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Westwind is one of the Oregon Coast's most beautiful places…. It is a center for retreats, education and research with over 500 acres of wilderness beach, salmon-bearing rivers and upland forests and meadows.
Access is by our river boat insuring its solitude and wildness. Our main camp facilities are set into pine covered hills overlooking the Pacific and range from single cabins to a full camp that can accommodate 150 guests. more...
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generations
 Florence Abbott May 29,
1925 -
November 23, 2007.
On Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, our world lost a loving, caring, vibrant spirit in Florence Abbott. Heaven for her is a sandy beach with a roaring campfire, and friends circled round, singing beloved old songs: "I Know A Place" and "Barges." "Yummy" was her camp name at one of the first outdoor school programs developed in Oregon. Held at several locations in its early hears, her most treasured embories wer times shared at Camp Westwind on the Oregon Coast. Her job title was "dining room manger" but those that attended the week long adventure knew her as a counselor trainer, bell ringer, teacher, and singer of camp songs morning, noon, and night. |
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art feature
Watercolor view of Westwind painted in the “open air” by bay area resident America Warden in September of this year.
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circa
Campers folk dancing in Wilson Lodge in the 1960’s. Note the young woman, second in line who is feeling the joy of the moment is current Westwind director Melany Berry. (Then Mary Tatum) |
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contribute!
Please take note! Westwind is in the midst of an important fund drive to replace both our tractors. Both of which have done a yeomans service over the past decades, but are on their last legs. Can you help replace these critical work horses? Please send donations to the address below or make a donation on our new Pay Pal site on our home page! Many thanks for your help!
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upcoming events
December, January and February are "quieter" months at Westwind allowing the land to refresh itself and a chance to work on the many pressing projects we have saved up over the year. Keep an eye on the web site for upcoming work week ends. |
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Robert Kentta, Director of the Cultural Resources Program of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and a member of the Siletz Tribal Council recently shared wonderful stories and examples of his beautiful basketry and regalia at Westwind.
Robert also spoke of the history of the Siletz Nation and its relationship to the Salmon River. In his words:
“Westwind is in the 20 million acre ancestral homelands of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and within the 1.1 million acre Siletz Reservation as it was established per treaty agreement in 1855.
Tribes from all parts of western Oregon and even extreme northern California came to live together upon the Siletz Reservation, which was rapidly diminished by @200,000 acres (Dec. 1865) and @700,000 acres
(March 1875).
In 1892, 80 acre parcels (allotments) were issued to each tribal member present, and the rest of the remaining reservation opened to settlement by non-Indians (@191,500+ acres).
The dismantling of the reservation was carried out in violation of treaty agreements and without consideration of the rights or needs of the Siletz Tribes.
”Many Siletz families, many of them of local Tillamook ancestry, had allotment lands near the Salmon River, but federal policies made sure that Siletz families quickly lost control of even their allotment lands.
Some of the original Salmon River area Siletz Indian Allotments actually
comprise portions of the current Westwind ownership. The Siletz Tribe has
deep ties to its ancestral homelands and original reservation. |
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In mid November 2007, approximately 60 Siletz Tribal youth attended a 2 day conference/gathering at Westwind. The wind blew and it rained buckets, but the event brought young Tribal members from all over western Oregon and as far away as the central Washington coast to meet and enjoy each other's company in an ideal setting. Teambuilding, educational and cultural topics and excercises rounded out the agenda. All had a great time and will carry good memories of their time together at Westwind. |
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| The Northwest Outdoor Science School enjoyed a beautiful autumn at Westwind, full of many sunny,yet quite brisk,days. Students arrived ready for a fun week of environmental science and social learning, many having never seen the Oregon Coast before. |
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Each day held a new community to explore:
One day at the Estuary, studying rivers, watersheds, birds, and aquatic insects; the next at the Beach, learning about the intertidal zones, marine mammals, and oceanography; and finally a trek into the Forest for a full day hike, discovering the ecology of soil science, animal signs, and botany.
Over 340 sixth graders from Milwaukie, Oregon City, Banks, Mill City, Mt. Angel and other areas all over Oregon were joined by 63 volunteer counselors from a wide variety of high schools and colleges to create a community of learning each week. The professional staff enjoyed working with teachers to provide hands-on exploration "On the wild edge of a continent."
Campfire songs and cabin games were led by seasoned program staff. At the end of the week, all had fun stories to share and a few sandy momentos to remind them of their Outdoor School experience. They crossed back over the Salmon River with full hearts and, with any luck, a little better prepared to face the world ahead of them.
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In solitude... where we are least alone
Lord Byron |
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5 minutes of fame: Do you have Westwind memories, news, photos or epiphanies to share with others? Please send them into us here at Duncan@westwind.org. |
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