Occidental, CA 95465
ABOUT THE WOODS
Our two principle programs, Camp Heartwood and Camp Soulspring, lovingly referred to as the Heart and Soul of Westminster Woods, are both residential summer camps. These two programs comprise the majority of the summer calendar with each program offering multiple six-day sessions. We also offer three specialty programs, The Grove, Woods to Waves, and Friendship Camp, that offer a unique experience catered to a specific population.Our Summer Programs embrace Westminster Woods’ slogan of “A Sanctuary for Transformative Experiences” for all campers who come across our bridge. We bring together youth from different communities throughout California for a wonderful week in the redwood forest. Our programs foster growth in our campers through personal development, spiritual exploration, social inclusion, and environmental awareness. Westminster Woods gives campers the opportunity to sift through the complexities of how to love and be loved in community. Westminster Woods ensures that everyone who comes across our bridge is welcomed and respected.
In order to maximize quality and safety during the summer season, Westminster Woods only facilitates one program at a time, and suspends all other rentals and uses of the facility during that program. This means each program offered has exclusive use of the entire Westminster Woods campus during its time on the summer calendar. While your kids or loved ones are here, they are the only clients here, and the entire staff and facility are focused solely on them.
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CAMP HEARTWOOD
SESSION 3: (6/30-7/5) AGES 9-16
Camp Heartwood is a secular Summer Camp that fosters character development of young people through the dynamic exploration of Friendship, Bravery, and the Power of Choice. Designed by some of the best youth development professionals in the world, this program masterfully blends social emotional learning with epic fun and a sprinkle of chaos, culminating in an unforgettable summer camp experience. There are legendary games, ropes course adventures, Paradigms and Traditions that the camp community experiences together, but we give each camper the power to shape the majority of their experience through an innovative elective system called Choose Your Own Adventure. This delicate balance of freedom and structure provides powerful opportunities for our campers to develop social skills, face their fears, and exercise responsibility in a safe, supportive environment.
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CAMP SOULSPRING
SESSION 4 (7/7-7/12)
SESSION 5 (7/14-7/19)
SESSION 6 (7/21-7/26)
Ages: 8-17
Camp Soulspring is a faith-based Summer Camp that nurtures the social and spiritual development of young people by helping them explore how they can love their SONG (Self, Others, Nature, and God.) Immersed in over 50 years of summer camp history, campers are swept away in a tidal wave of games, forest excursions, ropes course adventures, and sacred traditions. Within this beautifully diverse community, campers witness the natural wonders of the redwood forest and creatively explore their faith all while having more fun than you can possibly imagine. Our program is guided by a single proverb, commonly known as The Golden Rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). This sentiment, spoken by Jesus Himself, and echoed in the texts of every major religion on earth, is the spiritual cornerstone of Camp Soulspring. We firmly believe The Golden Rule is “True North,” and we help campers find true north with whatever spiritual compass they’re holding.
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WOODS TO WAVES
SESSION 6 (7/21-7/26)
Ages: 15-17
Continuing Westminster Woods’ long trip-camp tradition, Woods to Waves gives a group of high schoolers the freedom to bond with one another through the shared discovery of Sonoma County’s hidden creeks and corners, and through the collaborative sharing of their own stories and wisdom around the campfire. Led by a Wilderness First Responder, the group hikes from Westminster Woods out to the coast, where they will spend the week together hiking, kayaking, and tide-pooling, all while practicing important life skills in facilitating and participating in comprehensive dialogues. Using the week’s physical journey as a metaphor for that of our own lives, campers will participate in an ongoing discussion on the topic of meaning, examining the role it plays in their own lives and how to help others find theirs. Join us for a week of adventure and conversation!
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THE GROVE: FAMILY CAMP
SESSION 7 (8/2-8/5)
ALL AGES
Come design your own custom family camp experience using the magic of Westminster Woods and the surrounding playground of West Sonoma County. With Westminster Woods acting as a home base, The Grove provides a stress-free environment, giving families the freedom to regroup the family unit, explore all Sonoma County has to offer, and enjoy a purpose-filled vacation with one another! With different activities being offered every day, your family can pick and choose the adventure you wish to go on. This weekend is designed to bring the large intergenerational Woods family together for a weekend of recreation, relaxation, and fellowship. And if you want some time away from the kids, our Summer Staff will provide childcare - activities and games for your children, no matter the age.
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FRIENDSHIP CAMP
SESSION 8 (8/5-8/8)
AGES 18+
Friendship Camp is a week for adults with developmental disabilities to express joy, create friendships, embrace nature, and worship God. Surrounded by our loving staff, Friendship Campers experience fellowship, relaxation, and all around camp fun. Throughout the day, campers will rotate between a variety of camp activities including arts and crafts, volleyball, and enjoying the wonders of the redwood forest. Join us in a community of loving individuals, all who recognize and celebrate that everyone is a child of God.
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