Session 2 Day 4

Well, today started out really sunny and warm, but guess what?!  Right around the time our Mini Campers were packing their luggage to go home, and our long session campers were preparing for their overnight it started pouring buckets of rain! But, don't worry, the Mini Campers are on their way home and the session 2 campers are all out on their overnights - modified of course.  Alpine is going to make tarp tents to sleep under!

Teens, they're still out enjoying the wilderness of Westwind.  Last night they camped at the Estuary Spot, and today, they've hiked through to another overnight spot, trying to stay dry.

It's funny how quiet camp is when everyone is out on overnights (or out of camp), it seems like something is missing.  The campers have been having fun though! I think their favorite part of cleaning the dining hall after meals is cleaning while having a dance party!!! Oh yeah! :D

Session 2 Day 3

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Hello Friends & Family!

Sorry for not posting yesterday, the Virigina Reel going on in the Lodge was too distracting last night, along with the Talent Show, Alpine's Afternoon of Awesomeness, Build & Burn, fort building, preparing for bowling, and some even snuck in a shower!  Today, is not much different. So MUCH fun going on!

This morning we had interest groups which included:

• Art Anywhere with Zorro & Ness. They headed down to Pirates Cove to do art with things they found from the beach.  It's pretty amazing what they came up with. 
• Relaxation Time with Aramara & Rohi (haha, they did some yoga, but the only yoga direction we had was Jellyfish's prenatal yoga DVD!) They also painted nails, rubbed banana on their faces, and had some yummy snacks. 
• Seafaring with Bandit & TK. They made some paper card rafts, headed to the Estuary to tie their rafts together to watch them float, building sand castles, and possibly kayak. 
• Stock Market with Pi & Goggles. These campers were learning to do some projections and calculations of purchase prices.  May not sound super fun, but they seemed to LOVE it!

Today has turned into such a wonderful day!  Not that it was terrible this morning, but the sun is shining so nice.  The highlands unit is on the porch of the lodge enjoying SpaLaLa, while basking in the sun & listening to the wind and waves crash on the beach. They are soaking their feet, getting cucumber eye shields, oatmeal face mask, sugar scrub, and some snacks.

Sherwood is in the Art Palace doing some tie-dye & painting their name tags.  They are enjoying their time after their relaxing spa time in the Cove.

Alpine is on an adventure!  They headed out on a hike to find an amazing secret spot to bury a time capsule!  How amazing is that?

Teen Lead 1's just headed out to their 2-night overnight.  They headed to one of our most beautiful campsite places.

Tonight we have a Where the Wild Things Are all-camp!  It's going to be fantastic!

Here's to hoping the weather stays nice, and those of you reading this are having as nice of weather as we are here at the beach!

PS, Cabin & All Camp Session photos are available on UltraCamp.com!

Travel Camp 2012 Update

Hello from Montana!!

We are a car full of champions! After getting eaten alive by ferocious mosquitos at a campground near John Day, we had a trying day in Boise, ID. The drive to Boise was relatively uneventful; the rolling brown hills don't provide a lot for scenic entertainment. During a small leg-stretching stop in the small town of Vale, OR, we were warned about Idaho drivers by a friendly local baker. He compared them to “bad Eugene drivers on a bad day during a Ducks game.” What were we getting ourselves into?

We made it to an enormous Fred Meyers on the outskirts of Boise where we had a monster shopping session, collecting provisions for several future meals. It felt good to plan ahead! We then headed towards campgrounds that we had previously researched, called about, and decided on but upon reaching the area, we discovered that all of our research had left out one important detail: all of the campsites were only accessible by boat. We made a spaghetti dinner in a nearby State Park and enjoyed the sunny weather while casually planning our next move. I spoke to some local cyclists passing through the park about camping ideas and they recommended an RV park in Boise. The only other plan we had in Boise was to rock climb any time before 10pm. Leaving the park a little later than planned, we headed towards the RV park only to be chased by an intense dust storm; the weather had changed within seconds and, with the surrounding strip malls associated with our environment, we felt an increasing gloom. So far we were unimpressed with Boise, and thus made general assumptions of Idaho. In the Fred Meyers, some of the campers encountered offensive remarks against inter-racial marriages, while the other campers noticed how “white,” “sterile,” and “hostile” Boise felt. The compressing heat and sprawling city roads did not improve our opinion of Boise.

When we finally reached the RV park in the impending storm, we realized it was unfit due to the lack of tent space and suffocating environment. It became clear, much to our dismay, that rock climbing was no longer an option; we had spent all our time driving from one side of Boise to the other looking for adequate accommodation. We decided to put forth our energy into finding an affordable, yet comfortable hotel room and eventually found a Shiloh Inn. Although we arrived late, many of the campers enjoyed the sauna and everyone took pleasure in the hot showers, electrical outlets, and soft, clean, bug-free beds.

The next morning we took full advantage of the continental breakfast and took off to the Craters of the Moon National Monument. The drive was dry, hot, and dusty, but when we reached Craters of the Moon, it was like stepping out into an alien world. We rolled into a campsite surrounded by lava rocks and ruins with total exposure to the sun. After setting up camp, we drove out to explore the area and hiked up a giant black, scree-covered hill. The view was incredible – one good thing about Idaho's flatness is the distance you can see from a viewpoint. We could almost see the Tetons off to the distance, and spent time gazing down at the strange lava ruins below us. We then drove to lava caves through which we crawled and explored. It was a quick climate change from the intense heat above ground to the coolness of the world underneath the surface. We enjoyed rock climbing among the stalagmites and boulders.

Later in the evening, after a successful quesadilla dinner courtesy of Jose, we attended a ranger talk on the sky seen from Craters of the Moon. Because of the remoteness of the area, the sky above Craters is one of the darkest in the country, therefore allowing prime star-gazing conditions. We learned all about the night sky while trying not to be too distracted by the fireflies and the planets over our heads. After the talk, we drove back out to the caves to attend a Star Party: a telescope event focused on specific sights in the sky. We saw Saturn, globular clusters, Mars and Jupiter, galaxies, supernovas, and learned all about the constellations that are visible in the night sky.
The next day we set off for West Yellowstone. The drive was moderate – we stopped in Rexburg for lunch where we sadly left behind our camera, which had been a beautiful documentation of our trip thus far. Fortunately, there are enough personal cameras through which we can collect photos. West Yellowstone was a refreshing experience. We found a campground just outside of the town and Yellowstone National Park and spent the evening swimming in the Madison River, eating pizza and enjoying the picturesque, touristy town. That night we had a value session on stereotypes and identity. The comments were astoundingly thoughtful; everyone took away something powerful and our discussion dived deep into the issues that we are all conscious of. Cloud and I were blown away by the extension of the discussion. We feel incredibly lucky to have such intelligent and introspective young adults as our companions. We slept soundly that night despite our awareness that we were in bear country and that the sounds of the forest were filled with unfamiliar sounds.

The next day we were in Yellowstone. This was a monumental experience for us and brought travel camp to a whole new level. I will write about our incredibly Yellowstone experience in the next blog post. Tonight we are in Missoula, taking the opportunity to rest, shower, do laundry, and revive ourselves before full immersion into the rugged terrain of Glacier National Park.

We have encountered many challenges along the way – bugs, intense heat, extremely long days, a difficult hike, and exhaustion. But like I said, we are a car full of champions, and these kids bring so much to the places we travel to, I feel immensely grateful to be a part of their experience.

More soon,
Platy

Session 2 Day 1

Hello Friends and Family of Camp Westwind!

Today we start our second session of camp!  WooHoo!!!  It is currently nice and quiet, as I look out the office window and the far out tide with waves crashing, and the rain pouring down.  It sounds so bittersweet, but I'll tell you it's WONDERFUL!  The only thing missing is some campers!

In about an hour and a half, our staff will arrive to get ready for the campers.  In just 3 hours, the campers will be here! I can't wait for this amazing session to happen!  Stay tuned for more information about the week!

Travel Camp Day 2

This blog is a little delayed in being posted, but, that's okay!!   Here's the update from Travel Camp Day 2!


Yesterday Cloud and I met Max, Jose, Shannon, Daron, and Gabe at PCC Sylvania. Everyone was in good spirits and looking excitedly towards the trip. After leaving PCC, we drove to Wilsonville to pick up Milleena, stopped to get food at Fred Meyers, and then hit the road towards Maupin.

On the way, we did introductions, and even though we had only been in the car together for a short time, it felt as if we had been traveling for much longer! Upon reaching the small, outdoor-focused town of Maupin, we met up with Courtney, an old friend of mine and our raft guide! Courtney also took us rafting last year and we knew we'd be in good hands; his experience and hilarity are unique and enjoyable. He also has a connection to Westwind through Link – Courtney is Link's older brother!

Rafting was great. It was a hot day so being out in the sun but getting splashed by the cool Deschutes River was refreshing. Everyone had fun – Milleena and Gabe were particularly enthused and were in the water every chance they got. Daron also took a big leap of faith and jumped off a rock into the water, despite his “irrational” fear. Not irrational, Daron! But he did awesome job overcoming his fear!

Once done and changed out of our soggy clothes, we ate a pizza dinner and then hit the road to the BEAUTIFUL Smith Rock State Park, located between Madras and Redmond. Last year we camped at Smith Rock but had arrived so late, we didn't have much opportunity to look around. This year it was still light out so we were able to walk around and get a good tent spot. We even saw a guy slack-lining at the very top of Smith Rock!!

We set up camp before dark and enjoyed the laid-back back-country outdoor-adventurer setting. Before sleep, we went over guidelines, expectations, and personal goals for this trip. Everyone's goals were insightful, achievable, honest, and real. Hearing them only further ignited my appreciation for this group and the excitement for the days ahead. Sleeping under a full night of stars, we closed our first day with high hopes and delight for this profound experience.
Today we stopped at the Painted Hills outside of Mitchell, OR. What clandestine, desolate, and simple beauty! We were taken with the layers of sand (dirt?) that have created these picturesque fossilized monuments. Although it was hot hot hot, something about the exquisite, yet remote hills drew us in and we felt like we were in another land.

We ate lunch at the hills and enjoyed the isolation. Now we are back on the road towards John Day, engulfed in a scenery that is somehow bleak yet fascinating. The grass around us is almost colorless with trees that are sparse and therefore important. But the hills that roll and roll almost seem like a smooth, dry sea, uninterrupted by the coarse presence of humanity.

Central and Eastern Oregon are climates all of their own. Ochoco National Forest was like a natural compromise between the high desert and a forest; beautiful pine trees among the sage brush, expanding for miles and miles and covering unusual canyons, rock formations, and mountains.
So far we haven't seen much wildlife. Only snakes, lizards, and international rock climbers... We're hoping for some goats and bears in the upcoming days!!

Tonight we camp near John Day and tomorrow we head towards Boise, slowly winding towards Yellowstone, and soon, Glacier National Parks. The energy in the car is electric; everyone is reacting strongly to the beautiful landscapes that we have been so fortunate to already see. The enthusiasm is spreading like the wildfires that threaten these fragile Eastern Oregon ecosystems.

To pass the time in the car, we have been playing “Contact,” a word-guessing game that has expanded the vocabulary of just about everyone in the car. I also brought a book of 101 questions to “tickle the mind.” Some of these questions have rendered eloquent responses. Examples:

Q: If you could learn only one fact about every person that you meet, what would be?
Gabe: I would want to know what, in their opinion, is the most beautiful thing (anything) and why. This is a window into who they are and provides more facts into their person than just the obvious.
Cloud: I would want to know what their passion was in life. What are they seeking? What are they looking for? What do they want with life, in life?

Q: What is the greatest lesson in life you've ever learned (so far)?
Jose: Sacrificing something so something greater will come from that... and being able to do that.
Gabe: To never underestimate anything or anyone.

Man, these kids rock!

Cloud and I are so excited to be here with such amazing young adults exploring such exquisite countryside.

More stories to come!
-Platy

Session 1, Day 3

Oh man! This morning was a little bit rough, since it was raining! Some of the Highlands cabins woke and were able to do something beautiful! They went tide pooling this morning, BEFORE breakfast! The tide was really low, so it was a great day for this!

 Alpine's Klickitat cabin lead a great flag ceremony this morning!

 After some cabin time to get ready for interest groups, we once again divided up into our groups to enjoy more fun:

• Egg Drop with Peep and Otter dropped their containers off the whale watching deck, the lodge deck and if they survived the fall, which many did, they went to Old Craft to finish out the activity. 
• What Not to Wear with Tulip and Yachats played a fashion themed game of Mafia and had a fashion show. 
• How to be a Spy with Lilo and Trex, they came up with the spy names and made notebooks and ID cards. 
• Highways Robbery/Highway Friendship with Bandit and Alma did a scavenger hunt around camp, played a bandit game, made forts and then dressed as bandits. 
• Left Behind! Outdoor Survival with Blinker and Toast painted their faces camo style then went to the beach to play predator of prey in the dunes. 

 We enjoyed a great lunch and the campers are now packing up for their overnights. Sherwood will be spending the night at Pirates Cove, Highlands will be at Old Ranch and Alpine will be at the Estuary. 

The teens needed to return to main camp to gather warm clothes, dry their sleeping bags before heading out to the barn for the overnight.

We also hosted a slumber party for another nearby summer camp's staff. Welcome BB Camp to the wonderful Westwind Beach!

Today’s Menu: Breakfast: Chocolate Chip Pancackes, Fresh Fruit, Orange Juice, Sausage, Cereal Bar, Bagel/toast bar, Water Lunch: Tator Tot Cassarole, Salad Bar, Sandwhich Bar, Lemonade, Water Dinner: Units are on their overnights

Session 1 Day 2, 2012!

Today was a great start to the first session of the summer. We had a bit of rain, but thankfully it only lasted about 20 minutes. After some cabin time, we gathered in the lodge to find out which interest groups the campers would be participating in. This weeks choices were: Highway Robbery/Highway Friendship with Bandit and Alma, What Not to Wear: Bat Cave Style with Yachats and Tulip, Egg Drop with Otter and Peep, How to be a Spy with Lilo and Trex, and finally Left Behind! Outdoor Survival with Blinker and Toast. From the conversations at lunch, everyone enjoyed their interest groups. After lunch there was quiet cabin time, followed by cabin activity time. Sherwood went kayaking and also spent some time on the archery range. Highlands did some team building on the challenge course, did candle making and tie-dye in the art palace, followed by some time in the Cove where we have our camp store. Alpine played soccer and did archery today at the barn, and enjoyed time in the cove with store time, and also a fondue party. They also created some groovy picture frames, decorated their nametags, and made friendship bracelets in the Art Palace. Our Teen Adventure Group left on their two night overnights. They will stay tonight at the very popular Estuary spot, then move to Eagles Roost tomorrow night. Tonight's talent show had a surprise visit from the famous Four Directions, and Destiny’s band. They performed their biggest chart topping hit. We also had a few cabins show us their talent. We had a great first day of camp, and tomorrow we will be going out on our cabin overnights. The menu for today: Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Hash browns, Milk, Water, Cereal Bar, and bagel/toast bar Lunch: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Creamy Potato Bacon Soup, Salad Bar, Water and Lemonade Dinner: Baked Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, Corn and Green Bean Medley, Salad Bar, Water, Milk, and Cupcakes for dessert.