Meet Our Camp Westwind City Day Staff!

Hello all, my name is Jason and I cannot wait to return to Camp Westwind in the City as the Summer Day Camp Director. Camp, in my mind, embodies what it means to be a kid. In a safe environment with positive influences, kids can be challenged to grow in every way. Moreover, it is a lot of fun! Last summer was truly moving and on a daily basis, I witnessed the wonder kid’s posses. During the off-season, I teach science, at the high school level, in a school outside of Portland. Currently, I am completing my Masters degree in education at Marylhurst University with an emphasis in teacher leadership. In my free time, I enjoy travel, the outdoors and photography. Represented in a photo I can see a camper, with a fear of water, delighted to be learning to kayak for the first time. Another picture captures the independence campers feel while using public transportation to gain access to all that Portland has to offer. For me, a photograph can capture that magical moment and our camp brochure is filled with many I have taken. This is why I look forward to returning to our camp, Camp Westwind.

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Greetings!  My name is Kari and I’m the Program Director for Camp Westwind in the City.  I have been working in the Camp Westwind office on and off since 2002.  The one thing that hasn’t changed over the many years I’ve worked at Camp Westwind is how incredible the staff are and what a life-changing experience our campers have each summer.  I am proud to be a part of this phenomena and I look forward to meeting all our campers and parents throughout the summer.  When I’m not working for kids at the YWCA, I’m working for them in the Portland Public Schools as an Elementary teacher.  I love facilitating opportunities where children’s minds and spirits sore; where they build friendships, feel confidence in themselves, and reach out to others.  It is going to be a fabulous summer in the city!

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My name is Stephanie and I am currently attending Oregon State University as a Human Development and Family Science's Major. I ultimately want to become a Family and Marriage Counselor. I was a camper at Camp Westwind at the beach for 4 years and volunteered for 2 before I finally became apart of the summer staff for Camp Westwind in the City last year. When I am not at camp, I enjoy listening to music, dancing, either cheering myself or teaching the little kids cheer and dance, hanging out with friends, going on fun vacations and reading a good book. I am returning another year as summer day camp staff because for most of my adolescent life, I was either going to camp or was volunteering at camp. I feel it is part of my blood. Camp Westwind and the staff changed my life in so many ways when I was a camper that I wanted to be able to give back and do the same for children and teens going to camp now. Watching Camp Westwind in the City unfold last year was such a fun experience and seeing the difference that we made in the camper’s lives and the connections that we created with them was incredible. I feel Camp Westwind is a camp where children, teen's and even adults can grow and learn as people in all aspects of life and being able to be apart of our amazingly diverse staff and watch this unfold is an experience that is one of a kind and makes our camp so different from the rest.

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Hello! My name is Skittles and I am so excited for the summer to begin. This will be my first year with Camp Westwind in the City, but I have been doing summer camps worldwide for the past five years. I have traveled to Italy, England and all over the United States creating summer camp experiences and memories that last a lifetime. When I am not traveling the world working with kids, I am an elementary school teacher in West Linn.  Besides traveling and working with kids, I enjoy camping, biking, reading, listening to music, dancing and spending time with my family and friends’. I am originally from Eugene, OR and moved to Portland about two years ago. Seeing the world through a child’s eye is absolutely amazing. I love getting to know kids at a personal level and making their summer camp experiences magical and memorable.  I am looking forward to discovering the city alongside the campers and learning new things about my city, my campers and myself. Working with kids really allows you to be a kid at heart and allows you to open your mind to new adventures and ideas. Ooooh I can’t wait ‘til camp starts! Let the summer begin!

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Hey! My name is High Maintenance I love dancing! I believe dancing is a way I express my feelings without words. I am a young African American male trying to make it this world like everyone else. I am not going to let anyone or anything stop me or get in my way for future success in life. I am a strong motivating man with a good head on my shoulders that is striving for excellence. I have many goals and aspirations to achieve during and after college. I love to travel and visit places that I have not been to. I have chosen to come back to work with the YWCA because it’s a great place to work during the summer. I love kids and what can be better then making a difference in your community for youth? I plan on being a teacher in my future years to come and I will make a difference in my community as being an African American male.

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Hi, I’m Professor. I graduated from High School in 2007 and have since been working towards getting my Associate of Arts Degree at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington. I have worked some random jobs from Safeway to being a waiter until I started working for the YMCA in child care in early 2010. I very much enjoy the opportunity and learning experience from dealing with children and helping them learn important life skills every day. I'm very excited to start my new job working for the YWCA of greater Portland in downtown. I will also be attending Portland  State University in fall of 2010.

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Hey!! My name is Sarah and I am currently a senior at Wilson High School in Southwest Portland. I’ll be graduating in June and will be headed off to college in the fall. This is my first year working with YWCA Camp Westwind in the City, and I am so excited! I’ve attended Camp Westwind at the Beach for nine consecutive years and have never found a truly better way to spend my summers. Westwind has always been a huge part of my life and I am looking forward to taking part in campers’ experiences just like my favorite counselors did for me. When I’m not at camp, I enjoy playing soccer, running, hiking, camping, you name it! I love being outdoors and have been exploring the Northwest ever since I can remember. I cannot wait for summer to begin and to spend another amazing one at Camp Westwind!

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Hi everyone! My name is Sarah and I am so excited to be coming back to day camp as Program Assistant Director. My time as a counselor last summer was absolutely phenomenal. I loved getting to know our many amazing and inspiring campers, as well as my hometown. Whether we were checking out abstract art, splashing in fountains, or sitting in the sun talking every day at camp brought new adventures. In my non summer life I am a junior at Scripps College in Claremont, California where I major in Politics and French. I have spent this year abroad in Mali, Africa and France and I am so excited to share my experiences with campers and staff this summer. In my free time I like to read, ride horses, eat food from street carts, travel, hang out with my friends and family, and wander whatever city I happen to be in. As a camper, Camp Westwind brought me confidence and experiences I will never forget and as a counselor it taught me more than I ever could have expected. I can't wait to see what this summer will bring. See you on the roof!

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Hi! My name is Celery and I am a third year student at Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin, where I am majoring in vocal music education and minoring in French. Camp has been a part of my life since I was 8 years old and I wouldn't trade the lessons, enriching life experiences, and friendships that only camp can create for the world! This will be my 5th year as a camp counselor but my first year working at Camp Westwind in the City, and I am so thrilled about this new experience! As a music education student and varsity soccer player I don't have much free time, but in the little I have I enjoy cooking, going to farmer's markets, yoga, playing outside, skateboarding, traveling, reading, chatting with friends and family, taking photos, acting, gardening, drinking tea, directing children's choir, being an ArtsBridge scholar and blogging about it all! I only hope that I can share my passions in life with everyone at Camp Westwind, just like my counselors did with me when I was a camper. I wouldn't be the same without them. Inspire and be inspired!