Have you ever had a birthday party or any party for that matter and made all the preparations, sent out the invitations, ordered the food, planned the entertainment and then the day before feared no one was going to show up? That is how I was feeling last Thursday night.  When 6pm on Friday rolled around I was thankful to see many people showing up for the Camp Westwind Birthday Celebration. 

There were around 200 people gathered in the gym at the ywca building downtown.  200 people that love and care about Camp Westwind.  We sang camp songs, ate food, listened to campers share their stories, made s'mores in a fountain of chocolate, connected with old friends, made new ones, danced and some even stayed long enough for the karaoke!

What next? Wind Down at Camp Westwind weekend September 28-30. Come to Camp with your family, friends or just alone and enjoy fall on the beach, wine tasting,singing, campfire and make a real s'more with us! This is the last chance to get a little Camp Westwind in before the winter sets in-the last dose before summer! Register through the ywca website: www.ywcapdx.org

Come Wind Down with us as we gear up for planning your 2013 camp season!

Janette "Pickle"
janettek@ywcapdx.org

PS If you didn't get a chance to give a birthday gift to camp and still would like to email me-we have a list of items we need and we always appreciate donations towards our scholarship fund!

Session 5 Day 4

Another wonderful day here at the beach!  The sun has been shining and it has been pretty warm, with a bit of a breeze. 


As I'm writing this, I'm listening to the Alpine girls singing and watching the dance while they sweep.  Did you know that campers don't quite mind sweeping  when they have music to dance to? It makes sweeping a lot better for them! 


During this gorgeous day today, campers came back from their overnights and unpacked their stuff. Some cabins went to the beach, while others showered.  


Sherwood went down to the challenge course and had some really good cabin breakthroughs! 


Alpine did a photo scavenger hunt, and the boys are making dinner for themselves.  


Some cabins are going on ANOTHER overnight tonight (they loved their first one so much)!


Teen Lead 1's learned some improv this afternoon as well as planned campfire. While the Teen Lead 2's planned the all camp (tomorrow), hung out in the art palace, had a value session, and are getting ready to do a camp "practicum" - that is putting all the skills they've learned the last two days together to solve problems. 


Right now, campers are getting ready to play Capture the Flag in the dune grass, while the sun begins to go down. Other campers (Highlands are having a Spa Party, making pudgy pies, cookies, oatmeal masks and other fun). 


'Til tomorrow! Have a wonderful evening!

Session 5, Day 2

Wow, I can't believe that this is our last Youth session of the summer!  Summer has flown by so quickly, and this session seems to be doing that as well!

After campers arrived yesterday, they had loads of time to get to know each other, stop at the barn for activities, check in with the nurses, tour camp, play on the beach, take cabin photos, learn the rules of camp, take an all camp photo, attend  flag, eat dinner, dessert, campfire, and a blacklight party!

If that doesn't sound busy enough, let's talk about today!

Before breakfast this morning, the Teen 2's grabbed the kayaks and headed up river to Otis Café.  After their breakfast, they jumped in a couple cars to head to BB Camp in Lincoln City to do their high ropes course.  (Pictures will follow, but the camera is dead now...)

The rest of the units spent their morning participating in different interest groups.  This weeks interest groups include: creating bridges, dancing, nature outings, kayaking, and more! After lunch, Teen Lead 1's and Interns headed out to their overnights. Teen Leads will be back in 2 days.  Sherwood spent time with Toast! doing nature activities, then headed to the Estuary for some river aquatic fun.  Alpine had an afternoon of awesomeness! And Highlands had some beach time, cabin time, and fun around camp.

We just finished the Talent Show, which was amazing.  Everyone that participated received standing "O's!"  We had dancing, singing, and skits.

Right now, everyone is on the beach having an EPIC beach party while the sunsets. It s a complete party with elimination, music, dancing, pudgy pies, predator & prey, and more!

Session 4 Last day

Good Morning!  

I can't believe Session 4 is at a close!  Campers are downstairs packing up their belongings, putting them in the tractor, and getting their buffet breakfast, while enjoying the last bit of life on the beach.  

Yesterday was a fun filled busy day that ended with a very nice campfire. It was a great end to this wonderful week.  

As we say goodbye to Session 4, we are preparing for Session 5's campers tomorrow!   There are only 2 more sessions left!

Session 4 Day 4

Pudgy Pies on the Beach

Another great day here at the beach. I know we didn't write yesterday, got a little distracted with the overnight.  Which, IT DIDN'T RAIN!!!  That is really exciting, for us at least. 

As awesome as yesterday was, I'd like to focus on today.  Everyone (from what I heard) had a great overnight.  The kids really enjoyed it. One poor Sherwood camper lost their shoe while they were star stomping, but in the morning, their UC, UA & Intern FOUND IT! The camper was so excited! 

After coming back, some cabins took their showers while others headed to do a counselor hunt. 

The Teen 2's returned from their two night overnight and played an epic game of sardines, had solo time, got to shower, participated in a hot seat activity with Hoku, and practiced teaching and facilitating games to the other Teen 2's.  

This evening I think has been a big highlight.  Now, normally dinner is a quieter meal, but tonight we were invaded by dinosaurs!  In fact, because we were invaded by dinosaurs, we decided to try to blend in so that we weren't seen.  So everyone at dinner pretended to be a dinosaur, they ate with t-rex arms, sang dino songs and roared like dinosaurs.  After dinner, they did an all camp, making dino masks, playing games and having snow cones.  They are currently dancing the evening away at the black light dance party hosted by Alpine. 

Ti'l tomorrow. 

Dance Party

Too much fun, takin' a break

Sherwood Campers

Session 4 Day 2

Good Evening Friends & Family! 

Today was another wonderful day!  The weather was a bit windy again, but it was none-the-less fabulous.  Highlands packed a sack lunch and went to Cascade Head.  They were lucky today, because when they went to kayak over, they found that they could WALK all the way across, and on the way back, they were lucky enough to coordinate getting a barge to cross with. 

Sherwood enjoyed some afternoon time at the river, kayaking, river dipping, building sandcastles, soaking and chasing counselors. What more could you ask for? 

Alpine had an afternoon of awesomeness! 

And Teens, well they packed up to go on their overnight for two nights after enjoying time on the challenge course.  

After dinner, I think was the biggest highlight of the day.... After the Talent Show, they had a Dance Party on the beach! Campers could play elimination, make pudgy pies, dance, and other fun on the beach.  

The evening has quieted down as they are settling into bed. 

Beach Dance Party

Kayaking on the River

Chasing the Counselor 

Rock Paper Scissors

Session 4 Day 1

Good Evening Camp Westwind!

I hope yet again that you guys and gals have had a fabulous day. Today was fulfilled and busy for us here at the beach.  After crossing, campers split into cabins, did some bonding and moved in.  They had beach time, played elimination, took cabin photos, had some snack around the lodge and even visited the nurse.

Right before dinner we had our all camp photo (will post on blog tomorrow - the camera battery died!) camp rules and flag.  After dinner, some cabins played games and others prepared their cabin calls for campfire.

Have you ever met Mandy the Ort Knight, OR Steve the Ort Knight in Training?  Well, they met us tonight at dinner and invited us to do Ort Knight Training at campfire.  We learned how to sleep in a tent, creativity, bravery, courage, leadership and being one with nature.

Did I also mention that we had DINOSAURS visit us for dinner?!?! Yes, we watched one "hatch" from an egg, and saw many different breeds of them!  This week is going to be an epic Jurassic Park week!  I can't wait to see what unfolds!

'Til tomorrow.