Session 2, Day 5

Song for today...

Flicker
Flicker of the campfire, wind in the pines
The stars in the heavens, the moon that shines
A place where people gather, make friends of all kinds
A place where Old Man Trouble is always left behind

Chorus:
So give me the light of the campfire, warm and bright
And give me some friends to sing with, I’ll be here all night
Love is for those who find it, I’ve found mine right here
Just you and I and the campfire and the songs we love to
hear
Da-da, da da-da da-da da-da

The peacefulness of Westwind, the silence of night
The sun in the morning that shines so bright
A place where campers gather, make friends for all time
A place where city troubles are always left behind (Chorus)

Green are the valleys, sweet is the clover
Gone are the cold winds forever more
The roses now are blooming, the ocean’s so blue
The sun above is shining upon our love so new (Chorus)

For love is like a warm fire, soft and low
And when you find your true love, your heart will really know
And when the leaves start falling, and friends begin to part
These memories of Westwind will be in every heart (Chorus)

Sing Your Way Home
Sing your way home at the close of the day
Sing your way home, drive the shadows away
Smile every mile, for wherever you roam
It will brighten your road, it will lighten your load
If you sing your way home

It's sad to say, but the session is coming to an end! Shoot, where is the time going?! I would have to say that even though the session has had some rain, that hasn't dampened the camp spirit.

If you've read the rest of the blogs, you know what we've been up to, up until today. Today, let me tell you, was a fantastic day! The sun was shining, and it was so warm. It was a great day to have a BBQ dinner!

Some of the highlights of this week:
The Teen Unit! The Teen Lead's did a great job with campfire! It was a Scooby Doo campfire, where they tried to find "Tom Cruise."

Fairy Houses! I don't know if you know this, but Camp Westwind has little fairies that live around camp. Sometimes they even make an appearance at campfire! The Sherwood campers this week made many fairy houses to house them from the rainy weather... The campers and the fairies were writing back and forth to each other all week. Did you know the best way to get a letter at camp is by shrinky dink?

Well, I can't believe the week is over! But, it's about time for me to head out and watch some starstomping!

By the way, if you are interested in pictures from this session, you can order our AMAZING camp DVD on UltraCamp in your account! The campers seem to be very interested, so check it out!

Session 2, Day 4

Oh man! I wish you gals & guys reading this could hear what I am hearing and see what I'm seeing now! Our all camp tonight was about Siegfried the Slug (see previous blogs to read about him).... He finally realized what he was good at, and it is dancing! Right now camp is having an all-camp dance, and the campers and staff are singing together and dancing! It is so awesome! I was too excited to tell you about that, so I had to get it out of the way first! It's great hearing campers chant "it's too much fun, it's too much fun!" I really wish the video function on the blog was working!

The weather today wasn't fantastic, in fact it poured most of the day. The best part though (from my perspective) is that the kids still wanted to be outside, and those who didn't stayed inside and played games, went to The Cove, or the Art Palace. Teens' tents were flooding, so they came back to camp early, making the decision on their own (although they wanted to stay out).

This week has been so amazing despite the weather, and the kids are having an amazing time! I can't believe that tomorrow is the last full day of camp! That's crazy, we just started this camp party!

Time for more snow cones and a visit to the donut shop (the downstairs "donut shop" of course!) and to bust a move!

Menu:
Breakfast - Packout!
Lunch - Mexican Lasagna, salad bar, sandwich bar
Dinner - Chicken Pot Pie, watermelon, salad bar, sandwich bar

Hello! Whew, it has been a pretty busy couple of days out here at the beach!

Yesterday morning, cabins spent time preparing skits and songs for the Talent Show and bonding as a cabin.

In the afternoon, Sherwood spent time between the Art Palace making tie-dye, shrinky-dinks, and more, as well as The Cove. The Cove if you don't know, is our new hang-out spot, with a sound system for dance parties, music while playing games, and our camp store has moved there! The rest of the afternoon, Sherwood spent the rest of their afternoon on the Challenge Course.

Highlands cabins spent the first part of their afternoon on the Challenge Course. The rest of their afternoon, they were the lucky ones with shower & cabin time!

Alpine spent the afternoon at the Barn & Aquatics. They had choices in doing the Bouldering Wall, Archery and Soccer at the barn. During the Aquatics, they had the opportunity to go kayaking and river dipping.

The Teens filled their day with leadership skills, kayaking, Art Palace, and more adventures!

Now, I'd like to remind you that all of that fun happened while it was raining outside! WooHoo!!! Kids outside in the rain is amazing! I love it!

After dinner, the whole camp gathered back into the Lodge for our Talent Show. The Talent Show was amazing! Campers sang songs, did improve, and participated in skits. It's amazing to see how amazing and talented all the campers and staff are!

If you'd like to know what we had for meals, here you go!
Monday
Breakfast: Eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, milk, juice, cereal bar, breakfast bar, and bread bar.
Lunch: Packout Lunches - make your own sandwich, chips, cookies, veggies & fruit
Dinner: Chicken & rice, biscuits, water, milk, juice

Tuesday
Breakfast: Pancakes, bacon & sausage, milk, juice, cereal bar, breakfast bar, and bread bar.
Lunch: Tuna Casserole, salad bar, bread/sandwich bar
Dinner: Packout Dinner - Dinners are being made at their overnight spots!

Session 2, Day 1

Let's start with a song for you...
Siegfried the Slug

Siegfried was a slug
But not he’s not your average bug
You can love him like a brother or a sister or a dog
But you just can’t give him a hug

I’ll tell you why
He’s just to slimy, too slimy to slimy
And he’s really really small, really small, really really small
And you don’t know where he’s going, where’s he going, where’s he going
Look he’s climbing up the wall, up the wall, up the wall.

Siegfried was a slug
But he’s not your average bug
You can’t tell the front from the back sometimes
But he sure can cut a rug

UH-UH UH UH UH
UH UH UH UH UH
UH UH UH UH UH
Funky cold slug

UH-UH UH UH UH
UH UH UH UH UH
UH UH UH UH UH
Funky cold slug

1-2-3-4- get your sluggy on the floor
gotta gotta get up to get down,
gotta gotta get up to get down

1-2-3-4- get your sluggy on the floor
gotta gotta get up to get down,
gotta gotta get up to get down

We are off to a great start here at Camp for Session 2! After arrival today, we came to the lodge for grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup (and salad bar of course), then headed out for some activities. Campers played on the beach, Teens went kayaking, they moved into their cabins, later we gathered in front of the lodge to review emergency plans (just in case), had flag, sang songs, ate dinner, Sundae Sundays, and campfire.

Campfire was loads of fun - it was a "Royal Wedding!" The kids were all laughing super hard!

Can't wait for another great Westwind day tomorrow!

Session 1, Day 4

A song for you today...
Barges
Out of my window looking in the night
I can see the barges’ flickering light
Silently flows the water to the sea
And the barges, too, go silently

Chorus:
Barges, I would like to go with you
I would like to sail the ocean blue
Barges, have you treasures in your hold?
Do you fight with pirates brave and bold?

Out my window looking in the night
I can see the barges’ flickering light
Starboard shines green and port is glowing red
You can see them flickering ahead (Chorus)

How my heart longs to sail away with you
I would like to sail the ocean blue
But I must stay beside my window drear
As I watch you sail away from here (Chorus)

Today was another glorious day! It was a little bit overcast, but that did not damper the day at all. This morning, campers came back from the overnight (Sherwood a little early as the ravens got to their food bags that were tied so nicely in the trees - don't worry though, they came back and their Unit Coordinator had breakfast waiting for them). Teens of course are still on their overnight - they will return tomorrow.


After enjoying their overnights, campers came back to camp and unloaded their gear. Some showered, some went mudmucking, some went to the Art Palace, and others went to the beach. We had a hot lunch today, then campers went back out to enjoy the outside. Campers went to mudmucking, kayaking, sports, tie-dye, games, archery, bouldering wall, challenge course, and more!


The day ended with an Alien All-Camp! It was so much fun! Here are some pictures from it!

Session 1, Day 3

Another gorgeous day at camp! I can't believe how lucky we are... Right now, I would like you to close your eyes. Imagine that you can hear the calm of the ocean waves crashing in a near distance. Now you can see the sun setting over the water and Three Rocks. The sky is turning an orange, pink, yellowy color, and darkness is slowly creeping it's way in. Okay, wake up!

Like I said, today was another wonderful day here at camp! The campers are having loads of fun tidepooling, playing elimination, making salmonberry snowcones, and other fun unit interest group activities. After lunch, cabins had a pack-out lunch that allowed them to have a picnic where ever they choose. Some ate on the porch, some at the campfire, on the steps, and on the beach. Other campers (in Highlands) hiked to High Meadow today, and "enjoyed being on top of the clouds."

Now, main camp is quiet. Campers and staff dispersed to their overnights around 4:00 this afternoon. They are going to learn to cookout their own food, and enjoy (hopefully) sleeping under the stars. And, Teens has begun their two night overnight!

I am very impressed with our campers and staff. They are all an amazing group of people to have this first session of camp!

Menu:
Breakfast - pancakes, sausage, breakfast bar, bagel/toast bar, orange, apple, and grape juice.
Lunch - make your own sandwiches (kids are really enjoying our new sandwich bar of making their own sandwiches. Some of them even come back for seconds!)
Dinner - Pack-out for overnights!

Session 1, Day 2

THE SUN!
THE SUN!
THE SUN CAME OUT TODAY!

Oh, it's a wonderful day. It tricked us a little bit as it was sprinkling hard this morning, and now, it is going to be a gorgeous sunset on the beach. WooHoo!

Today was the first full day of camp. This morning, we had some cabin time and talent show prep time, while the finishing touches were put on the bouldering wall. After lunch, the cabins were in full activity swing. Sherwood campers had time at the Art Palace & the Cove (Camp Store) as well as Challenge Course; Highlands participated in Challenge Course and Cabin/Shower TIme; Alpine had fun at the Barn (Bouldering Wall, Archery, Soccer) then kayaking and river dipping; Teens did archery this morning, kayaking and river wading this morning and the Cove and Art Palace this afternoon.

Right now, campers are getting ready for the Talent Show in the Lodge. Strike that, Talent Show over, and it was fabulous! The kids are great!!!!


The menu for today:
Breakfast: Eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, yogurt, cereal bar, toast/bagel bar, applesauce, milk, water
Lunch: Make your own sandwich, fruit & cookies
Dinner: Baked potato bar, salad bar, ham, cornbread, Jell-O

SESSION 1 CAMPERS ARE HERE!

I'm not quite sure how it came so soon, but I'm glad it did!

Staff training is over. Open House - even with the rain - was a great success! And now, you're never going to guess who's here... Yes, I am hearing the laughter and play of all the Session 1 campers!

After the campers arrived today (and found a crab!), they met their cabins, played some games, we had a health screen & an all camp orientation; soon will be flag, then dinner, Sunday Sundaes, cabin time & campfire! It's a pretty packed first day of camp!

Oh, I'm pretty sure that I've talked about how wonderful our cooks are... Well, tonight for dinner, we've got spaghetti and homemade bread! WooHoo! The lodge smells so good! We will also have our brand new salad bar out! Mmm, dinner was great!

WooHoo, I'm Here at Camp!

We welcome you to Camp Westwind,
We're mighty glad you're here,
We'll send the air reverberating,
With a mighty cheer,
We'll sing you in,
We'll sing you out,
To you we raise a mighty shout,
HOORAY!
Hail, Hail the gang's all here,
Welcome to Camp Westwind.

WooHoo! I am so excited. We moved out to camp a few days ago, the sun has been shining and it's been fairly warm (considering what the last few days in Portland were). I've been listening to the wind, hiking on a trail, doing flag, oh, and have I mentioned how wonderful our kitchen staff are this year? They are FABULOUS! :D I can't wait for you all to try their food!

Two days ago, our STARs, UCs, and Returning staff arrived at camp. We started cleaning out the Bat Cave & Barn (where we store camp for the other 9 months of the year)... We also began discussing some of the exciting changes for this year including, all staff being able to become certified lifeguards (if chosen), archery instructors, small craft safety (kayaking),. challenge course & bouldering wall! We are all very excited about this! What does this mean for you...? Well, this means that more people will be able to faciliate any activity that you are looking forward to doing at camp, doesn't that sound fabulous?!

The rest of the resident camp staff joined us yesterday where we put on an awesome campfire! It was a great, and hilarious start to this summer - we'll see if I can figure out how to put up some songs and videos from it as well.

Today, the wonderful day camp staff joined us! We sang them in today! Not only did they bring their awesome selves, BUT, they also brought our archery equipment back, after we had it professionally checked out! The arrows look fabulous as all the nocks and fletchings are now color coded! This is very exciting for me because I am a BIG fan of archery (especially our range!).

Our Executive Director & Interim Executive Director came out to visit camp, as well as Choya (another YWCA staff member), and they wanted to stay forever! Luckily, camp will be here, and they can join us (and you) any time!

We were very excited about our guest trainers, Scott Arizala, Trisha, and even more! Thank you for coming out to help train our staff!

Oh yeah, we also saw some whales and dolphins today!

I apologize for the lack of recent blogging, and I will do better in the following weeks.

Question!! How often would you want a blog post? Daily? Weekly? What would you like to know?!

We are very excited to have you here this summer, if you are not yet registered for camp, there is still plenty of room! Sign up, sign up a friend, etc!!!