Session 3 Day 2

Today was another gorgeous day here at camp.  We had a nice morning flag led by Robin Hood, who has us do our favorite animal sound.  It was awesome hearing all the various animal sounds.  After enjoying a great breakfast of french toast, sausage, juice, water, and cereal the campers headed to their cabin to prepare for the day.

After breakfast, we all met at the lodge to find out which Interest Groups we would be doing.  The choices were:  

• Wildlife Prevention with Ace and Bandit, 
• Westwind Nature Times: Environmental Newsletter with Blinker and Zig Zag 
• Commando Hike and Peep and Pi
• Make Your Own Band with Lost and Tuilp
• Breaking All The Rules with Alma and Mycelium 
• Kung Fu with Falcon and TK
• Llama Hunt with Red Cloud and Llama
• Poop Appreciation with Rohi and Goggles

Sherwood enjoyed time at the barn and also had quite the time at the Estuary this afternoon, kayaking and river dipping.  Highlands did team building on the challenge course in the morning, then spent the afternoon traveling between the art palace and the cove.  Alpine created corsages and boutonnieres for their Prom Dinner.  They also played soccer and shot archery at the barn.  Teen Leads left on their overnight, while Teen Ad learned outdoor skills. 

Today’s Menu:

 Breakfast: French Toast, Sausage, Juice, Water, Cereal Bar

Lunch:  Cheese Quesadillas, Tomato Soup, Water, Salad Bar 

Dinner:  Baked Chicken, Rice, Mixed Vegetables, Salad Bar and Banana Cream Pie for dessert.

Session 3 Day 1

We awoke to another sunny day for our last day of Father Child Camp.  It was a bit chilly, but homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast warmed us right up.  After a great breakfast some fathers went on the ever-popular Cascade Head Hike, while others chose to soak up more time on the beach before crossing.  This was a great father child session and we had a blast these past four days.

As we were crossing out the fathers and children, we were also crossing the campers for session three.  As soon as the campers arrived in main camp, so began the search for luggage, moving into cabin, touring camp and writing the cabin constitutions.  After flag we took a great all camp photo before dinner, which was lasagna and fresh baked French bread and Sundae Sundays.  For tonight’s campfire various family members and acquaintances of Uncle Bliss visited us.  We had his cat, step son, teacher, Siamese twins and his grandson just to name a few.

All in all this was a great start to session 3.  Tomorrow we will have interest groups and cabin activities.

Father Child Day 2

Low Tide!

Wow, another fantastic day here at the beach! Although, quite a few of us were tired, as we moved breakfast up early so that we can enjoy tide pooling!

Found a Cave!

This morning, while kids were at kids group finding super secret places, catching bugs, practicing/coming up with skits, and playing elimination, the dads spent time hiking to Lost Lake, kayaking (with a little kayak surfing), and playing on the challenge course, okay, some of them read & napped on the porch as well! ;D

This afternoon, elimination was again quite popular, as was mudmucking! Kayaking, tie-dye, art palace, ocean dipping, archery and challenge course were also being participated in.  

We wrapped up this evening with a Talent Scouting Talent Show! We had many great young talents show what they've got! I'll attach a video in the next blog, after they all upload to our YouTube Channel.

Archery

Who doesn't like mudmucking?!

Art Palace

Fishing in the little pool of water by Needles Eye

Some baby-sitters at Mudmucking

An Adventure through the cold water at Needles Eye

Father Child Day 1

Hello, and welcome to the Second Annual Father Child Camp! *Crowd cheering*

Today was a wonderful day, and I expect it will continue! The sun was shining all day out at the beach, and the families have been enjoying it!  After the families crossed in, we had a BBQ buffet lunch, with hamburgers, brats, chips, beans, grilled pineapple, and salads. After eating, the families had time to spend at the beach.

We took a camp photo!  It will be available on Ultracamp.com later this week.  After a bit of kids group time, families reunited to have some fun at the art palace, challenge course, archery and elimination court! We followed with flag and dinner.

After dinner, we had a visit from Fran & Han, who helped lead our campfire.  If you don't know Fran & Han, they are "Austrian" body builders, who LOVE bananas.

Well, time for bed before another amazing day here at the beach!

Travel Camp

Gumwall

So much has happened! I am writing as we wind our way down Oregon's Highway 101 to Westwind. Since Yellowstone, we have covered an astounding amount of ground. Immediately after, we drove to Missoula and camped at a plush KOA campground where we all took showers and did laundry. It was a nice opportunity to refresh and rejuvenate between major parks. The next day we set off for Glacier National Park where we stayed at a pre-reserved campground for two nights. Every day we have passed around a journal where each camper was able to write down their reflections. Gabe had the journal for the day following our time at Glacier National Park and wrote a really incredibly thoughtful entry. With his permission, I decided to share it with you:

“We spent the last two days in Glacier National Park. It is incredibly beautiful, the scale and simultaneous detail are astounding. The abundance of life and unbridled power of nature were on display and it rejuvenated and recharged me, restoring my faith in humanity.

We started two hikes, one in a summer-like setting, the other only a few miles away in the snow. We finished neither but both were incredibly beautiful. The chiseled, snow-dusted peaks, cascading down in a hundred streams, careening down the steep mountainside into lush valleys and a picturesque river flowing beneath us. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Glacier was the fact that the higher you got, the next hill you climbed, all you saw was another peak in the distance. The sight felt infinite, unshakable, so above me, yet so familiar. Who needs a God, religion, a higher power, when there is nature? The mountains are my Gods, the rivers are my angels, the forests my heavens. I believe in the power and beauty, the balance and pain, the patterns and chaos and it is the only faith I need. Last night I talked with Platy about my life philosophy and about the world. I believe in perfection, that the only way to be the best you can be is to hold yourself to perfection because the moment you acknowledge and believe you'll make mistakes, then you slip. I also believe in firm belief with an open mind. When we strip our values of all rationality and justification you come to an arbitrary idea of what's right and while I am convinced that I am correct I must also recognize that beliefs are arbitrary.”

I am astonished at the introspection that has come out from each individual camper. Gabe, as seen through his writing, is one who thinks deeply and critically about the issues, places, and relationships around him. He is a pristine example of the intelligence of so many youth today and both Cloud and I feel extremely lucky to be stuck in a car for 13 days with teens who are able to think so intimately about their thoughts and feelings, especially in the context of the beautiful nature that we have been so lucky to see.

Glacier National Park really took our collective breath away. Although we were still wishing we had had more time in Yellowstone, the mountains, views, and landscape of Glacier were unlike any of us had ever seen. It was refreshing to be out of the hot places we had spent so much time in and rejuvenating to be surrounded by such inspiring peaks. We drove up the Going-To-The-Sun Road almost as far as it would stretch and experienced two different sides to Glacier. We never thought we would have such intense snow-ball fights in June! Up at Logan's Pass, we also had some solo time; we thought the incredible weather in a beautiful place would be an ideal opportunity to separate from each other and breathe by ourselves for a while. We all went our own way while keeping an eye on a common point and spent some quality time with ourselves, reflecting on the “abundance of nature and unbridled power of nature.”

Wild Walls

When we left Glacier, the dynamic in the car had shifted. By then, we had spent 9 days together in close quarters doing and seeing some amazing things while interpreting it all on our own individual levels. We felt closer but definitely more tired and dirty – we were ready to embark on the final stretch home.

We drove straight to Spokane where we found a campground at Riverside State Park's equestrian area and then departed for an evening at a local rock-climbing gym. We had been so disappointed that we were unable to make rock-climbing happen in Boise, so when we arrived at Wild Walls in Spokane, excitement was in the air. Everyone tried it; for some, it was their first time. For others, (Max and Jose specifically), it was a familiar playground. Those two scrambled up the walls like monkeys and attacked every wall with a Parkour-fueled vengeance. Milleena, trying rock-climbing for the first time, successfully reached the top to several walls and was followed by Gabe and Daron. Shannon, Cloud, and I also climbed, pacing ourselves and snapping photos of the others. Everyone was sore and tired by the end, but filled with adrenaline and the feeling of a good workout after hours of sitting in the car.

After Spokane, we set off for Seattle. We stopped for a brief walk around Leavenworth, the Bavarian-like town in central Washington that Travel Camp stayed at last year. Reaching Seattle by dinner time, we checked into a pre-reserved International Hostel and took off for a Mariners-Red Sox game. For some in the group, this was a first MLB experience. The crowd was electric; the experience of a baseball game can't help but put a smile on one's face. We left before it was over – we were predicting it to run into overtime – and walked back in the warm Seattle air to our hostel where we all took showers, made a late dinner, and slept like rocks in clean, comfortable beds.

Now we have one more night left. Where did this trip go? It has dissolved into a whirlwind of mountains, deserts, highways and country roads, songs and car dance parties, campfire meals and value sessions. We are all sleepy, sore, and tired, but filled with an energy that only comes with an invaluable travel experience. Tonight we dine, sleep, and dream at beautiful Westwind and tomorrow we experience what Westwind has to offer and then we come home. Oh how Cloud and I will miss these kids!! This is our last on-the-road blog, but after a hot shower, a soy latte, and a big salad, I intend to sit and write a reflection on what has been a truly incredible 13 days.

Until then,

Platy

Travel Camp

On a hike. 

Ahhhh, Yellowstone. What an enchanting place. When we entered the park early Monday morning, it felt as if we were driving into some sort of special, unique bubble of nature, wildlife, and unusual landscapes. We held our breath as we entered the park and within moments, joined the traffic of excited buffalo-viewers and picture-snapping tourists and soon after, saw our first bison grazing peacefully by the roadside! We decided to immediately turn north to try and snag a campsite in the non-reservable Mammoth campground and then return to the sites. We did stop and take photos at various viewpoints along the way and managed to make it to Mammoth just in time to take one of the last remaining campsites. After setting up, we took off to explore the park, heading back towards the way we came. We started at the Norris geyser and then ate our lunch at a picnic area nearby. While eating, we were warned of a giant grizzly bear heading rapidly towards us. Alarmed, we threw everything into the van and awaited his presence. No bear was seen, and so I ventured out to see if I could find anything and was soon joined by Max, Jose, and Gabe. We found tracks, skat, fur, but no bear, although the tall, rickety shore pines made us question our safety as strong winds blew through them.

After bear-tracking we departed and headed towards another part of the park where we went on a beautiful hike chosen by Gabe. We decided the hike was a good opportunity to split the group up into pairs so they could learn some more personal facts about each other. We have a very specific group dynamic this year – half of the group (three out of six) know each other well and came to travel camp together. While their pre-existing friendships have added to the overall group dynamic, we recognize the importance of challenging social comfort zones and hiking through the beautiful Yellowstone forest provided a perfect opportunity. They were required to learn at least three new facts about each other while also noticing unusual things about the environment around us, such as animal tracks, regrowth, and other idiosyncrasies unique to Yellowstone. It was a successful social experiment; we all learned new things about each other that helped to solidify the growing friendships within our group.

The hike was beautiful, uphill but not too difficult. The viewpoint at the top encompassed Lake Yellowstone and the surrounding area. We were spellbound. After the hike, we continued slowly towards Old Faithful. We had made plans to meet up later with a veteran Westwinder Aidan Beers aka “Zephyr” (who is also Pippin's older brother) who is currently working on wolf conservation around Yellowstone. But as we made our way towards Old Faithful, we realized we were extremely far from Mammoth, which was our meeting spot with Aidan. Instead, we stayed at Old Faithful and ended up making dinner in the parking lot on our stove. The geyser during sunset was phenomenal; we were all transfixed on the explosion of steaming water. The earth works in such unusual ways!
We were disappointed we couldn't meet up with Zephyr -- there was no way we would have made it back in time – but driving through Yellowstone at night was a surprising treat. It finally felt as if we had the park to ourselves. Although we couldn't see the buffalo sleeping in the meadows, our senses were wide awake (at least of those who weren't sleeping), and we were taking in the park through new eyes as it bathed in stark, golden moonlight. It just amazed us how unique Yellowstone's ecosystem is. Every time we passed thermal steaming ground, we couldn't take our eyes away. The presence of the animals is stunning – we definitely got the jitters. Then there are those mountains, those canyons, those waterfalls, the fields...

It really amazed us how unperturbed the animals were despite the intense human presence. In a way this makes us a little sad - it has come to the point where a day full of photo-snapping, SUV-driving sight-hungry tourists are expected. The peacefulness of the animals also really ignited an appreciation – we found ourselves feeling so grateful that the animals were letting us drive thru their home and encroach upon their livelihoods.
The scenery was just amazing. Even though Yellowstone is a tourist attraction (which many of us found to be disturbing), it remained clear how wild it was. We were very clearly in country that wasn't ours, didn't actually belong to us. The relationships between the animals and the wild landscape felt strong; there was a clear symbiotic understanding and the whole time, I found myself wondering what it would have been like to be a human participating in such a synergetic atmosphere. What would it have been like to live, hunt, fish, exist in such an incredible place? The resources are abundant but it takes such an extensive comprehension.
It was hard to leave Yellowstone. We were so taken with the park that when we drove past the gates and into the brown hills of Montana, we were all feeling like we didn't spend nearly enough time in beautiful Yellowstone. Regardless of our sadness, there was a revived excitement in the car – more road ahead! It was as if Yellowstone was the crux of our trip; we needed to see such grandiose beauty to 1. really get a grasp of how special this trip is and 2. get even more pumped for the second half!


More on Missoula, Glacier National Park, Spokane, Seattle on Westwind ahead!!!
-Platy

At Yellowstone

Session 2 Day 7

Today was a glorious day!  We woke up, and guess what..... THERE WAS NO RAIN!!!  Woohoo!! It was our second sunny day of Session 2, first for Mini Camp B! It was a great day, I can't tell you enough.  

This morning, Uncle Bliss (Alpine Boy's Cabin) led flag with a laugh circle to celebrate all the fun times we've had this session, followed by a few songs to get the blood flowing.  Breakfast was next! Chocolate chip pancakes, sausage, apple juice, and the usual bread, cereal & breakfast bar.

Campers did our camp good today by doing service projects around camp.  Alpine rearranged the elimination court (on the beach), making it more even for both sides to play.  Highlands & Sherwood worked hard creating some plaques for the cabins.  They aren't quite done yet, but some cabins worked on them after campfire tonight as well.  Teens spent time pulling scotch broom to clear trails.  

After a good lunch of grilled cheese, cream of broccoli soup & salad bar, campers were at it again!  Teens headed down to the barn for some archery & soccer time.  They were REALLY into their soccer game to, it was great!  Best game of soccer I've seen played down there. They didn't do too bad at archery either. 

Alpine didn't join us in the Lodge for lunch today, instead they did a pack out lunch and hit the trail.  Which trail you may ask, but the Cascade Head trail of course!  The Alpine unit packed their lunches, grabbed the kayaks and hiked up mountain. I took a walk on the spit today, and was able to see the campers on the hill.  :D  

Sherwood cabins had a ton of fun today as well! Hidel (ZigZag's cabin) spent some time in the cove playing games and cards, and then at the beach.  They didn't just play at the beach though, they dug a massive hole.  So big intact, that they reached water! Mycelium & Peep's cabins went kayaking, river dipping, spent time in the cove where they had a mini dance party! 

Highlands had a lucky day of showers! Yes! They also spent the day relaxing in the cove and playing games. 

Dinner today, as one camper said, is "bittersweet."  It's their favorite meal, but it's the last one... Can you guess what it was?  That's right, if you said BBQ you're right! And, they definitely got their fill of burgers, chips, macaroni salad, beans, fruit mix & lemonade.  '

This evening, was closing campfire lead by our Teen Lead 1's.  They created a party themed campfire that included a dragon, jokes, dragon expert, and songs by other campers and staff.  

Oh, I forgot to mention!  Travel Camp joined us for BBQ dinner tonight and campfire!  They had amazing adventures across the states they went to, and had an amazing time.  They were so hungry by the time they got to camp, that some of them had FOUR hamburgers! 

Sadly, tomorrow is the end of another amazing session, and the end of Travel Camp 2012.