For those of you unfamiliar with this longstanding EMS/SES tradition, you are in for a treat, if you choose to attend Westwind’s SES Family Camp. The PTSA coordinates a cooperative family camp out at Camp Westwind on the Oregon coast near Lincoln City. If you’ve never considered Westwind because of the costs, we are happy to announce the continuing availability of partial scholarships. All campers pitch in with cooking, cleaning and creating cherished memories.

We are set to camp the weekend of Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12. (Friday the 10th is a teacher planning day with no school for students.) As Westwind is located on an isolated peninsula, access to the camp is provided via a ferry across the Salmon River. Ferry times are determined by the tides. This year, the Friday arrival crossing will be at 2pm, so plan on leaving Portland by 11:30am–12:00pm, or go earlier and stop and get lunch on the way. If you are unable to arrive by 2pm, there are options: You can cross the river by canoe (provided by you or a friend) or walk in the approximately two miles via an unpaved road (this can take 30-60 minutes). The departure ferry on Sunday begins at 11am.

Registration and health forms are now available for download. (The health form is only needed for children attending with a family other than his or her own.):

Paper copies are available in the SES office. The cost is $60 per person (only co-sleeping infants are free), which covers lodging and food. In order to balance participation, we will be setting slots for both middle school and elementary school families.

We are able to offer a limited number of partial scholarships for families who are unable to pay the full amount. For those on scholarship, the cost will be $20-$55 per person on a sliding scale. In addition, we have a few working scholarships for people willing to take on significant work responsibilities during the weekend.

We will only provide refunds if we can fill your spot. Please contact Cindy Ewers at hamiwers@gmail.com or 971-570-1616 with any questions.

We are gauging interest in chartering a bus in future years in order to relieve parking pressure at Knight Park and to lessen the environmental impact of 150 people driving to the coast in separate vehicles. Please mark on the registration form if you would be interested in taking the bus. The cost would be ~$30 per person round trip. If there is enough interest, we may start with one bus this year.

NOTE: In the past, spots have filled quickly, so if you’re interested but still not sure, contact us ASAP to have your questions answered. Don’t be discouraged if you are put on the waitlist, most families on the waitlist are able to attend. We are also considering adding a second weekend in future years if there is enough demand, so please fill out a form if you are at all interested.