The final push to support Westwind!
We are so close to the end of another amazing year! From new bathrooms and new trails to the growth of exciting programs like our Earth Day Event, there is so much to celebrate. But before we can close the books on this year and celebrate with a chilled glass of delicious Westwind water, we…
It’s time to apply for Teen Camps!
Applications for Teen Stewards and Teen Leadership 2 are now open. Learn more about these incredible programs and apply for teen camps today! Teen Stewards Teen Stewards is a program for campers entering 11th and 12 grade who want an in-depth understanding of how Westwind works. For three weeks, campers will shadow different areas of…
Friends of Westwind “Friend-raiser!”
Last weekend, we hosted the inaugural Friends of Westwind “Friend-raiser!” Former Westwind campers, staff, volunteers, board members, outdoor school staff, and visitors of Westwind gathered to reconnect with Westwind. We enjoyed snacks and reminisced about our favorite Westwind memories. We were joined by Friends of Westwind from many eras. This included Mother Child campers dating…
Twenty Years of the Westwind Stewardship Group!
What is the Westwind Stewardship Group In 2004 a group of people with a deep and storied love of Westwind formed the Westwind Stewardship Group (WSG). The founders were YWCA Camp Westwind alumni, long-term rental guests, volunteers, and close friends of Westwind programs and lands. This group, who formed our initial board, was dedicated to…
Historical Documents
Did you know Westwind ran its first summer camp in 1937? That was almost 90 years ago. Over that time, plenty has changed while plenty more has remained the same. Since our first camps, Westwind has committed to connecting children with the outdoors and worked to create an environment where all people feel welcome. We…
NEW Teen Programs
This summer, we are introducing two new teen camps. These programs offer additional opportunities for teen campers to continue their Westwind journey. Read more about the exciting opportunities we have coming: Teen Arts Teen Arts is a new teen camp for campers entering 9th-11th grade, although preference will be given to 9th graders. This program…
What is a legacy?
What have you learned walking through the tidepools? How have you grown as a leader taking on a trail-clearing project? What skills do you use in your everyday life that you learned exploring our wild forests? Westwind impacts every person who hikes our trails, sings our camp songs, and shares a meal in Wilson Lodge….
Campership Partners
Breaking Down Barriers For too long marginalized groups have been prevented from accessing the outdoors. Barriers including discrimination, financial costs, and non-responsive programs restrict who accesses transformative outdoor experiences. Westwind works with nine incredible partner organizations to break down these barriers and ensure our programs are truly accessible to all children. Westwind provides almost 200…
We Have More Fungi Experts!
We’re excited to announce a few more amazing mycologists and fungi experts joining us for Mushroom Camp! They will lead forays, hold workshops on their areas of expertise, and teach about the wonderful world of mushrooms. Meet these amazing new faces joining us at Mushroom Camp. Meet our experts Raskal Turbeville is an enthusiastic explorer…
What Happens at Mushroom Camp
Mushroom Camp is a weekend of fungi-themed fun. We welcome everyone to search for mushrooms and learn more about the fungi kingdom. For those who have never foraged, we have easy-to-follow forays and fun workshops. For experienced mushroom hunters, we offer 529 acres of diverse terrain with over 125 varieties of mushrooms. We also offer…