Camp Westwind

YWCA Camp Westwind
Encouraging Community
Embracing Diversity
Exploring the World Around Us!





Thursday, June 27, 2013

Thursday Already?

How can it be Thursday already? This week has flown by!



Everyone slept hard last night after dancing our hearts out in the lodge at our black light dance party. 
Highlands and Alpine had a sleep in breakfast in bed where the staff hiked in pancakes and sausage to the campers. 

The Alpine unit packed up sack lunches and set out to kayak across the river and take the day to hike up Cascade Head.  Hoping they will stay dry and maybe even get a glimpse of some sunshine.

Teen Leadership 2 campers are kayaking to Otis up the river and having their lunch there.  This is a tradition that has been going for many years and the campers were anxious to get on the river.

Highlands is setting up for a spa party this afternoon and part of me wonders if this is their way to get the campers to get their feet and hands really clean?!

What a week it has been! So much packed into such a short time.  The staff have worked really hard to make sure they get the campers outside even in the rain.  I am sure campers are going home with luggage that weighs much more than it did coming in thanks to the mixture of sand and rain but what we really hope is that they are coming home with great memories, gained confidence and independence, new friends and songs that they will sing throughout the year!

Thank you for trusting us with your children and for believing in the ywca Camp Westwind program!
See more photos of the week here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/campwestwind/sets/72157634299494064/ 





Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Session One Tuesday....still raining!


No Child Lef inside!

We may have considered building an ark yesterday with the rain that we were getting but the good news is that there was a few hours with sunshine and it wasn't a constant pouring all day.  Even if it would have been raining all day I don't think it would have kept the campers inside.  

The Teens packed up for their two night overnight and headed out of main camp to set up shelter and cook for themselves  near the estuary.  They stayed out all night and reports are coming in from the staff that they had a great night, played games, cooked delicious fajitas and are not letting the rain stop them.

The youth campers all got up early and headed out to the ocean front to experience tide pools in the -2.1 tide.  We only get tides this low a few times each summer so it was a treat!  





We are making sure each of our campers gets a good hot meal each time we eat! This morning's french toast was delicious and in just a bit we will have soup and grilled cheese along with the salad  bar.  The campers are wrapping up their interest group time (they get to choose from a list of topics to participate in for a couple of hours).  There is a group that made cardboard guitars and decorated them in the Art Palace and then went around performing air guitar for the other groups. They even played a lullaby  for the  babies that are here during our teen parent camp.  


 There is the lunch bell!! If you paid for one way email service don't forget to email your camper! They are loving getting so much mail! Bring on the grilled cheese and soup!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Session 1 in full swing!

Session 1 Day 1....
Of course the rain started today! It's almost a formula, campers are coming and so the rain comes!
Then again, we are camp staff, a little rain won't get us down.  It has stopped and we can hear laughter from the games being played, the scent of lasagna drifting in the air and the playing of a saxophone in the distance as a group prepares for campfire. 
This week is full of different programming.  We have youth, teen adventure, teen lead and a new teen parent program-including a few babies!

Shutter is walking around with her camera around her neck snapping photos, Wheezy is handing out the pre-purchased sweatshirts and t-shirts and camp is in full swing!! We will update later with pictures from today so keep connected daily!!