Laytonville, California 95454
Ready for the TIME OF YOUR LIFE?
Share our 40th year with us!
Stilts, trapeze, drama, juggling, unicycle, martial arts, swimming, singing, dancing, hot cocoa, the labyrinth, hanging out and much, much more!
Choose Camp Winnarainbow this summer and explore nature, enhance your creativity, begin lifelong friendships, and have BIG FUN. For over 35 years, kids (and adults) have run away to join our circus in the rolling foothills of beautiful Mendocino County in Northern California. Drawing from our knowledge of circus and performing arts, our well trained staff teaches timing, balance and as our founder Wavy Gravy says, “Survival in the 21st century or how to duck with a sense of humor.”
Camp Winnarainbow’s philosophy helps prepare campers to reach for the stars! We would love to have you join our community! Be sure to take a look at our photos.
The Kid's Camp Experience
The Camp Winnarainbow Kids Camp program is driven by its two core philosophies (The Show Show and The Life Show) and all of its activities are designed to reflect their goals.
The Show Show
Our performance philosophy emphasizes taking risks in a physically and emotionally safe environment. Drawing from the world of circus and theatrical arts, we teach timing, balance, and a sense of humor. We honor the creative spirit of each child in an atmosphere of approval and mutual encouragement.
Campers choose from a wide range of activities and classes that encourage creativity, skills mastery, personal growth and physical development.
- Trapeze
- Acting
- Music
- Cloudswing
- Clowning
- Dance
- Spanish Web
- Improvisation
- Poetry
- Gymnastics
- Juggling
- Songwriting
- Stiltwalking (and falling)
- Diablo
- Arts & Crafts
- Unicycling
- Magic
- Mask-Making
- Tightrope
- Martial Arts
- Nature Walks
- And much more…
Each day, except on weekends, two periods of fourteen different classes are offered for campers to choose from. Classes, are designed to engage campers of all different skill levels; no previous experience is required. Safety and Health are tantamount and all teachers have been evaluated to ensure the highest level of competence. Showtime, whether it’s after classes or during evening programs, is presented as a natural and enjoyable way to perform in front of a supportive audience and we encourage everyone to participate. And at the end of each session, skills and theatrical pieces that are created by the campers are presented in a show for parents and friends.
On the stage and in the tipi, friendship building and acceptance are emphasized with the campers. Competition is de-emphasized. Healthy sportsmanship is supported during team sports, which include softball, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, soccer and basketball on our own regulation court donated by the Bill Graham Foundation with backboards supplied by former NBA star, Bill Walton.
The Life Show
Camp Winnarainbow provides a training ground to nurture leaders for a peaceful, harmonious and sustainable world by teaching responsibility for one’s own behavior and developing confidence, inner security and appropriate self-expression. We encourage respect for oneself, others, and the environment while valuing the uniqueness of each individual, within the diversity of racial, cultural, economic, and religious backgrounds that comprise our camp community.
The heart and soul of Camp Winnarainbow is learning to live in community:within the tipis and as a whole larger community. In the tipis, experienced counselors help their campers develop self-esteem and social/friendship skills through games, stories and bonding activities. As a whole camp, group activities such as All Nations Day (see below), Adventure Night and other evening performances emphasize mutual respect and leadership skills.
All Nations Day/Too Much Fun Day is a day long pageant centered around a theme held in the middle of each two week session. Themes have included environmental awareness, nonviolent conflict resolution, and diversity and are usually framed within a fun, theatrical storyline for the campers to learn and explore.