I Walk Through The World of Blue

Wednesday, July 1st, 2026

LOWER RING circa 6:53pm—Children drift down from dinner into downtown Camp, casually strolling through patches of tree shadow and golden sunset. One group accrues in the Big Top to lounge on crash mats while another circles up in the stilt field to discuss the terms of an imminent game of kickball. A contingent of jugglers has appeared near the Juggling Cart for some post-dinner practice. Adjacent to my station at the Lower Ring, a group of leotarded adults have assembled at the Aerials Site for some sort of clinic. I snag some passing campers.

“I did stilts today,” says Kip, 12. “I like being taller. It’s not really adrenaline, but it’s some sort of deep-down excitement. You never know what’s gonna happen, but if you fall, you can always get back up again. You don’t know what you can learn until you actually try.”

“I went to the lake and did Lake Master and Star Lake Master,” says Liam, 12. “You have to swim 6 times around the lake, 1 for Lake Master, and 5 for Star Lake Master. I got a cramp in my leg on lap 5, but it went away after a few seconds. We’re finna get some bracelets as a prize.”

The aerialists begin a synchronized jumping jacks warm-up. I breeze across the road to interview some jugglers.

“Today I did diabolo and improv because I like being funny,” says Westley, 10. “In the afternoon I went to the creek and skipped rocks and caught tadpoles and water skeeters. We saved some frogs because they were near the water spigot and people were going to step on them. We took them to the creek.”

“I first tried flowersticks two years ago and failed terribly,” admits Gage, 13. “This year I learned from the counselor Sage how to do basic, reverse basic, 2-stick, helicopter, and helicopter spin, so now I’m intermediate. Hopefully next year I can become an expert.”

I move to the Stilt Field to assess the kickball game. A close call is argued, the runner and fielder shouting “Safe!” and “Out!” back and forth. “Roshambo for it,” command the pair of staff facilitators who have demarcated themselves with matching straw boater hats. “Ro, sham, bo…. Safe!”.

The pitcher winds up at the mound, aka a pink hula-hoop, and rolls the ball toward home plate, aka an orange traffic cone. The line of batters squint into the setting sun, trying to follow the trajectory of the hit.

“Third base is not very exciting,” says fielder Goldie, 11. “We don’t have a team name, but if we did it would be ‘The Mediocre Team But We Try’.”

“Three outs! Switch!” announces one of the facilitators. I follow Goldie to the batting line.

“It’s like a soccer rip-off of baseball,” she observes while waiting to be up. “I like it because my foot-eye coordination is better than my hand-eye.”

She kicks a single and takes her base. The next kicker sends up an easy fly and the teams rotate once more.

“The time is 7:32,” announces Performance José Garcia on the PA. “We will blow the conch at 7:45. Last call to sign up for tonight’s Fire Circle!”

“Game over!” chime the boater hat counselor pair after a few more minutes in gameplay. “The final score is infinity to infinity.”

The children disperse back into the Tipi Circle. Back in Lower Ring, I spy a fellow open-notebook-and-pen holder striding about.

“I’m working on a poem for the fire thing tonight,” says Viva, 11. Graciously they agree to share their creation to close out Wednesday’s blog:

“
The leaves are quiet with golden mist
I look up only for a glimpse
I walk through the world of blue
Swirls and spirals and shapes of two
“

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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Send In The Clowns

Tuesday, June 30th, 2026

EASEMENT circa 6:42pm—A large metal fork has been positioned in the small triangle of grass between two forking sections of the main dirt road. Today, Camper Advocate Silver Morningstar and I are taking the forbidden left fork, into the collection of private dwellings known to some as Downtown Hogsville. My charmingly dilapidated 2003 Ford Explorer looks brand-new compared to the rustic relics that decorate the area, most notably a metallic tour bus emblazoned with painted letters that read, “NOBODY FOR PRESIDENT ‘88.” We lumber up the small hill that overlooks the Black Oak Ranch’s pastures. Soon we have arrived at the correct dwelling. Our mission: Send in the clowns.

Camp Winnarainbow was originally started by Wavy Gravy in 1975 as somewhat of a glorified babysitting collective. By 1983, Wavy’s wife Jahanara Romney had joined the outfit and turned it into a fully accredited summer camp with the American Camp Association. Now both retired from official leadership functions, the Gravies, as they are known, still love to attend Camp performances, especially tonight’s program, Teacher Talent Night.

“I’m pretty spry for 90!” boasts Wavy, carefully maneuvering downstairs. “Don’t try to catch me; you might be crushed to death!” he warns Silver who had approached to spot him.

“I still love a good show as much as I did when I was young,” reminisces Jahanara, following Wavy down.

Our progress toward the front door is slow and purposeful. Jahanara wears a black hoodie while Wavy sports a black crew neck and a large felted rainbow hat shaped like a bell.

“Shotgun!” exclaims Wavy, securing his preferred car seat. Jah chuckles and rolls her eyes.

LOO-LOO circa 9:26pm—The evening sky glows a soft blue against the black silhouettes of trees and tipis. Nestled behind the showerhouse, two laundry machines spin, clattering fasteners in their drums. On the opposite side of the Tipi Circle, the back stage of the Rainbow Theater can be seen, intensely backlit by the array of professional stage lights. With the gravies safely situated in their front row seats, I’ve situated myself near the facilities in order to gather a few quotations. Nearby three counselors stationed to monitor the area discuss the acceptability of pineapple as a pizza topping. Inevitably a few campers appear.

“I like how active Teacher Talent Night is, and the bright lights,” says Lorraine, 9. “I really liked puppets, or at least the music in the puppets act.”

“Teacher Talent stirs excitement, silliness and joy,” says Ada, 10. “So far tonight my favorite act is improv, though usually my favorite is aerials, so we’ll see. How they think on their feet so quickly and make it funny, it’s impressive.”

“The teachers show the kids what they teach, but also just how awesome they are; and they’re super awesome,” says Jojo, 10. “Like I wouldn’t even know how awesome improv could be if it weren’t for Teacher Talent Night.”

“It’s a fun way for teachers to express all their classes and stuff,” says Maxine, 10. “I didn’t know about sword fighting class or ASL before. This is my first sleep-away camp and so far it’s an awesome experience.”

An emphatic bout of cheers alerts me to the conclusion of the show, and I head back to transport my charges. On the way I encounter Performance Coordinator José Garcia, who organized and ran tonight’s show. Says José, “Just another night in paradise.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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There’s No Place Like Dome

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, June 29th, 2026

PUPPET GROVE circa 9:12pm—Night has fallen on campus, bringing with it a pleasant sonic landscape: bird song, crickets, Streeter Creek, vehicles moving along the 101, kitchen staff clattering large pans around. From downtown Camp the audience ebbs and flows with cheers and applause as tipis perform their introductory skits. A pair of counselors stroll by, chatting, laughing, and crunching dry bay leaves in the gravel. After a short while, Wavy’s famous bedtime line, “Brush ‘em if you got ‘em!” alerts me to the conclusion of evening program.

Here in my outdoor office, I feel like these sounds connect me to the larger story of Camp, though no blog would be complete without some inanities from the clientele. I grab my trusty Moleskine and head for the toothbrushing zone to gather a fresh batch of first impressions. On my way there I become sidetracked by an unexpected nighttime scene at the Nurses’ Dome. A line of campers waiting to take their nighttime meds has formed outside the small geodesic structure that serves as Camp’s medical resource center. The area is fenced with privacy walls and lit with strands of rope light. A pair of teen staff nurse’s assistants chat with the waiting campers. These idlers will serve well as tonight’s quotation-givers.

“I’m excited about being with my friends,” says Star, 12. “I’ve been coming three years now. This session I’m going to do stilts, ASL and unicycle—but probably not all at once!”

“I like trains,” says Austen, 13. “I tried to take a train to Camp, but I couldn’t find one. Luckily I have very nice parents so they agreed to drive me.”

“Tipi skit night is where we introduce the tipis’ themes and all the people in them,” explains Cary, 13. “Our skit was ‘Totally Quilt’ because we are in TQ aka Turquoise Tipi. We made a quilt out of campers. I was Temu denim for 99 cents.”

“All the tipis have to make a skit about what color they are,” adds Caleb. “Our counselors wore paper In-N-Out burger hats and called our tipi ‘In-digo-N-Out-digo Tipi’. Sadly, I never received the deep-fried hoofed mammal I ordered. I would have been fine with any large, hoofed mammal: cow, horse, goat—maybe a giraffe even!”

“I already know the ropes,” says Sasha, 14. “I’m expecting lots of fun and snacks, hopefully some Goldfish—specifically Cheddar-Blasted. The regular ones just don’t give me satisfaction anymore. I’m looking forward to hanging out with friends. I have too many friends to count; I’m friends with everybody.”

Next to Sasha a young boy is reciting a repetitive song in a made-up-sounding language. He agrees to help me transcribe the “lyrics”:

Fa-ri-doo-ba-sa-mi-met
Do-ni-pwa-na-voo-di-net
Pi-na-sa-mi-ma-ni-set
Ga-na-fo-su-ma-bo

“It’s bug language!” explains Rowan, 12, clarifying nothing. “It’s ‘Sherman’s Song’ from the game Hollowknight Silksong. It took seven years to make because they only had four people in the devs. Also they had too much fun and kept adding things.”

“Can you include in your blog an unbiased quote that the Nurses’ Dome is the best place in Camp?” asks Teen Staff Nurse Assistant Aster, 17. “We not only have Vaseline, but we also have ice! We probably have a whole alphabet of remedies: Acetaminophen, Benydrill, Cerave, Dental floss, Extra whitening toothpaste, et cetera.”

“I’m on Teen Staff for the first time,” says Jolie, 15. “It’s a little hectic, a little chaotic, but I’ve got my JC mentor here,” gesturing to Aster. “The biggest difference between being a camper versus Teen Staff is that I have more freedom and more responsibility.”

As I take my leave the Teen Staff duo thank me for dropping by the Nurses’ Dome. I assure them that I will be back soon, likely with some ailment. My bad ankle coincidentally flickers with pain as I stride up the road.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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Mosh Pit in the Woods

Saturday, June 26th, 2026

TIPI CIRCLE circa 10:36am—The conch is blown, summoning campers to a group warmup. Las Cafeteras, a Los Angeles-based band in town to play the Ten Mile Creek Revival, has agreed to make a morning cameo at Camp. They are set up on the Rainbow Theater’s backstage in order to play to the open space of the Tipi Circle. The band begins to softly play “Chan Chan” as children gather.

“When I was young, nobody taught me how to dance,” says band member Hector Flores over the PA. “When I turned 15 someone taught me how to move my body and it changed my life. So if you wanna have fun in this life, you gotta learn how to dance. We’re here to help you with that today.”

The band gradually picks up in volume and energy as the warm-up progresses: walking, shoulders, knees, hips. A spell of unseasonably cool air has kept Camp in a pleasantly mild temperature even as the midmorning sun bears down on the dry earth. Rainbow Tipi with its relatively new canvas reflects the sunshine like a mirror.

“This next one is a two-step,” announces Hector as the band switches to a higher tempo. “We’re gonna walk like you’re going to the grocery store.”

The crowd sways in a loose marching rhythm. Benches carry small piles of personal effects, evidence of the in-progress clean-up session which was paused to accommodate the band’s schedule. People seem more than happy for the interruption.

“Okay now we’re gonna spread out in a big circle,” instructs Hector, opening a small space in the center of the crowd.

The song has once again switched to a higher intensity and soon the entire crowd is jogging in a massive whirlpool of bodies. The band triumphantly ends the song to a chorus of cheers.

“That was your first mosh pit I bet!” jokes Hector. “Have you ever seen a mosh pit in the woods? Usually these are on concrete. That was the first time I ever seen that.”

“Now we’re gonna do a little activity called ‘Where You From From?’” says Hector. “I want people to get in groups of 2 or 3 and then you’re gonna say, ‘Where you from?’ And I don’t want you to say California or Mexico; I want you to be specific. What town? What hospital? Do you know what time you were born? Did you come out feet first or head first? It’s okay if you don’t know. Just say, ‘Huh, I dunno.’ Ready? Okay, go!”

The crowd pairs off and launches into a hundred-odd conversations. The bassist begins noodling the intro to Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side”. The other instruments gradually join in.

“Alright, you should all be about done by now, right?,” says Hector after a few minutes. “Now I wanna see, who here was born in Laytonville, California.” A few hands shoot up. “How about who was born in Willits?” A different couple of hands go up. “How about in Northern California? Southern California? Outside California? In a different country?” The crowd cheers for the handful of international folks.

“What did we learn from this exercise?” asks Hector. “All of us are different. And that’s what makes us the same. We’re all the same because we’re all different.” He pauses, letting the paradoxical platitude settle in. “We’re all the same because, what?”

“We’re all different!” chimes the crowd.

“We’re all the same because, what???” he repeats.

“We’re all different!”

“This next one is a sing-along,” says Hector. “I want you all to think if you were the president for one day, what would you do to help everybody? That’s what this song’s about. The chorus goes, ‘Si fuera Presidente, para la gente.’”

The band kicks in and the campers join in on the chorus throughout the song.

“Now I need three volunteers from the audience, one from the front, one from the middle, and one from the back,” says Hector as the band continues softly in the background. He points out three raised hands. “Now I want you to tell me, what’s your name, where are you from and what would you do if you were president?” He passes the mic to the volunteers.

“My name is Josephine, I’m from Santa Rosa City, and if I was president I would make healthcare free for everyone!”

“My name is Avi, I’m from Oakland, and if I was president I would abolish ICE!”

“My name is Lyric, I’m from California, and if I was president I would let everyone have peace around this whole universe!”

The crowd cheers for each camper volunteer. Hector thanks the campers and sends them back to the crowd.

“I want to give a shout-out to my friend Sanje,” he says. “For 8 years she has been telling me that there was this magical camp, a camp that changed her life, a camp that she went to as a little girl. It’s so great to be here at this heaven-on-earth. This last one is called ‘La Bamba’.”

The band plays the ubiquitous tune with gusto and soon the whole crowd has morphed into a snaking conga line. “Sing with me!” says Hector. “Bamba, bamba…” Dust swirls as the line shuffles in a long spiral.

“Do we have time for one more?” asks Hector as the song ends, looking around for some Camp official. Off to the side, Super Duper (see: manager) Jack Crawford nods and gives an emphatic thumbs up. The band erupts into a driving Cumbia number with a piercing keyboard lead. The crowd roils with dancing for the grand finale.

“Put up a ‘W’ for Winnarainbow,” says Hector, throwing up the Wu-Tang Clan’s famous gesture. The crowd imitates. “We’ll see you at the next festival!”

The crowd cheers and begins to spread back out into cleaning stations. A number of adults gather near the rainbow to shake hands with the band members. It’s always exciting to have artists visit Camp, and Las Cafeteras delivered an exceptional performance that really engaged the children. It was a memorable finale to a memorable session.

We hope everyone has a safe journey home today and, as always…

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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PS Be sure to check out Las Cafeteras’ official website for tour dates and merch.

Basically Perfect

Friday, June 25th, 2026

TIPI CIRCLE circa 10:20pm—Darkness, if not quietness, has enveloped Camp, concluding a triumphant day—the last full day of Session A 2026. The tipis are all a-chatter with rising bouts of laughter followed by obligatory shushes from counselors. The campfire smell sits sweet in the humid air. A brief rain scare seems to have come and gone in the past hour. The cloud-obscured moon creates a faint blue glow across the sky, contrasting with the pitch black canopy.

Near the nightwatch’s fire a throng of oldest campers has gathered to await a final-night-of-camperdom labyrinth walk, an important right of passage at Camp. Adjacent the Tipi Circle, the Rainbow Theater’s house lights glow rusty orange, lighting the way for the techies’ post-show clean-up. Tonight’s evening program was a two-hour long talent show, featuring a wide array of absurd and impressive talents. Some highlights included a piano rendition of “Dream Sweet in Sea Major” and an energetic group dance to Avril Lavine’s 2002 hit “Sk8er Boi”.

Once the show concluded I spent some time in the toothbrushing zone to get some in-person Yelp reviews.

“This is one of my favorite summer camps,” said Aaron, 12. “There’s a wide variety of activities suitable for all, and it’s very inclusive. Overall a great experience. 5/5 stars.”

“Camp is so-so; I could think of some things that would make it way better,” said Shayla, 8. “It’s too crowded with fun activities. We need more space where nothing is going on. 3/5 stars.”

“Camp is amazing,” said Cedar, 10. “Unicycles are my favorite. They’re super cool because they’re hard to do. It’s one of those things you have work the hardest at to learn. 4.5/5 stars.”

“Camp is a really friendly place to be around; no one bullies you,” said Evan, 11. “It’s not your usual sleepaway camp. 5/5 stars.”

“There’s lots of activities to do and lots of friends to make and the staff are really nice,” said Noel, 11. “The silliest thing that happened this session is when CC had a laugh attack during free time. 5/5 stars.”

“I’m getting kind of good at unicycling,” said Marcus, 8. “I love the lake. 10/5 stars, no wait, 10 and 20 both! Not 30, but like 1,020. That’s how many stars.”

“Camp is good but I think more things should be optional,” said Jai, 14. “Singing is just not for me. My least favorite Camp song is ‘Sheena is a Punk Rocker’. My favorite activity is sitting in camping chairs and chatting with friends. 4.5/5 stars.”

“This is a fun, creative camp where you can make your own music,” said Luna, 10. “It’s the fact that you’re sleeping in tipis and learning new skills. Chill creativity: that’s the main vibe. About 4/5 stars.”

“I like it a lot; it’s a circus camp,” said Joaquin, 12. “The lake is my favorite. I love jumping off the platform. Like if you were a kid, you learn how to bond more. When you’re sleeping in the same place as a bunch of other people, you get to know people a lot better. 4/5 stars.”

“You just have so much fun meeting new people—people different from you,” said Lila, 12. “It builds you up to be a better person. Kind of like stilts build you up, but in a different way. 5/5 stars.”

“It’s all about the experience of being in nature,” said Hannah, 12. “I feel like the trees are low-key cool. They’re grounded, they know what they’re doing. That’s how I wanna be some day. 5/5 stars.”

Surprisingly, (without planning or cherrypicking) the average of all these ratings was exactly 5 out of 5 stars. I guess this camp is basically perfect.

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno

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Log & Water

In the Camp Winnarainbow system, water bottles are represented by two separate but equally important groups: the children who search for lost water bottles, and the counselors who comfort thirsty children. These are their stories.

Thursday, June 25th, 2026

TIPI CIRCLE circa 4:45pm—A rogue piece of cloud has given downtown Camp a fleeting moment of peace from the afternoon heat. I’m picking up an extra shift on the “Ring Master” beat this evening to get the down-low on the ongoing lost water bottle crisis. Unfortunately this nice change in weather isn’t going to do much for those unlucky souls who can’t find their water bottles. Here comes one now.

“I lost my water bottle,” says Zoe, 8.

“Would you like a consultation?” says Water Bottle Detective Silver Morningstar. She agrees. He metes out his intake questions like he’s done a thousand times before: Name? Age? Tipi? Color of water bottle? Number of ounces? Zoe does her best to answer as accurately as she can remember.

“Last known location?”
“Cloudswing.”
“Any identifiable characteristics?”
“It says ‘Zoe’ on it.”

Here at the Water Bottle Detective Collective intake desk, it’s always the same story: “I just set it down for a second and then it was gone.” People assume they can just leave their water bottle lying around and no one will move it. Some of them even think that their water bottle will just “turn up eventually.” Well I’ve got news for these people: Your water bottle is gone! Lost! Vanished! And no amount of praying to Saint Anthony is going to bring it back. Your best shot is cold, hard detective work. That’s why the Collective was started.

“I’m sorry, Zoe,” consoles Silver. “You know, three years ago I lost my own water bottle. I haven’t found mine yet, but I’ll do everything I can to help you find yours.”

Grateful yet somewhat skeptical, Zoe leaves to pick out a costume for tonight’s Costume Dance Party. A new camper approaches.

“Is this someone’s water bottle?” says Iversen, 12, holding what appears to be Zoe’s water bottle.

“Zoe!” exclaims Silver, snatching the metallic vessel and charging off toward the Costume Barn.

“I was putting my stilts away when I saw it,” explains Iversen. “Silver said I could be part of the committee.”

“It’s not a committee; it’s the Water Bottle Detective Collective,” corrects Silver. He has returned still holding the water bottle, apparently unable to find Zoe. “‘Collective’ means that we collect water bottles, and it also means that we are in a commune.”

“If anybody has a water bottle with a dent on it, I have some Band-Aids in my backpack,” offers Teen Staff Lysdy. “They’re planet themed.”

“There’s many specialties in the Collective, such as Lydsy, the Water Bottle Doctor,” continues Silver. “We have Reunion Specialists, who follow up on open cases. We also have Water Bottle Counselors who comfort people who have lost their water bottles, as well as water bottles who have lost their people,” he says, motioning to a cluster of water bottles on a nearby bench. “Jack over here is our Water Bottle Security Guard!”

“I haven’t guarded a single water bottle yet,” admits Teen Staff Jack.

“Well we feel better just knowing you’re available,” says Silver. “By the way, can you watch these water bottles for a minute?”

“Yes, but I need to get my own water bottle first,” deflects Jack, walking away.

The clouds have dissipated, dappling the woodchips with sunlight. Costumed children mill about the Tipi Circle like exotic bugs in a terrarium. Long oak boughs wriggle upward like twisted fingers holding fistfuls of greenery.

“I was born to search for water bottles; it’s my true calling,” says Winter, 10. “I think some water bottles are starting to run away from humans and hide in the woods. They’re tired of being used and they’re plotting to take over the world! It’s a whole Planet of the Apes situation.”

“You will probably lose your own water bottle at least once in your life,” warns Atlee, 11. “I lost mine at the creek. It has my name on it but it’s hard to read because it’s black and I used a black Sharpie.”

“One time I lost my water bottle at school,” recounts Frida, 8. “When I found it, it looked gross so I threw it out and got a new one that I loved more.”

“Tomorrow morning I’m going to be hypnotized to see if I can recover hidden memories of my water bottle,” says Silver. “I need to remember where it was last seen.”

“I’m the official hypnotist of the Collective,” says Nylea, 11. “I’m going to swing an analog watch back and forth like they do in the movies. Then I’ll say ‘REMEMBER YOUR WATER BOTTLE’ five times and snap my fingers. It worked on my sister once.”

Suddenly, Zoe has returned.

“Water-bottle-lament no more,” exclaims Silver handing the water bottle to Zoe. “This is water bottle reunion number 14! Remember, it’s not about the water; it’s about the bottle.”

Sure, people who lose their water bottles could use a paper cup at one of the four conveniently located water station  coolers—they could even drink from one of the ten water fountains if they were really desperate—but the truth is that nothing compares to a long, cool swig from your own personal water bottle; the one you bought at Target a few weeks ago, the one you slapped a festive sticker on, the vacuum-sealed aluminum affair with a penchant for rolling around in the trunk of the family station wagon.
Maybe you assumed your water bottle would always be by your side. Maybe you assumed it would stay right where you left it next to the Juggling Cart. Well, as we like to say in the Collective, “If you’re thirsty, it’s too late!” Let these accounts you read here be a reminder to hold your water bottle close and, as always…

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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I Feel the Earth Move

Wednesday, June 24th, 2026

SPORTS FIELD circa 8:15am—Tagging along with Administrative Manager Mayahuel Montoya on a serene morning walk, we follow a dirt road through the wooded bank of Ten Mile Creek. Soon the foliage opens and we continue along the south side of Camp’s Sports Field. Already too warm for a light flannel, the sun reflects off the golden grass, nearly four feet high now.  There is a walkable labyrinth situated here, owing to the fact that this is the first area of Camp to receive direct sunlight each morning.

The loose dirt on the road has captured the footprints of a wide array of creatures: dogs, cats, birds, deer as well as several different brands of sneakers. Every ten yards or so a small hole indicates the presence of a sprawling ant colony. Each morning they emerge from a different hole, sometimes a hundred feet apart from one day to the next. Today they are working from one of the eastern-most holes, foraging fluffy white bits of plant debris.

Suddenly both our phones surge with an ominous warning chime:

Emergency Alert
Earthquake Detected! Drop, Cover, Hold On. Protect Yourself. -USGS ShakeAlert

We move away from the trees toward the center of the field as a shudder passes over the landscape. We continue into Camp.

CAMP KITCHEN circa 8:20am—A throng of children has been gathered in the clearing near the kitchen where counselors Silver, Moment, and Lucas are leading an acapella rendition of “Here Comes the Sun.” Nearby a small contingent of management discusses next steps. Cool morning air still lingers here in the shadow of the plateau.

After a few minutes, the children are admitted back into the eating area to enjoy cocoa and boardgames. Waterfront Director Kitty Green has taken to singing Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move”. Everything seems to have returned to normal, except for the hum of our back-up generators. I join the cocoa scene to document witness accounts of the quake, as well as to gather reviews of last night’s program, Teacher Talent Night.

“I was in a dream state when I thought someone was kicking my mat,” says Kanana, 10. “Our teen staff completely slept through it. I liked Teacher Talent Night because it was more exciting than a boring math lecture. 7.5 points out of 10.”

“When it happened I sat up and made eye contact with my tipi-mate and we were both so confused,” says Tessa, 14. “Once it stopped I went back to sleep. Teacher Talent Night was a great opportunity to see teachers in their element. Like you can know how to teach something, but seeing them actually do it is something else entirely.”

“It was a beautiful regular morning; everyone was spread out and peaceful,” says Camper Advocate Silver Morningstar. “I was at the art grove, discussing mystical things like cocoa with Memo and Yeshi. It was mind altering, the whole ground swayed, gave me a sense of vertigo. I stopped what I was doing and walked straight over to the kitchen and said, ‘Bum-dada-bum-bum’ and gathered the kids in a circle. We made sure everybody was okay and then decided to stay in the circle for a little bit and sing some songs”

“I low-key thought Miles was shaking the table,” says Sandro, 13. “We were playing blackjack. We were gambling with woodchips because we’re not allowed to have money at Camp. I don’t think we’re going to have another earthquake this session—I’d bet 26 woodchips on it.”

“James was cooking on the trapeze,” says Sandro of Teacher Talent Night. “It was cool to see my counselor up there. I’ve got mad respect for that.”

“I was getting coffee at Pour Girls,” says Gravy Boat Jasper Jackson-Gleich, referring to the drive-through coffee stand in downtown Laytonville. “It’s good it didn’t hit earlier or I wouldn’t have gotten my latte.”

“I was home when my phone went off, and then I saw my sliding glass door jiggle,” says Korina, 11. “The Peace Choir was my favorite act last night. I like Camp Winnarainbow even though there’s earthquakes.”

“I was brushing my teeth when it happened,” says Lifeguard Audrey Duane. “I think the rocking motion of the earth travelled through my toothbrush and got some plaque that I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.”

“It was basically an alarm clock for me,” confesses Poetry Instructor Rose Goyette. “I honestly might still be asleep if not for the earthquake.”

“It was fun to see aerials and acrobatics and it made me want to try them,” says Paloma, 9. “Improv was funny how they would say ‘STOP!’ and make up a whole new thing.”

“I was in the dish house when it hit, and I sprung into action right away,” says Unicycle Instructor Lucas Johnson. “My phone made a scary noise even though it was in airplane mode. I wouldn’t have felt the earthquake if I was in an airplane, so I’m not sure how that works. Anyways, I helped everybody remember the lyrics to ‘Here Comes the Sun.’”

“Basically we needed to check the structures, the electrical, and the propane,” says Operations Manager Angel Herrera. “We got the generators up and running to power the Office, the Kitchen and the Nurses’ Dome. When I went to town earlier to get more gas it looked like Disclosure Day.”

“I was saving a chair for Silver in the kitchen when it started shaking and going like this,” says Luna, 10, waving her arms back and forth. “It felt like I was seeing double. I would say the teacher show was a 9.5 out of 10. If I could give them one piece of advice, I’d tell the juggling teachers that they should take juggling more seriously.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

As of press time 10:00pm on 6/24 the power grid is on and no injuries or property damage have been reported.

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What I Wanna Be

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026

RAINBOW THEATER circa 11:07am—The sun waxes in the mid morning sky, glinting around the edges of the oak canopy that shields the Rainbow Theater’s seating area. Performance Coordinator Momo Calfe-Smith sits in the shadow of the large metal rainbow that frames the stage, inking second period class options on a large whiteboard while Duper (see: Supervisor) Lexi Takaki sweeps stage dust with a green-bristled pushbroom. The air smells like dust.

Here in the Theater sound of tipi groups discussing amongst each other can be heard in all directions. During a time that will typically be first period classes, tipi groups have been afforded this hour to form social agreements such as “right to pass” and “no put-downs”. Counselors have spread out, taking their respective tipi groups to the various peripheral shady areas of Downtown Camp, leaving the Rainbow Theater quite empty.

Dance Instructor Yeshi Gusfield emerges and agrees to give me a rundown of last night’s program, Tipi Skit Night.

“It’s the quintessential name game, wrapped up in an inside joke, and topped off with a pun on the tipi’s name,” she explains. “For example—and I hadn’t heard this one before—one tipi made a skit around ‘in da flow’, and then at the end they were Indigo Tipi. Very clever!”

The goal of Tipi Skit Night is to get every camper to introduce themselves on stage. For many kids, it’s their first experience of public speaking, let alone stagecraft. Counselors are tasked with creating these skits with very limited prep time.

“In order to make a good skit you ask the most hyper kid what their weirdest idea is,” continues Yeshi. “It’s the night you hear everyone’s voice, no matter how small. It can make impressions that last a lifetime.”

The conch is blown, beckoning campers back to the Rainbow Theater. Dust fills the air as people shuffle in. “Pick up your feet! Pick up your feet! Dust is the worst thing you could ever eat!” goes the familiar chant. As the theater fills, Momo takes center stage.

“I know I can…” shouts Momo, inviting the crowd to repeat along with the Nas classic.
“I know I can…”
“Be what I wanna be…”
“Be what I wanna be…”
“If I work hard at it…”
“If I work hard at it…”
“I’ll be where I wanna be!”
“I’ll be where I wanna be!”

“Who’s ready for some classes?” exclaims Momo to a chorus of ‘woo’s. The circus element of Camp Winnarainbow has finally commenced. The teachers begin their announcements…

STREETER CREEK circa 2:59pm—Our large group of streamwalkers has paused at a wide and shady bend to frolic in the waist-deep water. Us counselors having recently prohibited splashing, the campers have resorted to scraping clay from the streambed and smearing their faces like warpaint. The afternoon breeze rustles the foliage.

“I took improv and it was really fun,” says Rory, 10, of his first day of classes. “You have to do lots of quick thinking, and I feel like I can think of random stuff even quicker now.”

“I took poetry; it was nice to express my emotions,” says Sophia, 11. “You can literally write about anything and you don’t have to show people if you don’t want to.”

“The students were very engaged and energetic,” reports Improv Instructor Mars Francis. “We made up a story about Lebron James slaying dragons with a magical wand.”

“I’ve been taking improv for a while,” claims Dom, 9. “The way to where I can think in my mind, it’s fun and funny at the same time. Mars is fun as a teacher, like 82 out of 100. And 82% fun is really good. Most grown-ups are like 35-40% fun.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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The World Is Comin’ to a Start

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, June 22nd 2026

MERCH TABLE circa 3:17pm—Families are beginning to trickle over Streeter Creek into the makeshift welcome area where sandwich boards point people into various registration lines. The Puppet Grove has become a paperwork check-in station while the Chess Grove doubles as a CWR merchandise storefront. A gentle breeze causes display T-shirts to sway on hangers dangled from a large shade structure. A grey sedan slinks through the crowd, apparently carrying a certain nonagenarian clown who has come to play his part in the collective welcome effort.

Here at the merch table, I am shirking the commerce tasks at hand in favor of collecting a few quotations for the first blog post of the 2026 season.

“Friends & Family Camp made me realize that children are better behaved than adults,” points out Art Instructor Maya Kittredge-Martinez, referring to Camps new all-ages pre-season program. “For our day off we saw Disclosure Day, which was…good? It was kind of hilarious at the end because the CGI was so terrible.”

On the adjacent picnic table Operations Manager Angel Herrera contemplatively strums a Mexican-made black and white Stratocaster. Kitchen Manager Mary Jane Stamper stops on her way to poke her head through a pair of sweatpants on display. “Here’s Johnny!” she menaces before hurrying back to burger night prep.

“Disclosure Day was more funny than anything,” assesses Herrera. “I’d give it one thumb-up. It can’t compare with Camp, that’s for sure. You can’t compare if you don’t compete.”

A dad and his three kids approach to inquire about sizes. Maya steps over to the backstock bins and parses through piles of branded garments. Angel has switched to tapping on a tiny djembe.

“I came here as a camper in the 90’s,” says Trevor from San Francisco. “I’m glad my kids are campers now. It’s the community, it’s the eucalyptus, it’s the magic—it’s all beautiful things to hold and savor.”

“We expect this session to be the best one yet, as always!” exclaims Executive Director Ginger Jackson-Gleich while rolling by in the Camp golf cart.

“I saw The Death of Robin Hood on my day off,” reports Gravy Boat Jasper Jackson-Gleich. The brother of Ginger, Jasper has been tasked with ferrying Wavy and Jahanara around campus this summer, hence the title. “I liked the casting but the cinematography was grotesque and the script was overwrought. Zero thumbs up.”

Sensing a movie theme emerging, I resolve to solicit reviews of more titles.

From the bridge a counselor announces to everyone in particular that the Berkeley shuttle bus has arrived. A few free hands muster themselves over the bridge to help unload baggage in the parking lot. A line forms at the merch table as more and more families arrive.

“Friends & Family Camp was so fun!” says Marie from Oakland. “I wish we could stay for longer, but our kid is excited for Session A. Just so you know, he brought a harmonica, so be warned.”

“I just saw The Mandalorian & Grogu,” says Iggy, 11, Maroon Tipi. “The plot was really good—even better than the Minecraft movie!”

“Traffic was crazy,” reports Aerials Instructor Shakon. “The vibes on the bus were surprisingly good. With this new ‘no phones’ rule kids were actually talking to each other. I guess the screen withdrawal hasn’t kicked in yet. Or maybe I’m just that good at being the bus counselor.”

“Toy Story 5 was better than Toy Story 4,” claims Teen Staff Orion. “It actually expanded on a character that wasn’t Woody or Buzz—Jessie. We get to learn more about her backstory and her fear of abandonment. In the end she learns that nothing is permanent, but memories last forever. Two thumbs up.”

“I randomly saw The Babysitters Club recently,” confesses Marina from San Anselmo. “Four out of four stars. In the movie they actually run a summer camp. It’s more chaotic than Camp Winnarainbow—if you can imagine such a thing. I wish we had come to Friends & Family. We’re already planning for next year.”

“There’s a magic once you arrive,” adds Nina from Fairfax. “It pulls you in.”

“My nervous system totally relaxes when I get here,” says Sara, also from Fairfax. “The environment, the people, it feels like a really beautiful and positive place. It’s vibrant and peaceful at the same time.”

“I saw Backrooms,” says Former Dance Instructor Karma Engel. “My favorite part wasn’t even about the movie. Marcos arrived like twenty minutes late and when he sat down he leaned so far back that it broke the chair like this,” she says while physically demonstrating.

“That theater is so small you can hear the soda machine,” adds Herrera.

“I thought Disclosure Day rocked,” says Clowning Instructor Riley Soloner. “I feel lucky to live in an era where we can still get a classic Spielbergian sci-fi adventure. It was similar to Arrival, but with more action. Under the flashy action sequences it was ultimately a human story about the power of empathy, which dovetails nicely with Camp. There’s this trope where you think the world is coming to an end, but it’s really coming to a start. And I think that is very much in the spirit of Camp.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

BACK TO ARCHIVE

Bittersweet Feeling

Saturday, August 2^nd, 2025

TIPI CIRCLE circa 5:30pm—The sun hovers just behind the top of the canopy, treating our closing staff meeting to a pleasant arrangement of shade. The sounds of reveling children has given away to the spooky post-session quietness, allowing the woosh of cars traveling the 101 to carry over Ten Mile Creek into our sequestered facility. Among the 80-odd counselors gathered at the Tipi Circle benches, there is a distinct feeling of relief, having safely returned all the campers to their grown-ups. There is also a certain emotional whiplash that comes with releasing such precious cargo.

“Session D and Summer 2025 are in the bag, folks,” says Director Ginger Jackson-Gleich to a strong burst of applause. “I want to start this circle with some appreciations, starting with people who stepped into new roles this year.”

She methodically reads through a prepared list of honorees, pausing for applause that the staff give each other generously. Coordinators, nurses, department heads, bloggers—the list goes on.

“I’d like to also give a special shout-out to the all-summer management team,” she concludes. “The metaphor is sleeping with your walkie-talkie on twenty-four seven. You all have such complimentary strengths; there isn’t any group I would rather have to help run this ship. Y’all rock.”

Ginger turns the show over to Super Duper [see: head supervisor] Jack Crawford who begins explaining the various logistics of the rest of the day. As she speaks, I can’t help but marvel at the circle of faces gathered here, people who have been here twenty years or more, people who just joined our team this summer, and everyone in between. This project has always been about people coming together to create a more peaceful and joyous way of life. Looking around the circle, I see a dedicated crew of people who made that true once again for our 51^st summer, and I feel an immense sense of pride to be counted in their number.

Earlier today I spent some time loitering around the merch table to hear some parents’ opinions about today’s ‘Little Big Show’, and a few closing remarks from staff.

“It feels good to be back at Camp,” said Paula from Willits, who worked several summers around the turn of the century. “That’s actually how I met Logan.”

“Yep I was here in the nineties, doing unicycling tricks and riding on the plateau,” said Logan from Willits. “The songs are totally different from when I was here. There’s like a full band now. Very rockin’!”

“Just the clown-tabulousness of it all,” said Rita from the East Bay. “I give it ten-hundred stars out of ten!”

“I actually read the blog every day,” said Francie from American Canyon. “A little bit of humor and a lot of whimsy—that should be your new tag-line. Seeing my two boys do a juggling act together, that made my heart go, ‘Weeeeeeee!’”

“That song by the young songwriter was so beautiful,” said Jamedra from Oakland. “It was somber yet joyful, a real bittersweet feeling. It made me happy to see a young person bravely expressing themselves.”

“Check-out has been flowing smoothly,” said Operations Manager Angel Herrera. “We got a little doodle competition going on, and I think we all won. It’s interesting putting parent faces to these kids; It’s not always what you expect. I hope everyone has a safe journey home!”

“It was a heck of a summer,” said Office Assistant Ellena Soloner. “The kids came, magic happened, and we’re already looking forward to next year! I would say I read one thousand emails this summer, easy.”

“Dusty, crusty, musty, and toward the fun!” said Teen Staff Jojo. “My advice for Camp is baby wipes, project your voice, and have no fear.”

“The Paul Simon tune really hit it out of the park,” said Camp Founder Jahanara Romney.

“It was rocking our socks,” added her husband and Camp Founder Wavy Gravy.

“See you next summer, knuckleheads!” said Director Ginger Jackson Gleich. “I stole that one from Wavy. He won’t mind, right?”

Thank you everyone for reading along this session! Have a safe journey home and, as always,

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025