!