YWCA Camp Westwind
Encyclopedia
YWCA Camp Westwind is a summer camp
on the Oregon Coast
in the United States
, just north of Lincoln City
and south of Cascade Head
. Founded in 1937, this camp maintains affiliation with the Portland
branch of the YWCA
. It is one of only two YWCA summer camps that still exist in the United States. As of 2006, Westwind was accredited by the American Camp Association
. The camp comprises 503 acres (2 km²) which touch the Salmon River
and the Pacific Ocean
and borders Route 101
on the east.
Activities at the camp include a low ropes course
, kayaking
, archery
, and hiking
. Camp Westwind also has a 9-hole disc golf
course. The camp offers a variety of programs for children from ages 7–17 as well as a number of family options. Camp Westwind is also the home of the Northwest Regional Education Service District's Northwest Outdoor Science School, a youth camp that recruits high school volunteers to teach inner-city 6th grade students about nature and conservation.
, a Salish
speaking tribe of the Oregon Coast, also known as the Salmon River Indians.
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
on the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, just north of Lincoln City
Lincoln City, Oregon
Lincoln City is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It is named after the county. The population was 7,930 at the 2010 census.- History :...
and south of Cascade Head
Cascade Head
Cascade Head is a headland and UNESCO biosphere reserve and United States Forest Service Experimental Forest. It is situated southwest of Portland, Oregon on the Oregon Coast between Lincoln City and Neskowin...
. Founded in 1937, this camp maintains affiliation with the Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
branch of the YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
. It is one of only two YWCA summer camps that still exist in the United States. As of 2006, Westwind was accredited by the American Camp Association
American Camp Association
The American Camp Association , formerly known as the American Camping Association, is a 501 nonprofit that serves the United States. It is an association for camp owners, camp professionals and others interested in summer camps and similar camp programs.ACA runs an accreditation criterion for camps...
. The camp comprises 503 acres (2 km²) which touch the Salmon River
Salmon River (Lincoln County, Oregon)
The Salmon River flows from the Central Oregon Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. About long, it begins and ends in Lincoln County but also flows briefly through western Polk and southern Tillamook counties....
and the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and borders Route 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
on the east.
Activities at the camp include a low ropes course
Ropes course
A ropes course is a challenging outdoor personal development and team building activity which usually consists of high and/or low elements. Low elements take place on the ground or only a few feet above the ground...
, kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
, and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
. Camp Westwind also has a 9-hole disc golf
Disc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
course. The camp offers a variety of programs for children from ages 7–17 as well as a number of family options. Camp Westwind is also the home of the Northwest Regional Education Service District's Northwest Outdoor Science School, a youth camp that recruits high school volunteers to teach inner-city 6th grade students about nature and conservation.
History
The land was once inhabited by the NechesneConfederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon consists of twenty-seven Native American tribes with long historical ties to present-day Western Oregon between the western boundary of the Oregon Coast and the eastern boundary of the Cascade Range, and the northern boundary of...
, a Salish
Salishan languages
The Salishan languages are a group of languages of the Pacific Northwest...
speaking tribe of the Oregon Coast, also known as the Salmon River Indians.