Westminster Woods

Summer Camp is July 8th-28th! Register today! Families or church/neighborhood groups can share a cabin(s) at night and participate in camp activities during the day! Adults and families are welcome to join us for Retreat & Service Week!... Vaccinated teens age 16-18 can attend Stepping Stones with friends old and new! Check out all the options and info at https://www.westminsterwoods.org/summer-camp

With love and thanks to the Nazarian family, we are honored to share this memorial to Noreen Hanna Nazarian. Noreen Hanna Nazarian, 90, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2021. She was born on May 7, 1930, in Los Angeles, CA to Houry and Bahiye Attarian. In 1949, Noreen married Richard Nazarian, who passed away in 2000. They had three children, Mark, Nancy, and Paul. Noreen touched many lives with her strong faith in Christ. Nicknamed "Lady of the Forest," she worked for man...y years influencing young lives through Christian camping as Program Director and then as Executive Director, first at Calvin Crest and then at Westminster Woods. She and her husband, Richard, had a strong marriage and were always partners in ministry. She loved music and singing. In her younger years she was often a soloist. Noreen's gift for organization and leadership was evident in her later years where she volunteered at Monte Vista Grove Homes and in PEO. Noreen's passion was family. She organized many family trips and reunions, keeping her "clan" connected. She leaves behind her three children and their spouses, five grandchildren and their spouses plus ten great grandchildren, all of whom have been profoundly influenced by her life and love. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 10 am at First Presbyterian Church of Visalia, CA with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Calvin Crest or Westminster Woods or your local church ministry. This service will also be live-streamed and recorded. You can follow the live stream on First Presbyterian's facebook page and at fpcvisalia.org/livestreaming. You can also view the recorded live-stream on YouTube after the fact at tinyurl.com/FPCVisalia.

Want to join our team? Westminster Woods is hiring Teacher Naturalists/Challenge Course Facilitators for the 2021-2022 school year! We’re looking for dedicated individuals who love to have fun and are committed to environmental education and experiential learning. Check out our website for the application information!

Summer Camp 2021 Registration is Open! Three Weeks of Camp Programs - July 8th-28th https://www.westminsterwoods.org/summer-camp... There are a variety of ways that kids and adults can safely enjoy Westminster Woods summer camp this July: In a family cabin during our two weeks of our traditional Summer Camp at the Woods! In cabins with a small group from your church or neighborhood/community! With your partner, other adults, or family during our Retreat & Service Week! With Stepping Stones, our small-group camp for vaccinated teens age 16-18! At our Friendship Day for adult campers with developmental disabilities! Through our Virtual Summer Camp, with great camp activities online to enjoy at home!

Summer Camp 2021! Registration starts mid-April! There are a variety of ways that kids and adults can safely enjoy Westminster Woods' summer camp this July: ... - In a family cabin during our two weeks of our traditional Summer Camp; - In cabins with a small group from your church or neighborhood/community; - With your partner, other adults, or family during our Retreat & Service Week; - With Stepping Stones, our small-group camp for vaccinated teens age 16-18; or through our Virtual Summer Camp, with great camp activities online to enjoy at home! More information at http://westminsterwoods.org/summer-camp -- hope to see you here this summer! #westminsterwoods #summercamp2021 #summercampatthewoods

Thank you for sticking with us through 2020! We are incredibly grateful for all the ways our community has shown up for the Woods. And until we can gather again, here are some photos to remind us of the magic of this place

Can you help us continue to create transformative experiences with an end of year gift? Your gift will provide critical funds to help us be ready to welcome back schools, campers, retreats, and larger guest groups whenever it is safe to do so. Make a donation here: https://bit.ly/2LwjPRb

Need a holiday present for a Westminster Woods fan? Look no further than our online store! With beanies, hoodies, t-shirts, water bottles, mugs, and more, there is sure to be something for everyone who loves Westminster Woods. Don't miss our free shipping promotion: shop now through 12/13 with promo code WOODSCHEER2020. *Items purchased during this time will be shipped by 12/15. Shop now at https://westminsterwoodsstore.square.site/.

On this shortest day of the year, here's to more light, love, and beauty.

Late fall at the Woods is full of life and growth. What’s your favorite thing about fall or winter at Westminster Woods?

Wow, thank you to everyone who has already donated! We are only $6,000 away from our December goal of $30,000! When you donate to the Woods, you support life-changing experiences in nature and in community. Can you help us reach our goal? Share our post or donate here: https://bit.ly/2LwjPRb

Wow! We are so amazed and grateful for your generosity. Together, we raised $12,000 for #GivingTuesday! A huge thank you to everyone who helped us reach and exceed our goal by donating and sharing our posts!

Autumn and winter are great times to visit the Woods with your family! Hoping for a weekend (or longer) away? Looking for a new way to spend the holidays? All of our guest houses are equipped with wifi, a full kitchen and living room, and a spacious porch. Visit our website to learn more about renting a guest house: https://www.westminsterwoods.org/family-inquiries

We are so excited to share that Rebekah "Redwood" Jones, Curriculum Coordinator and Senior Teacher Naturalist, is the 2020 Environmental Educator of the Year for Northern California! What a well-deserved honor. Redwood is an exceptional educator and has been an innovator during the pandemic, transforming our in-person education into amazing online experiences. "Rebekah leads by example, she coaches her peers, but mostly, she loves nature as much as she loves teaching." Way to go, Redwood!

It's #GivingTuesday! Will you help us reach our goal of raising $5,000? You can make a donation here: https://bit.ly/37BnOmT Your gift, of any amount, will help us be ready to welcome back students, summer campers, retreat groups, and larger guest groups whenever it is safe to do so.

Fall reflections at the Woods. Spending time in nature can bring us peace, stillness, and clarity.

What’s your favorite spot at Westminster Woods? The overlook? A section of Dutch Bill Creek? Hummingbird hill? The dining hall? *sound on for gentle nature music at this staff favorite*

#GivingTuesday is tomorrow! Will you commit to helping us reach our goal of $5,000? You can support us by making a donation and sharing our posts! Donate now at: https://bit.ly/37BnOmT

Here’s a reminder from the redwood trees to s l o w d o w n, find the beauty around you, and breathe

Happy first day of autumn from this slender salamander! What's your favorite part of fall? #naturetuesday

Want to visit the Woods this fall? Bring your family for a weekend or week in one of our houses! During your time here, you can explore our trails, look for wildlife, visit the coast, and more, all while staying in a comfortable house with a kitchen. Learning and working from home? You can do that at the Woods! All of our houses are equipped with wifi and plenty of space to spread out. Learn more here: westminsterwoods.org/family-inquiries.

We hope you're finding a way to smile this Tuesday!

In honor of #CABiodiversityDay, check out our playlist of tidepool creatures, available here: https://bit.ly/3bMk9nW. California is rich in biodiversity: with both the highest total number of species and the highest number of endemic species in any US state, there is a lot to protect! https://youtu.be/U07qaVJ-QGE

Looking for a new way to explore the world around you even when you can't go far? When you can be in one place for a while, or visit the same place repeatedly, it’s a great opportunity to observe change over time. Check out the latest video from our Teacher Naturalist team here! Based on activity from How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren, available at howtoteachnaturejournaling.com. Star measuring activity based on BEETLES activity Double Take (beetlesproject.org) [Adapted by permission of the Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning, & Expertise Sharing (BEETLES) project, Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley. Copyright 2020, The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.]

THANK YOU! Our summer fundraiser was a huge success! We are so grateful to all of the members of our amazing community who helped us raise over $100,000! Thank you for believing in the work that we do!

Experience the Woods in autumn! Fall is a great time to explore our forest, visit the nearby Sonoma coast, and enjoy nature while working and learning remotely. Our deluxe houses are equipped with wifi, kitchens, and plenty of space for your family to relax during a weekend or midweek retreat. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.westminsterwoods.org/family-inquiries

Bobcat spotted at camp! Former summer staffer Alexis was outside the dining hall recently when this bobcat made its way towards the Hillside cabins. Bobcats eat mostly rabbits and can run up to 30 mph!

Check out this video about Scouts BSA Troop 582 Saratoga CA's two weeks at Westminster Woods! It includes activities around camp as well as aerial footage of the Woods and the Sonoma coast! The video was made by a Life Scout from Troop 582. Note: BSA is one of the few organizations allowed to officially retire a US flag in a ceremony of honor. Flags that are old and falling apart are given to scout troops by fire departments, cities, etc. because scouts dispose of them in an honor ceremony. https://youtu.be/GNDRz04TyLY