1C
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018
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CAMP KIWANILONG
WHERE KIDS CAN BE KIDS
Photos courtesy Camp Kiwanilong
Campers enjoy activities at Camp Kiwanilong’s Summer Youth Program.
Camp’s Summer
Youth Program turns
40, open house takes
place June 2
By SUE CODY
For The Daily Astorian
C
amp Kiwanilong’s Summer Youth
Program (SYP) is a place where kids
can just be kids. Songs and games
every day, campfires every night. Sounds
like a dream to me. And it’s been engag-
ing kids with fun experiences for 40 years.
If you haven’t seen the camp or have a
camper wary of what it will be like, head
on out to Camp Kiwanilong’s SYP 40th
anniversary open house 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 2. Enjoy
refreshments, a scaven-
ger hunt, games, tour-
ing and meeting staff and
supporters.
“It’s a remarkable
place to have right here,”
board
Chairwoman
Sue
Marge Huddleston said.
Cody
SYP was designed for
local youth to have a safe,
structured, enriching experience in a beau-
tiful outdoor setting.
“Camp Kiwanilong is a magical place
that bridges class and differences and puts
everyone on an even playing field where
they get to have fun,” Brooke (Duling)
Stanley, my daughter and a former camp
counselor, said.
“In this age of technology, it is more
important than ever to get kids to come out-
side and play all day long,” camp director
Sarah Widmer said. “We like to get them
away from video games, cellphones and
tablets.”
IF YOU GO
CAMP KIWANILONG OPEN HOUSE
WHEN: 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 2
WHERE: Camp Kiwanilong Road, Warren-
ton
DIRECTIONS: Turn into the west soccer
field parking lot at 1100 N.W. Ridge Road
and follow the road parallel to Ridge Road.
It winds through the woods to camp.
WHAT: Cake, tours, games, meet staff and
board members
INFORMATION: Call 503-861-2933 or 503-
741-5975
program for 10 years. Sparky stayed on for
another 20 years.
“Sparky was the coolest,” said Stanley,
whose counselor name was “Rainbow.”
“As a little kid, I thought she was so fun.
She always wore a beanie. She was always
in a good mood and she sang the loudest.
“When I was a counselor, she provided
structure and inspired safety and the confi-
dence we needed to have a lot of fun.”
All kids are welcome regardless of their
abilities, financial situation or background.
“We wanted everybody to be able to
come,” Clawson said. “Diabetic children
or kids with other special needs — we had
to learn as we went.”
Even though the directors have changed,
Sparky was their mentor. Melissa Reid
“Molasses” was in charge when Sparky
retired, and now Sarah Widmer “Sprite” is
taking the helm.
“If there is a misunderstanding, we still
have ‘Sparky talks,’” Widmer said. “This
really is her place. She was in charge for
30 years.
“My hope is to be a continuation of the
camp that Sparky directed. Come have fun.
Be kind. Learn how to get along with kids.”
“It’s a remarkable place to have right
here in Clatsop County,” Huddleston said.
“It is ours, it is here, it’s available.”
The camp takes off
The setting
Forty-some years ago, Deborah Vail
and Jan Clawson were picnicking at Cul-
laby Lake with their families when Pat
Kershul mentioned there was an unoccu-
pied Girl Scout Camp in Warrenton. Would
they ever consider creating a summer pro-
gram there?
Both educators were working in local
schools. Clawson had a degree in recre-
ation education and Vail sang in choirs and
organized church retreats. They pooled
their talents and created “a program I
thought was fun, creative and nurturing,”
Vail said.
Gathering teachers for counselors,
choosing fun names and designing the pro-
gram around songs and campfires in a wel-
coming atmosphere, the camp took off. It
began with two one-week sessions and has
grown to six sessions over the years.
Vail became “Sparky” and Clawson,
who ran the aquatic program at the lake,
was “Splash.” As co-directors, they ran the
The Civilian Conservation Corps
planted trees as an arboretum on 270
acres in the 1930s. Built alongside Long
Lake, a large dining hall, first aid station
and administrative cabins populate the
entrance. Wide open meadows are used for
games, campfires and activities. Primitive
cabins pop up like mushrooms in the forest.
New shelters and an art space are per-
fect for gathering in the rain.
In the beginning, Kiwanis Club stepped
in to build cabins and repair existing build-
ings. A combination of the names from
Long Lake and Kiwanis are how the camp
came to be named.
Volunteers have taken the momentum
to new heights with constant upgrades and
shelters. “Over 40 years, different people
have added different talents to keep the
program afloat,” Huddleston said.
“I love that when you are volunteering,
you can see kids come to camp and jump
out of the car and begin playing.”
Heroics and hilarity at Camp Kiwanilong.
Camp Kiwanilong.
Kids have fun at Camp Kiwanilong.