The Magic Always Comes Together

Monday, July 20th, 2026

LOWER RING circa 4:41pm—The muggy morning has finally given way to blue skies and breezes. I sit at the strategically located Lower Ring supervision station with a clear view of the Big Top, the Stilt Field and the Aerials Site. The main trade off for all this visibility is being in the crossfire of several competing sources of canned music. Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” is currently vying for control of my eardrums with some H&M-worthy pop song.

A group of stilters stride by in two columns, their interspersed earth-borne spotters walking backwards, ready to catch any stumblers. The group moves steadily toward the kitchen, passing by an in-progress cloud swing clinic at the Aerials Site. Several young aerialists sit in the shade on a tumbling mat awaiting their turn on the so-called ‘biggest swing in Laytonville.’

As of this morning, regular classes have resumed at Camp, now infused with the extra energy of the impending Big Show. Today I’m asking campers what acts they are preparing to dazzle the grown-ups with this coming Saturday.

“I’m doing stilts because I like being tall, trapeze because it’s fun, and poi because it looks cool,” says Ripley, 13. “It’s cool that everyone gets to show their talents. I love the evening programs, and the Big Show is like the final one.”

“I believe that there is a power in creating something, whether physical or verbal, which is why I chose improv and poetry,” says Oscar, 14. “I feel like they allow me to express myself in ways that other art forms don’t allow. All art forms are restrictive in their own way. Visual art for example—2-dimensional or 3-dimensional—has a lack of voice. Improv and poetry aren’t restricted in this manner. One’s voice can make something more true to oneself and more freeing to the artist. Well, that’s my opinion anyway.”

“I’m a competitive dancer—not in terms of personality; I dance in competitions,” says Zahara, 13. “I’m really excited to be in Karma’s dance class. Hip hop is my specialty, mainly tutting and waving. I’ll also be in the stilt parade for like the fourth or fifth time. For those who this will be your first Big Show I say, ‘Have fun; no one is judging you.’”

“I’ll probably do unicycle; it’s a classic for me,” says Lena, 13. “It’s fun to see how far I can push myself. I’ve come a long way since I was 10. I couldn’t do anything at first. Riding unicycle is all about finding balance. It’s a metaphor for finding balance in life.”

“I’m doing unicycle because it’s really fun and I’ve been doing it for like three years,” says Gage, 9. “I know how to bunny hop, self mount, idle, and figure eights. It’s kinda unique having one wheel. Cars, bicycles, they all have more than one. It’s like they have training wheels. When you’re on a unicycle, you have to keep your balance or you’ll fall down.”

“I’m gonna do juggling,” says Naveen. “Juggling is chill. It’s something to do when I’m bored. I think adults are bored like 98% of the time, so I guess I’ll be juggling a lot when I grow up.”

TIPI CIRCLE circa 8:46pm—A brilliant peach sunset has ripened into view above the Big Top where dozens of campers rage at the Costume Dance Party. The scattered musical energies of afternoon have consolidated into one deafening litany of popular songs of questionable appropriateness. I sit and enjoy the scene alongside Tiffany Dunlap, multi-decade veteran of Camp’s Costume Barn. Years ago she raised her two daughters here at Camp, and has now returned with her granddaughter who is currently somewhere in the frey of costumed dancers.

“I appreciate all the energy that goes into the Big Show,” saysTiffany. “The second week picks up momentum leading up to it. Some of these kids don’t even know the skill before they arrive; it’s amazing what they can learn in two weeks. At the Costume Barn, we try to bring people’s creative visions to life. The magic always comes together in surprising ways.”

The granddaughter emerges from the Stilt Field to quietly consult with her grandma. She leans into Tiffany’s lap, chewing her skirt and casting a thousand-yard stare that betrays a well-earned sleepiness. Sunset has given way to twilight and the smell of the nightwatch’s fire fills the air.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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Playing for the Judges

Sunday, July 19th, 2026

TIPI CIRCLE circa 7:39pm—An unusual afternoon of cloud cover has quickened the onset of evening darkness, though the heat still lingers. Small groups of children populate the Tipi Circle, spinning poi or chatting on benches. In the nearby Stilt Field, the din of some dessert-fueled sports activity can be heard.

As I pass the Ringmaster’s post at the south end of the circle I am approached by a trio of girls who have repurposed the plastic packaging from several trays of Kings Hawaiian Rolls as skirts and tube tops. They demand a group photo which they stipulate must be taken while all three are jumping mid-air.

Today was Sleep-In Sunday, a cherished event that takes place at the midpoint of every two-week session. On these days, cartoons are screened in the Big Top and breakfast is extended to a 90-minute, drop-in buffet.

Though the first part Sunday morning is fun and leisurely, once 10:30am arrives, all of Camp is marshalled to the dreaded Mid-Term Tipi Clean-Up. It’s a good chance for tipi groups to address whatever smells they may have been tolerating up til now, but it also is a fierce competition to earn the coveted “Cleanest Tipi” award. Many counselors take pride in their lifelong wins with various tipis over the years. Today I’m spending time among the campers to hear their stories of Mid-Term Tipi Clean-Up, and to hear what advice they may have for future tipi cleaning competitors.

“My favorite part of tipi clean-up was the end,” says Thea, 11. “My least favorite part was sweeping the Leaf Grove. It was hot and it made my back hurt. I’m fine now. Afterwards I relaxed in the tipi and did some stretches. My advice is to sweep faster. I was taking my time and being too precise. Next time I’ll be ruthless—BAM! BAM! BAM!—no more leaves.”

“We were determined to win the inspection, but TQ got it,” laments Eliana, 14. “Don’t tell TQ, but our tipi was cleaner than theirs. There’s always corruption involved with the judges. Like three years ago we made a Sun Bum shrine, but we lost to Blue Tipi because they had a freaking shoe rack! My advice is to just look at Joaquin’s tipi and try to copy that.”

“I was rocking my iPod so that I could listen to my own music if I didn’t like what was playing,” says Iona, 14. “I also used it when I had to walk to the kitchen to get cardboard to use as a dustpan. My advice is to make a plan with your tipi the night before. Most of us have been in tipis together before, so the teamwork flowed nicely.”

“I survived by winning,” boasts Procyon, 13. “There was a lot of dust built up in some areas, but we got wet rags and just got in there with our fingers. Our secret was to cover everything in nice smells. We waved around deodorant sticks for like five minutes. Old Spice, regular.”

“My tipi mates were really cooperative,” says Seneca, 13. “We deep cleaned the floor and scented the tipi with vanilla perfume. We thought we were gonna win, so when we didn’t it was pretty sad. My advice is don’t get your hopes up.”

“I survived by taking the easy tasks like wiping mats,” says Peyton, 15. “Even though we didn’t win, I’m glad everything went down like it went down. TQ had classical music playing for the judges. It was a wrap after that; we didn’t stand a chance.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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Robots Are Taking Over The World

Saturday, July 18th, 2026

CROSSROADS circa 11:36am—A large octahedral structure made from cardboard and yarn has been placed on the large stump that sits at the downtown crossroads. Various counselor-robots adorned with tin foil stiffly amble about, issuing monotone directives to the campers. Several ad-hoc groups of children march around downtown, each group shouting its own original protest chant.

“You know our safety is at stake, when even robots need a break!” goes one. “Ditch the Orb! Ditch the Orb!” goes another.

One costumed counselor stands guard next to the mysterious structure, warding off would-be vandals. I inquire a pair of agitators to explain the strange scene.

“So TIS CORP is trying to take over Camp Winnarainbow by putting computer chips in people’s brains,” says Kai, 9. “Almost all the campers are protesting. Even some of the robots are revolting. We’re going to destroy the Orb at 12-o’clock today. I mean, 100 campers against like 2 robots? No chance.”

“Hello, would you like me to put a computer chip in your brain so you can more efficiently buy mango cubes from Trader Jobe’s?” interrupts Counselor Robot Silvatron.

“NO!” shouts Kai.

“Malfuntion,” mutters Silvatron, walking away dejectedly.

“I hate TIS so I decided to make a petition,” says Aaliyah, 10, holding up a hand-drawn form filled with large marker signatures. “So far I have 20 signatures. I’m getting them from humans and robots.”

A throng is beginning to form at the crossroads, a drum and tambourine driving a steady march beat. The chants are growing louder. Adults attempt to wrangle the children into a circle formation adjacent to the Orb stump. A charismatic CEO figure ascends a large log to address the group.

“The Orb is here!” he proclaims. “This is what you’ve all been waiting for!”

He continues extolling the virtues of the Orb as campers boo and jeer.

“Turning on the Orb will drain Lake Veronica!” shouts one counselor, spurring a renewed round of chanting.

“TIS we hate! Don’t drain the Lake! TIS we hate! Don’t drain the Lake!”

“We need to try to convince the CEO to change his mind,” implores another counselor. He ushers forth groups of campers who have prepared earnest pleas in the forms of song, poems, dance and art. The CEO strokes his chin, as the children perform.

“I can see you put a lot of work into these performances,” he remarks after watching the final group. “I wasn’t always this wealthy. I had to work hard to get where I am. Your effort today has made me think that maybe I should do things differently.”

The crowd cheers his change of heart as he appears to choke up with emotion.

“But that’s what a loser would say!” he cackles, mocking the earnest crowd. “It’s time to turn on the Orb!”

The shouts and screams from the crowd are deafening as the CEO leaps down from the log toward the Orb. Before he can reach it, several dozen children descend on the fragile structure, rending it joint from joint. The CEO watches in despair as his creation disappears in a cloud of dust and stomping feet.

In the midst of the chaos, yet another costumed counselor with a tin foil hat gathers the audience’s attention. He approaches the CEO, lifting him up from his knees, and, to everyone’s great surprise, the tin foil hat man kneels on bended knee and proposes to the CEO. The crowd ripples with confused laughter. An ordained counselor-minister emerges and marries the pair on the spot.

“You may now dap up the groom,” declares the minister.

Silvatron then gives the signal to a young boy who has himself climbed the log. He takes a deep breath and then releases a shockingly loud and accurate rooster crow, signalling the end of Session C People’s Day.

“To the Theater!” chime the counselors.

I peruse the crowd for some witness accounts of the morning’s festivities.

“I think People’s Day this session was to teach the younger kids about the dangers of AI,” says Ziggy, 14. “Especially the drainage of the Lake part, that’s very realistic. I think it was effective. All the kids were yelling and booing. The lead characters acted really well. I like how there’s a different theme every year.”

“It was a lot at once,” says Maddy, 10. “I like how everyone just knew that TIS was bad. The message was about saying how you feel. It was kind of entertaining.”

“I did not like TIS,” says Jazzy, 8. “They’re trying to take away our community because their boss, the Orb, told them to. The robots are misunderstood. I said to a robot, ‘Why are you taking away my homeland?’ and the robot said, ‘I’m sorry.’”

“Personally, I’m against our lives becoming more centered around tech,” says Ruby, 10. “I don’t want to give robots my information. I felt like they were trying to get people to understand that tech and robots are taking over the world. It was a cool surprise to wake up to today.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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Complete Freedom

Friday, July 17th, 2026

LOO-LOO circa 8:03pm—Full of spaghetti and zucchini, I plop down in a small camping chair to work on tonight’s readers’ digest. Even though the show has started, the shower house is still busy with after-dinner bathers. A young barefoot boy paces around, menacing me with a rock and a forked stick. He holds the combo up like a slingshot, seemingly trying to will a rubber strap into existence.

“Every year we used to have wrist rockets,” laments Dax, lowering his would-be weapon. “You look around for a small rock and then you pull it back like this and try to hit five balloons. There were different tiers and prizes.”

He gazes wistfully into the Tipi Circle, overwhelmed by the existential absence of wristrockets. I attempt to distract him with tonight’s blog question.

“So, got any big plans this weekend?” I say with ingenuine charisma like I imagine office professionals speak with each other.

“I’m gonna vote against Tis Corp,” he says, referring to the highly anticipated big-tech corporate takeover of Camp scheduled for Saturday morning. “There’s this mad scientist that keeps asking questions to the orb. I figured out what ‘Tis’ stands for: ‘Tech Is Sad.”

“I’ll be honchoing fire juggling,” says Operations Manager Angel Herrera. “There’s lots of safety precautions to take care of like trimming the wicks, checking fire warnings, checking in with the performers. Today we did a dry run in the parking lot so people could get used to the weight of the different fire toys. Tomorrow we’ll do a lit run. I’ll be looking for control and confidence. A good fire juggler will appear natural and comfortable with their pattern.”

“I’m just gonna go with the flow,” says Lifeguard and Songwriting Instructor Vashaun Harris. “I’ll probably be at the lake, but I could even hop myself in the creek. I’m excited that the big tipi clean-up is on Sunday because that’s my night in the tipi, so it’ll be extra clean.”

“I’m gonna do a sleepover with my tipi in the Big Top,” says Donald, 14. “My tipi is UV. It’s fun, gets me hyped up. We’re the most famous tipi this session. I’m excited for Fire Circle—why?—because that’s when the counselors juggle fire. That’s my favorite memory.”

“I want to go to the lake some more,” says Ariana, 8. “Last time I went I only got to be there for 30 minutes. I want to take the rafter test. I’m probably also gonna go to the creek a lot. I like to do creek walks and just hang out. I like how on the weekend we have extra free time.”

“I’m really excited to go to the lake,” says Gage, 15. “I’m also excited for the movie. I think it might be Napoleon Dynamite. No disrespect, but Bend It Like Beckham kinda sucked.”

“Tomorrow morning I’ll be sending my robot, Robot Riley, to do my cocoa shift,” says Clowning Instructor Riley Soloner. “That’s why I built him. For the Midterm Tipi Clean-Up, I’m a micro-trash guy. I do a meticulous lap around each tipi, then I go to the theater and check under the benches, and then I go to Snack Beach where there’s always little wrappers to be found. I would love the movie this session to be Speed Racer by the Wachowskis. Highly underrated. Dazzling CG effects.”

“Tomorrow we’ll do the first kitchen walk of Session C,” says Lead Stilt Instructor Anaïs Medoza-Rosekrans. “Every parade stiltwalker needs to have completed two kitchen walks. Starting tomorrow we’ll do one per day, and then we’ll ramp up to two or three per day by the end of the week. Last session MJ gave us cookies when we got to the kitchen, so fingers crossed.”

“These kids are going berserk for whatever is happening tomorrow,” says Counselor Sheena Johnson. “Am I pro-Orb or anti-Orb? I don’t know. I wanna go back to dry erase and chalk boards, so I guess I’m anti-Orb.”

“I’m just gonna play guitar and write songs,” says Zuri, 13. “I love stuff from the 70s and 80s and also newer indie rock. We are working on a song called ‘18 Chicken Tenders’ because my friend ate 18 chicken tenders. I’m not sure the key but it’s got minor chords for sure.

“No big plans,” says Cierra, 13. “I’ll probably drink some water, maybe eat some food. I’ll breathe air.”

“I think I’ll perform a song with friends for the Fire Circle,” says Eleni, 13. “I’m not sure what the movie is gonna be. Everyone’s talking about Benji the Hunted. It sounds like Bambi to me. My brother had this book of weird laws and punishments, like you can’t have an ice cream cone in your pocket in Indiana, things like that. There was this guy who illegally hunted deer and then he had to watch Bambi in prison as part of his punishment. Camp doesn’t have rules like that. The rules are all pretty common sense and related to safety. Besides that, we have complete freedom.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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Changing of the Guard

Thursday, July 16th, 2026

CHESS GROVE circa 2:52pm—The kitchen radio softly radiates a world music playlist. The whir of the fan muffles the vocals and most of the instruments except for the claves which pierce through with their syncopated ‘dinks.’ A crow squawks, the spigot hisses into someone’s water bottle, the Camp truck squishes gravel as it turns along the road.

Here in the Chess Grove I’m facing off against the preeminent purveyor of chess at Camp, Juggling Instructor Memo Gosnell.

1. d4 f5
2. Bf4 e6
3. e3 Nf6

“You’re doing the London System, aren’t you?” observes Memo, carefully bringing his knight into play.

A white, dust-covered Kia Sedona comes to a stop at the parking log that lies between us and the kitchen.

“Memo! J-Pizzle!” shouts Sheena from the lake shuttle minivan.

“Yo, Sheena!” I respond.

“Do you really have a black belt in karate?” quips Memo, referring to the lyrics of “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots pt. 1” which we’re singing in the song circles this session.

“I’ve got a black belt in everything!” claims Sheena, hopping out of the driver’s seat and walking over. “Who’s giving you trouble, Memo? I’ll take care of them.”

“Thanks,” laughs Memo.

Memo first came to Camp circa 2004, and has always kept a keen focus on chess and juggling. Many of us counselors owe our chess bonafides to Memo’s encouragement, and many more campers have learned to juggle because of his beginning juggling class which he offers every class period without fail.

“These campers are looking for some yarn,” inquires a young counselor tailed by two children.

“Puppet Grove, left cabinet.”

The heat today is significant, though nothing that a wet t-shirt can’t neutralize. A pair of teen staff stroll through, one with a portable speaker dangling from their backpack playing Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work”. Announcements from the Rainbow Theater’s PA can be heard in the distance, urging campers to sign up for tonight’s Tornado of Talent. The kitchen radio has switched to an interminable series of hipster bluegrass pop song covers.

Art Instructor Sada Linn has arrived in the adjacent Art Grove in anticipation of Afternoon Art. She sits alone at one of the large craft tables braiding a friendship bracelet tethered to her water bottle. The afternoon supervision of this southern end of campus is split between chess (1:45-3:35) and art (3:45-5:45). Similar zone defense stations keep Camp evenly supervised throughout the 4-hour stretch of free-time.

“Someone said you could tune this guitar,” says Isambard, 13, presenting me with an acoustic Yamaha. “Tonight I’m singing ‘1-800-WORSHIP’ by Clarence Clarity. I’m also doing an avant-rock improvisation with Lexi and a singer, yet to be determined.” I hand back the tuned Yamaha and they rush off toward downtown.

Art Instructor Adelina Babbit arrives right at the stroke of 3:45 along with a number of eager young artists. I inquire one girl holding a found stick covered in orange paint about her new creation.

“Everyone in the tipi was talking over each other so I’m making a talking stick,” says E, 10. “I also made a talking rock. I painted them orange for Orange Tipi. The stick is a back-up in case we can’t find the rock. You can also use them at the same time to have two conversations, but they should be on opposite sides of the tipi so that people don’t have to shout across each other.”

“I’m making a friendship bracelet for the talking stick,” says Sophia, 11.

“It infers that everyone in the tipi should be friends, ” adds E.

“I’m using three shades of orange thread,” continues Sophia. “My dad taught me how to braid. I’m not sure how he learned; I think maybe he used to have long hair, like when he was in college.”

The Camp Winnarainbow Blog was unable to verify these claims.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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That’s The Way It Is

Wednesday, July 15th, 2026

TIPI CIRCLE circa 7:27pm—The setting sun slices across downtown Camp. Looking to the east, people are brightly lit, casting long shadows that project neatly on the tipi canvases. Looking west, people appear as dark silhouettes, the reflecting sunlight anointing them with glittering outlines. I gather a group of campers for a dramatically side-lit photo before letting them return to their volleyball circle. Tonight I’m gathering reviews of last night’s Teacher Talent Night.

“The dance act was cool,” says Shya, 14. “I’m looking forward to taking dance with Karma now. The poetry was good for hearing other people’s perspectives. I also liked SIlver’s ‘Heart Rock Spiral’ song.”

“I thought it was nice, but a little long,” says Ava, 14. “My favorite act was juggling; I loved the colors and how many people were in the act. I especially liked how Riley juggled three balls. He messed with them somehow, catching them in different places and moving them around as he juggled.”

“It was really inspiring,” says Dune, 14. “It was cool to see my counselors and other staff doing their stuff on stage. One act that stood out was Experimento where they had kid volunteers come up, and then they taught them a new song right there on stage. It’s cool how the teachers can hold your hand, so that you actually get to experience the skill as you learn it.”

“It was super cool to watch the teachers display their talents,” says Falcon, 14. “I liked in the unicycle act when Dinklefritz rode the tiny unicycle under the stilters legs—pretty good gag!”

“I liked the juggling act; the light-up pins were cool,” says Xicome, 14. “It just seems so complicated, as complicated as doing your taxes, but like doing three of them at once. The unicycle act was cool too. As a whole it was vibey.”

The conch blows and children begin gathering at the Fire Circle.

“Welcome to the Fire Circle everybody!” announces Restorative Justice Coordinator Silver Morningstar. “Let’s begin by honoring the fire tender, Bodhi.”

The crowd claps and cheers.

“Now I wanna try something new, and by new I mean old-school,” continues Silver. “You see, years ago Robert Greygrass would run this fire circle. He taught us to not clap at the end of a performance, but to offer something else, like ‘Good one!’ or ‘Mmmm’, or to send aura light. C’mon, let’s send aura light to Bodhi!”

The crowd imitates Silver, outstretching their arms and wiggling their fingers in the direction of the lanky 19-year-old arranging a pile of split logs. Not wanting to interrupt the circle, I stroll over to the nearby Loo-Loo station where I find Head of Acro G. Charron supervising the area from a camping chair, blowing streams of medium-large bubbles from a plastic wand. Here behind the tipis, there is enough sonic division to conduct the rest of my interviews. As I wait for subjects, the sound of the Fire Circle talent acts fills the background: a song, a poem, an announcement.

“Teacher Talent Night was dope,” says Simon, 14. “My favorite act was unicycling, though I’m kind of biased because unicycling is my favorite thing to do here. Besides that, I thought acro was cool with all of its flips and tricks. It made me feel inspired. The continuous flips over and over was really impressive. It’s like, ‘Wow! How do you control yourself?’ Overall, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.”

“All the songs were really powerful,” says Teen Staff Jade. “The one about how BART wouldn’t go to Marin County because they didn’t want poor people to come, that gave me chills. It was a softer song on the sad side, but with a message of equality. It’s cool to see all the different personalities shining through.”

The bathroom traffic has slowed so I stroll back to the Tipi Circle, now noticeably cooler and darker. A small fire curls around a tripod of logs.

“I have a friendly public service announcement!” chimes Silver to the audience. “If you need to go from one side of the circle to the other, please go around,” he says, modelling the behavior. “It may take a little longer, but you get there just the same. Now if for some reason you have to cross the circle—and you shouldn’t—you need to pretend like you’re in an episode of M*A*S*H, crossing the helicopter fields.” He demonstrates, quickly striding while doubled over to avoid the imaginary helicopter blades, arms outstretched for balance. The children giggle at the antics, while the adults giggle at the dated TV reference.

“I want to appreciate you all for trying out not clapping tonight,” continues Silver. “I know it can be hard to remember; it’s part of our culture, and that’s valid. Robert wanted to share something from a different culture, so I’d like to keep trying it out. Here’s another good response to give at the end of an act: ‘That’s the way it is.’”

“That’s the way it is,” echo the campers.

“And now please make welcome to the Fire Circle, Abby!”

A young girl enters the circle, and asks the crowd for a volunteer. Dozens of hands shoot up, and she considers her options carefully. She finally picks a volunteer, another young girl.

“I want you to count to sixty,” says Abby to the volunteer, who obliges, quickly counting upward. The crowd listens intently to this unremarkable yet mysterious feat. Soon the volunteer has reached sixty. Abby pauses for a moment.

“Now you have just wasted sixty seconds of your life!” she exclaims. The crowd erupts in a chorus of laughter and “That’s the way it is!”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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One Thousand Aura Lights

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026

RAINBOW THEATER circa 7:32pm—As the sky slowly darkens, the campers’ energy stays at a high level. They dart around downtown Camp, availing themselves of the various unicycles, juggling equipment and tumbling mats at hand. The original broadway cast recording of “Easy To Be Hard” rings out over the Rainbow Theater’s PA as a group of musical theater performers practice their act for tonight’s Teacher Talent Night.

I snag a couple of kids watching the rehearsal to ask them today’s questions: “What class did you take today, and why?”

“I took ASL because I’ve been learning it outside of Camp,” says Nick, 14. “It helps to know some basic signs for when I go non-verbal. It’s like any other language class; you learn about Deaf culture, and how to not appropriate it. My favorite signs are for ‘beautiful’ and ‘I love you a lot.’”

“I took acro because I’m good at it,” says Clara, 9. “I’m good at it because I’ve practiced like once a week for the past three years. Doing acrobatics makes me feel excited and calm at the same time, like a seabird flying over the ocean.”

Before I can interview the whole group, I get called away for guitar accompaniment for the musical theater rehearsal, followed by the same for songwriting rehearsal. Soon the conch is blown, signaling the end of free-time and the beginning of the evening program. I quickly review the changes with our bassist as the emcee welcomes children into the outdoor seating area. We head backstage to await our introduction where a half dozen costumed stilters idle next to their spotters.

LOOLOO circa 8:26pm—I have a few acts between songwriting and musical theater which I’ve chosen to spend near the facilities where idle quotation-givers can often be found.

“I went to songwriting to make a dis track about Vashaun,” says James, 13, referring to Songwriting Instructor Vashaun Harris. “There’s plenty of things to dis Vashaun about, but I couldn’t get any good lyrics going. I guess I’ll just have to keep coming to songwriting or find out some more things about Vashaun that happen to rhyme.”

“Unicycle was beginner only, so I took diabolo,” says Tristan, 12. “I learned the sun behind the back and how to jump over it. It’s like you’ve got aura light when you’ve got better diabolo tricks than other people. I got at least one thousand aura lights today.”

“I took songwriting because I love music and I love making songs,” says Wyatt, 14. “My dad makes music, like drill or something, and he has a super nice drum kit. My main inspirations are like Bladee and Lil’ Uzi; their producing is something else.”

I hear from across the Tipi Circle the song for the stilts act, which is my cue to go backstage for musical theater. 20 minutes later and I’m back at Loo-Loo.

“I took poetry because I like writing,” says Audra, 10. “Expressing myself makes me happy and calm. My goal this session is to write five pages per day. Usually I only write three. I write from my senses; they guide me.”

“Today I took beginning clubs; it was actually a really cool class,” says Alex, 11. “Its about getting a good rotation passing from one hand to the other and just focusing on that. It’s a cool skill to have. You can do it with almost anything. The other day I was bored waiting in the shower line so I juggled my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash!”

“Stilts was a beginner’s class, so I took songwriting,” says Charlly, 11. “I wanna learn how to write songs. It’s a very genuine way to express myself. Something deep down clicks and—magic!”

As I slip back into the Theater area, some inexplicable performance art is taking place involving a robot, a Scandinavian AI peddler and Andy Warhol.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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A Midsummer’s Night

Welcome to the Camp Winnarainbow Blog! This feed is dedicated to providing daily updates on various Camp happenings with a special focus on camper quotations. DISCLAIMER: For matters of an urgent or serious nature, please contact the Camp office directly. This blog desk is not equipped to handle official business. Besides that, feel free to request article topics or special reports. Happy reading! —J. Payseno, Editor

Monday, July 13th, 2026

TIPI CIRCLE circa 8:31pm—The sunless sky retains a light blue brilliance as the forest slips into the faint blue shadows of early evening. Tightrope Instructor Kaneasha Hutchinson-Harris rakes the ashes in the cold firepit in preparation for firebuilding. The nearby Rainbow Theater is alive with the antics and cheering of Tipi Skit Night. Here in the Tipi Circle I have located a contingent of all-summer staff, paired off and discussing various matters of varying import.

Yesterday was the midpoint of our summer season—three weeks done, three weeks to go—so my assignment tonight is simply to collect midterm assessments. My subjects will be members of the honorable ‘All Summer Crew’, who are best qualified to give a birds-eye view of the 2026 season.

“So far so good,” says Administrative Manager Mayahuel Montoya. “I’m also Lead Camper Advocate and tambourine player for the Stragglers,” she corrects. “Nature is very lush in terms of wildlife this summer. There’s new birds, lots of baby deer, new insects—just this afternoon we saw a banded alder borer! It looked surreal, like a zebra crossed with a cockroach. The abundance of frogs we’re seeing is an auspicious omen in many cultures. If the second half of the summer is anything like the first half, we’re in for a fantastic summer.”

“It hasn’t felt like that long,” says Kaneasha. “This summer we’ve had the most kids ever at the Tightrope Site. We’ve got these new Indo Boards and a slack line. More boys have been coming to class, which is cool. A lot of the older kids have been stepping up as spotters. The only people to injure themselves were two counselors who were playing on the equipment incorrectly.”

“Can I please get interviewed even though I’m not here all summer,” pleads Duper [see: Supervisor] Thea Lamers. “Supervising adults is equally entertaining compared to children. They have very similar issues, such as dealing with heat, dehydration, and not knowing when or how to shower. Also sometimes your heart gets so full, you don’t know whether you’re happy or sad. This session I’m looking forward to hanging with campers more.”

“I’ve got a solid crew this summer,” says Dinner Cook Joseph Sorensen, rolling by on his bicycle. “It’s a lot of work to put out a meal, but my team handles it every time.”

Operations Manager Angel Herrera instructs us to build a small fire for nightwatch tonight, as there is a red-flag warning in a neighboring county. Restorative Justice Coordinator Silver Morningstar begins making a structure of twigs in the freshly raked firepit.

“My goal is for everyone to get the idea,” says Juggling Instructor Memo Gosnell. “Some even go from zero to three balls in one period! It’s great to have club jugglers, but the basis of it all is fundamentals. It’s important to me that beginning juggling is offered every period. I’m looking forward to this session; Session C is where Camp really hits its stride.”

“I’d give it a B-plus; there’s not enough waterslides,” says Restorative Justice Coordinator Silver Morningstar. “The mornings at Camp, they’re the golden orb, they’re the rocketship to the moon that nobody seems to know about. When I get there, I have my morning squabble with Memo and settle in. Memo is Camp’s human alarm clock and barista. When he goes off to wake people up, I’m totally alone with my paper cup of coffee, reading Mary Oliver’s The Leaf and the Cloud—‘Somewhere a thousand swans are flying through the winter’s worst storm’—that is, until MJ or Shelly show up to cook breakfast. Honestly, I came to Camp for the salad bar, but I’m staying to help children find their water bottles. And, of course, for the Heart Rock Spiral/Tao Zen Garden/Peace Place Center.”

“The lake has been really fun,” says Waterfront Director Annika Crowley. “Our new beach (not to be confused with a nude beach) has created a brand-new lounging experience. There’s an invasive aquatic plant that showed up at the end of last summer. It’s on the edges of the lake, so it’s not impacting the campers’ experience, though we have been trying to abate it. Various lifeguards have been using the canoe to remove it, and then Ella takes it away in her truck by the tarpfull. So far they’ve made it halfway around the lake, so if we keep up the pace, it’ll all be gone by the end of Session D.”

“Session B was a huge success; we had 47 stilters in the parade!” says Head of Stilts and Camper Advocate Anaïs Mendoza-Rosekrans. “I’m a little worried about the heat. Our cutoff is 95°F, and it got kinda close today, so we’ll have to keep an eye on that. It’s been a great run. It’s always such a blessing to be here.”

The show has concluded and campers navigate toothbrushing at the various sinks around downtown Camp. The fire now lit, tipis buzz with chatter, flashlights casting flitting shadows on the canvas. Two counselors make rounds to deliver a ‘15 minutes until lights-out’ warning.

“This place rules,” says Clowning Instructor Riley Soloner, “I’m always so proud of my clowning students when they perform as a group at the end of the session. They have this innate sense of play. When I teach adults, they have a hard time playing. It’s funny how an adult will sign up and pay for a clowning class and then not want to look stupid. Kids don’t have this problem. Crossing the halfway point of the summer is bittersweet.”

“Teaching Camp the song ‘Unwritten’ last session made me ecstatic,” says Tech Lead and Performance Coordinator Momo Calfe-Smith. “It’s been one of my favorite songs since it came out when I was 9. Tomorrow is my birthday, so it’ll be one more year of loving that song. I want to get pied for my birthday, but I don’t want to get it in my hair. Maybe I’ll get pied in slow-motion to that song from Chariots of Fire.”

People who have their birthdays during Camp are traditionally pied with a plate-full of whipped cream.

“The first half of the summer was good besides the earthquake,” says Head of Maintenance Marcos Herrera. “Besides that it’s been a real steady flow of minor projects. Mateo and I work really well together. I always love catching snakes. Only gopher snakes so far this year. I love being here and I love The Stragglers.”

“We hit the ground running with our Friends & Family Camp,” says Camper Advocate and Lightning Designer Lexi Takaki, referring to our new all-ages pre-season program. “It’s cool to be here for so long and see a new program along. I’m glad to be a Camper Advocate this session. I’ve known these kids for years now. It’s great seeing them grow up, change their styles of clothes. I’ve decided I’m going to be more strict this session, especially with kids who have been coming for many years. I wanna see them attending warm-ups and really plugging into the program.”

An eruption of giggles from Orange Tipi cut through the bedtime quietude. Silver and Lastarla walk over to quiet down the excited campers.

“35 counselors left from last session; it feels like a whole new group of people,” observes Songwriting Instructor Johnny Ali. “Those who remain remember those that have gone. Though we cannot speak of them, we hold them in our hearts and we carry on the flame.”

“I’m feeling rejuvenated,” says Lifeguard and Flying Instructor Shakon. “I got benched for like 11 hours, aka I went to the Bay and did laundry. Now I’m back for the 3rd quarter, and I’m going hard in the paint. They might have taken away the Warriors, the Raiders, and the Athletics, but I’m still ballin’. It’s gametime, baby. Knicks in five!”

“This summer is funky in a good way,” says Office Assistant Kira Linn. “I’ve really enjoyed being an honorary member in my sister Sada’s tipis. We finally got to sing together in a talent show this year. We sang ‘False Start’ by Bella White. It’s folky, fun to harmonize.”

“Last session had the most Giraffe-ified kids I’ve ever seen,” says Unicycle Instructor Arek Rein Jungwirth, referring to the qualification standard for riding the extra tall unicycles. “The young unicyclists keep raising the bar. They even made up a new level called ‘Gir-unified’ which is when you can do 8 figure eights on the giraffe. One thing that’s new this year is the ‘DON’T RUSH ME’ bar for beginners, so that they don’t have faster kids breathing down their necks. The thing I always look forward to is training the teachers who keep growing the department.”

TIPI CIRCLE circa 12:05am—The fire has gradually died down though the coals still emanate heat I can feel on my face. The small flames flicker blue and green. One by one the counselors have been returning to their tipis for bed, whisperingly checking in with Gabby, who checks names off the nightwatch clipboard. Gabby and I now sit and watch the fire in silence, waiting for the 12:30 curfew to bring in the final counselors. She stirs the coals for a little extra heat.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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I Already Miss It

Saturday, July 11th, 2026

MERCH TABLE circa 4:36pm—The bay trees block about as much sunlight as a tennis racket here on this dusty little knoll at the foot of the bridge berm. Various visiting grown-ups stand in line, noticeably less dusty than the children and counselors they chat with. Counselors Karma and Adelina run the Camp merch store while several helpers dig through the back stock bins. I’m loitering here to gather a few reviews of today’s Big Show, still sweaty from the all-camp songs finale.

“The show was great, with three exclamation points!!!” exclaims Daniel from Columbus, Ohio. “The clowns are always the best. Red noses are good for the soul.”

“The show was awesome,” says Phil from Portland, Oregon. “I look forward to this show every year. The end with all the kids singing always gets me.”

“Whoever chose the songs really catered to the adults here in a beautiful way,” says Natasha from Rohnert Park. “It was an amazing show. Seeing my daughter at the top of the Rainbow was incredible.”

The Big Show finale songs this session were taught by three different members of Camp’s band, The Stragglers. Clowning Instructor, lead melodica player and longtime DEVO fan Riley Soloner taught “Gates of Steel”, Aerials Instructor Shakon taught a Camp-parodized version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and Tech Lead Momo Calfe-Smith taught Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten”.

“The finale really gets you,” says Holly from Oakland. “I enjoyed the unusual elements, like the Westminster Dog Show and the inclusion of longsword. And good choices on the music!”

“Phenomenal, beautiful,” says Jessie from Alameda. “I liked the Nirvana. When I was a kid I banged my head to that stuff.”

“The poetry was phenomenal,” says Logan from Willits, California. “I couldn’t tell if it was sunscreen in my eyes or actual tears. Extreme exuberance for the unicycle and tightrope performances.”

“The choreography for the dance was excellent,” says Paula, also from Willits, California.

“I’m always a huge fan of the stilts,” says Reid from Piedmont, California. “Very animated, cheeky and synchronized. You could see that they had that high level of communication and it really showed in their performance. I also gotta shout out my son Weston’s song in the songwriting act. I hope he’ll follow in my footsteps!”

“It was an absolutely amazing session of connecting with campers and teaching unicycling and stilts,” says Teen Staff Sivan. “I learned the importance of communication, getting what I need, and speaking up for myself. I already miss it and I’m ready for next year!”

That just about wraps it up for Session B, 2026. Thanks for reading along and, as always…

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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Camp Changed My Life

Friday, July 10th, 2026

RAINBOW THEATER circa 7:33pm—A lovely evening coolness has breezed into campus as the sun sinks into the treeline. After dinner free-time has been super-charged by the consumption of vanilla ice cream dessert cups and Hershey’s chocolate sauce. Children and adults energetically lollygag in all directions, while a dozen Stilt Dance performers practicie for tonight’s opening act. Tonight I’ll be collecting the final reviews of Session B 2026, using a 5-star rating system. As usual, I won’t censor or cherry-pick the results.

“4/5—The only reason being that I was next to a camper who rolled in his sleep, and my Teen Staff snored a little,” says Haydn, 13. “Otherwise Camp was really good. Johnny and Vashaun were amazing songwriting teachers; they had good vibes and good skills. I really liked getting into a flow in their class.”

“5/5—I really love all the amazing people,” says Safia, 13. “I went up on stilts for the first time. It had this empowering feeling of towering over everyone. It was scary at first, but it was easy to get over. Everyone explains everything so well here, you can kinda just go with the flow.”

“5/5—There were a lot of perfect moments, like when we were all in a circle, painting our nails and drawing,” says Maddie, 13. “I learned how to make new friends better this session. You can always count on your tipi—your friends, your counselors, your teen staff—they’ve all got your back.”

“5/5—Everyone was super chill, nice, and awesome-sauce,” says Sasha C, 14. “The Living Room is where it’s at. There’s comfy furniture and when the kids argue over Magic the Gathering it’s very entertaining.”

A conch blows, signalling the beginning of the show. Within the span of a few minutes, the golden sunset has flickered away into periwinkle twilight. Music blares out of the PA as the stilters stride into formation.

Tonight’s evening program will feature Sour Widows, a visiting rock band fronted by two longtime Winnarainbites, Maia Sinaiko and Susanna Thomson. The members of the four-piece act adjust their respective gear on the Rainbow Stage as the show transpires at the Stilt Field. 

“I learned that there’s a full band for song circle which is really cool,” says Susanna. “The energy was electric. It was the best rendition of ‘Unwritten’ I’ve ever heard. I hope we do everyone proud and inspire the next generation of rockers.”

“It’s like I never left; it’s like coming home,” says Maia. “There’s less grass on the Stilt Lawn than I remember, probably because of all the stilting! I wish I could be a kid here again more than anything in the world.”

RAINBOW THEATER circa 9:17pm—An energetic crowd of children, teens and adults stand in front of the stage, panting and sweaty from dancing, wreathed in kicked-up dust that sparkles purple in the stage lights. A solitary star can be seen through the canopy, set dead-center in the navy sky. On stage, the Sour Widows have paused briefly between songs to click a few guitar pedals.

“We’re gonna play one more song if that’s alright,” says Susanna. The crowd roars in approval.

“Even though it’s fun to crazy-dance, we’re part of a community,” cautions Maia to the front-most moshers. “So let’s make sure the people around us are okay. If you see someone having tough time, maybe check in with them.”

“Are you ready to rock?!” yells Sussana. “This is your last chance!”

The crowd cheers as the band plunges into their final song, filling the forest with their unique brand of bedroom indie rock. Their sound is characterized by precise yet smooth guitar riffs, bold dynamic shifts, and strategic applications of two-part vocal harmonies. The song begins with a triumphant, explosive energy which gradually transforms into a dreamy trance over the course of about 7 minutes. The crowd sways, transfixed by the ambient soundscape. Suddenly the band bursts with a flashy finish and the crowd cheers.

As the band meets and greets their newfound fans at sidestage, I head for the toothbrush zone for my final batch of camper reviews.

“10/5—The oldest year camper is always magical,” says Skye, 15. “I’m very excited for the oldest camper ceremony tonight. This session I learned how much younger campers look up to us older ones. There were two campers arguing about something the other day and I helped them talk it through. That’s something I’ve learned here over the years. There’s always a way to solve a problem, even if it’s really big.”

“5/5—The people are nice and ummm—that’s like three ‘M’s,” says Trevor, 12, making sure I recorded the length of his “ummm” correctly. “My advice is, ‘Keep your Magic cards safe, and your enemies safer.’ One last thing: SiX sEvEn.”

“5/5—New friends, old friends, everyone’s super chill and stuff,” says Frankie, 14.

“3.5/5—It was fun but I kinda got homesick,” admits Pola, 11. “I just had to say to myself, ‘I can do this. I will survive.’ Overall Camp is really cool, fun, and crazy weird.”

“4.5/5—It was all great, but I didn’t love the weekend,” says Avani, 13. “I learned how to unicycle well; now I can do figure eight, pin wheel, and partner ride. There’s not a lot of fibrous food, everything gets dusty and dirty, but all that said, I definitely recommend doing two weeks instead of one. And for Adventure Night, play your hardest, and cheat if you need to.”

“4/5—Adventure Night took it down a notch,” says Talys, 13. “Making a political statement at the expense of fun is not cool. The message was ‘capitalism is bad’ and ‘anything goes in the face of money.’ TQ and Blue Tipis had generational wealth because they brought Winnarainbucks from last year! I kept one as a souvenir, but I’m considering making some counterfeits to level the playingfield.”

“4.8/5—For me Camp is always five-out-of-five, but there were some stressful moments this session,” says Quill, 14. “Milla helped me today, just talking things through. They gave me honest advice that I think applies to a lot of situations. One thing I appreciated was all the media on the bulletin board, starting with the Meme Lord, the Laytonville Gazette, the ‘WANTED’ posters, and finally, Clown Dog News.”

“3.5/5—The staff could have been better,” says Sasha M, 14. “The kids could have been better; the food could have been better; the vibes could have been better. But all for all, it was a fun time.”

“4.99999/5—I think the time to get ready in the morning is too short,” says Frankie, 11. “The activities were amazing, lots of options. You could always find something you wanted to do. The rock show was really cool; I liked it.”

“6/5—Camp is perfect every time, but this time was extra perfect,” says Atreyu, 13. “I learned this session that it’s the thought that stops me. When I was first trying to step over the pillow of doom on stilts, I was holding the spotter’s hands and I couldn’t do it. It wasn’t until I really believed in myself and went with no hands that I was finally able to do it. Camp helps with confidence and social skills. I used to be shy, but after my first year of Camp, I became way more social. I made a lot of new friends at school, and at the same time I stopped getting bullied. Camp changed my life.”

Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

Check out Sour Widows’ music, shows, and merch at their official website.

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