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!!

I hate Camp Westwind!! ......we hope says no camper ever

Here in the office the countdown is on!
26 days till staff training starts!
23 days till the first international staff arrives!
38 days till visitors day! (June 22nd from 1030-330 Camp Westwind will be open to the public)
39 days till campers arrive!!

But who is counting?? We are! Truth be told we have been counting since the last day of camp last summer. 

My favorite question is "Are you getting into your busy season?"  Camp is a year round busy season!
Here is a glimpse of what we are working on currently:

• Paddle boards are purchased
• Cooks are hired
• Menus are being made
• Plans for staff training for the 50 amazing young adults hired
• Taining for lifeguards and archery and small craft safety
• Processing scholarship forms (we still have money!)
• Meeting with community partners-Pathfinders Academy session 1, Mad Science session 2 and Girls Inc Session 3 as well as Mother Child A
• Looking for massage therapists for our family camps-know someone? Let us know!
• Updating staff manual
• Programming for the brand new teen camps-Camp In Action, Wilderness Camp & Teen Adventure
• Most importantly-choosing the color for camper t-shirts and hoodys(make sure you pre-order to guarantee you and your campers get one)! 

Even though camp is at 89% capacity for the summer we still have spots open and financial assistance available.  Please help us fill camp!!
http://ywcapdx.org/what-we-do/camp-programs/camp-westwind

We are doing a camp this summer for a group of 20 teen parents and are in need of the following things either to borrow or if you would like to donate them. They do need to be gently used or new(er) or if you would like to donate a gift card towards the purchase please let me know! Pass this on to your friends!

6 High Chairs
10 Baby Carriers (Baby Bjorn, Kelty back carriers, etc)
10 Pack & Play
4 sets Monitors
10 infant PFD’s
3-Changing Tables/pads
10 Ikea style plates, cups, silverware for toddlers
10 Sippy cups
Parenting/Pregnancy Books
Board Books
Toddler Toys
Fun self care items for the moms

Camp is for failures!

"Camp is the perfect place to teach a kid failure."

I sat in a session at the American Camp Association listening to the speaker talk about: How do we create 21st Century Leaders? When he said this I sat there asking myself "why would we want our campers to be failures?" and then I remembered one of the most awkward parent teacher conference moments I have had.

Lily was in fourth grade and we could already see that she was scared of failure, disappointment and may have inherited a pinch of my perfectionism. We sat across from her teacher, seated at the kidney shaped table, all of us in chairs that made our knees come up to our chests talking about our daughter.  We got to hear how brilliant she is, a great student, always turning in her work, working at a level beyond her age and we were proud!  Then that moment came...you know the one you are thinking about in the car drive on the way to the conference when the teacher turns it around to the parent and asks if we have any questions or needs.  Out of nowhere I opened my mouth and said "we need you to give our daughter more opportunities to fail".  The teacher looked baffled and her answer was "why would you want that for your child?".

Failure teaches our kids resilience, how to ask for help, perseverance, critical thinking, creativity and helps curb anxiety later in life .When a person is left without the opportunity to fail in the formative years,  fear builds up therefore we may not even take risks when given a choice.

So, where do Camp and Failure intersect?  Your camper goes to camp without you (unless you are coming to one of our amazing family camp sessions then you can have opportunities to fail together). Campers have opportunities to try new foods, activities and making new friends on their own.  There isn't anyone there telling them they can't do it, they are less afraid of letting someone down because they may never see these people again, there is a gaggle of peers cheering them on and trying themselves along with a young adult counselor that right now is counting down the days till they get to spend their summer with your campers!

Campers get to try shooting archery and if they don't get it on the first day or second day or fourth day, when they hit the target (maybe not a bulls-eye but they hit just enough to make the arrow stay in the targets edge) on the last day they may have well won a gold medal in the Olympics! Cheers erupt and your camper all of a sudden forgets that they have tried and failed the last four days.  What they remember is that they kept trying, the took encouragement when they failed and got creative about how they could succeed.  They talked about how they felt in a safe environment, they set a new goal for themselves each day, they were given opportunities to keep trying (and keep failing).  They were empowered!

Don't let the spots for camp fill up and take the chance for your child to miss opportunities for failure.  Instead of your child being one of the statistical American youth that spends only 3.5 minutes per day in meaningful conversation, send them to camp where in one week they will have hours upon hours of meaningful conversations, grow in their independence, learn new skills, make new friends, and if they must, they can fail at camp and we will pick them back up and encourage them to keep going!

PS Lily has become a pro at failing-maybe not in her school work but we have found opportunities for her now as a 7th grade girl to fail without shame, humiliation or the ability to keep trying-she goes to camp!

See you this summer!

Janette "Pickle" Kunkel

Last Friday I sat staring at my computer waiting needing to write the Friday Camp news to tell about how amazing Camp Westwind is and of all the new and exciting camps especially for teens that we have for this coming summer and how registrations are filling quickly but I just sat like many of you seeing before me the horror unfold of the latest shootings.

I wanted to remind people that if they are struggling financially that we have financial assistance and this year we are excited to have an even greater amount to award thanks to grants and that they can apply now and not wait but how do I offer to alleviate financial burdens when there are parents with heavier burdens happening before my eyes.

Without the ability to even put thoughts together to write about camp I pushed it aside hoping it would get easier.  I don’t think it will get easier but what I do know is that camp is a safe place where staff and campers alike feel valued, gain confidence, build friendships and see the worth that they have in a greater community. See the outcomes table at the end of this email and you can read what people are saying Camp Westwind does for their camper and their families.

Why not take this time to reevaluate how we are invested in our children’s lives? Are we experiencing life first hand by going to camp and enjoying a session of Mother Child or Father Child with our children and building lasting memories, putting in precious time with them and gaining a stronger relationship or are we experiencing life second hand by reading about their lives on their Twitter feed or Facebook status or by texting with them? Why not step away from the technology and onto the sand where you can sing songs, laugh, kayak and enjoy life together-first hand?! Why not send your youth or teen to one of our amazing  six sessions of camp?

I was sitting with a camp applicant doing her interview on Sunday night and she was talking about the value of camp for a camper. She stated that after the shootings last week it left her longing for a week at camp where she knew she could be surrounded by loving and caring friends and young adults that would talk and process with her, where they could all laugh and play and be carefree. Camp Westwind is a place anyone can come and where the only expectation is to be whoever you are and to know that is more than enough.

So this holiday season consider giving the gift of camp to your camper, your family, your grandchild or your neighbor. Registration is now open for all camps!

Peace on earth.

Janette “Pickle” Kunkel and Sarah “Sassy” Keplinger

PS: Don’t forget, if you register before January 1 you get last year’s prices!! 

PSS: Please make sure you add westwind@ywcapdx.org to your safe email list as many of you keep missing out on the happenings at camp due to your filters.

Laura "Platy" & Norah "Bagira" get excited about Travel Camp!

The following is a beautiful reflection from the mother of Laura "Platy".  Laura has been on staff at Camp Westwind over the last 6 years.  She is a beautiful and passionate woman and we are blessed to have her be part of our camp family.  She recently helped in singing and playing her guitar for the amazing Camp Westwind CD that is for sale through our camp store and entertaining us at the 75 of years of Camp celebration.  We are thrilled to be welcoming Platy back this summer working on our Teen Specialty programs; Travel Camp, Wilderness Camp and Camp In Action!

Registration is now open for all camps and if you are inspired by Linda's story below, send the link on to others looking for a summer camp!

*Interested in being a guest blogger? Send your story to: janettek@ywcapdx.org 

A Mom’s Perspective: A Love Letter to Camp Westwind

When my daughter, Laura, was 8 years old, she learned about Camp Westwind from her friend, Rose, whose older brothers had attended for several years.  Laura and Rose made a plan to attend the same session that summer and applied together, excitedly looking forward to camp.  And Laura was thrilled that she had Rose to show her the ropes! 

Her father and I drove Laura to the parking lot where she boarded the bus, giving us a last hug.  I drove away waving at her little face smooshed up against the bus window.  We were puzzled that we hadn’t seen Rose yet, but we both had to leave and get back to work.

It was only when we saw Laura after her week at camp that we learned that not only was Rose not on the same bus, but Rose and Laura hadn’t been placed in the same cabin!  Horrors!  And Laura had cried half way to the coast after we drove away.  How to break a mom’s heart…

It turns out that Laura’s first experience at Camp Westwind was the beginning of a true love affair for the outdoors, kids, adventure—and Westwind.  Laura is now 22 years old and has been at the camp almost every summer as a camper and then on staff as a youth counselor.  She has an exuberance for life, is a natural leader, and loves kids.  Although she comes by these attributes naturally, I believe that Westwind was the safe and sacred place where she blossomed and realized her love for nature and kids—and where she knew she had much to offer in life as an inspired leader.

Camp Westwind is where Laura fondly known as “Platy” to campers has become adept at working with a diverse mix of children and where she has had to hone her diplomatic, creative and leadership skills to be effective in guiding, motivating and supporting kids toward a positive camp experience.  Camp Westwind is where Laura has been physically challenged to be strong and persevere in getting the job done through exhaustion—and in rain or shine. This is where she has developed her dedicated work ethic.

Camp Westwind is where Laura learned about true teamwork with her peers; she matured through the process of working hard with a wide array of personalities and viewpoints. And Camp Westwind is where Laura has made lifelong friendships with these kindred souls.  Camp Westwind is where Laura has shared her amazing gift of music and where she has been able to be her most complete self.  Camp Westwind is where Laura has felt the most fully alive.

Camp Westwind is the place Laura grieved her father’s death and the place where she’s found the most healing.

Many years ago, Rose’s brother, Will, wrote the now-beloved Camp Westwind anthem that is always sung at campfires by camp and staff.  The main lyric is “Westwind moves in me.”  I know Westwind moves in Laura—and certainly moves in her grateful mother.

--Linda

Summer Camp Registration opens in just two days!

Oh the weather outside is frightful but summer camp is so delightful, there's no other place to go...
Don't miss out on Camp Westwind this summer!
A great way to kick off the holidays-give the gift of camp and register for a session at Camp Westwind this summer-it's the gift that keeps on giving!

Register in the month of December and get last years prices! 

For the session dates and information go to: 
http://ywcapdx.org/what-we-do/camp-programs/camp-sessions/

Registration Dates are as follows:

• Century Partners (monthly donors) Monday 12/3 from 7am to 5pm PST
• General Public Tuesday 12/4 7am PST

The financial assistance forms are updated and posted on the website and are being accepted at any time.

Emails have gone out and and we are finding that many of your emails are blocking camp emails through your spam filters. We are working on getting this fixed.

Can't wait to see you at the beach!