Summer camp washington state. Summer Camps in Washington State: A Comprehensive Guide to Outdoor Adventures and Youth Development

What are the top summer camps in Washington State. How do these camps promote diversity, inclusion, and youth empowerment. What unique experiences do Washington State summer camps offer for children and teens. How do summer camps in Washington adapt to COVID-19 guidelines.

Exploring the Diversity of Washington State Summer Camps

Washington State offers a rich tapestry of summer camp experiences, each with its own unique focus and philosophy. From traditional outdoor adventures to specialized programs promoting social justice and inclusivity, the Evergreen State provides a wide array of options for children and teens seeking memorable summer experiences.

Hidden Valley Camp: A Classic Outdoor Experience

Hidden Valley Camp, while not extensively detailed in the provided information, likely represents a traditional summer camp experience focused on outdoor activities and personal growth. Such camps often offer activities like hiking, swimming, and campfire gatherings, helping children connect with nature and develop independence.

Camp Ten Trees: Pioneering LGBTQ-Inclusive Youth Camping

Camp Ten Trees stands out as a groundbreaking summer camp in Washington State, specifically catering to LGBTQ youth, their allies, and children from non-traditional families. Founded in 2000, this nonprofit residential camp has grown from serving 20 campers in its inaugural year to welcoming participants from across the United States and beyond.

Core Values and Social Justice Framework

Camp Ten Trees operates on a foundation of core values, including:

• Inclusion
• Family
• Integrity
• Stewardship
• Health
• Courage
• Leadership
• Acceptance
• Play

The camp’s commitment to social justice is evident in its three-pronged approach:

1. Education: Providing workshops and trainings for youth, volunteers, and staff
2. Engagement: Interrupting systems of oppression and fostering connections between diverse individuals
3. Empowerment: Creating an equitable community where all are welcomed and engaged

Unique Programming at Camp Ten Trees

While offering traditional camp activities like swimming and archery, Camp Ten Trees distinguishes itself through specialized workshops. These age-appropriate sessions explore topics such as:

• Identity
• Issues of oppression and privilege
• Youth coalition building
• Social justice

How does Camp Ten Trees maintain its accessibility and high-quality programming? The camp relies on donations, grants, and other contributions to keep costs low for families while ensuring a rich and impactful experience for all participants.

Cougar Kids Camp: University-Affiliated Summer Fun

Cougar Kids Camp, associated with Washington State University, offers a summer experience for children entering grades K-7. This camp focuses on promoting physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and important social skills.

Diversity and Inclusion at Cougar Kids Camp

In line with Washington State University’s standards, Cougar Kids Camp places a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion. The camp strives to create an environment where differences are not merely tolerated but celebrated. This commitment is reflected in their staff training and camp policies.

What specific measures does Cougar Kids Camp take to promote inclusivity? The camp staff vows to:

• Conduct themselves professionally and positively
• Actively promote inclusion, fairness, and equal treatment of all campers
• Adhere to the camp’s mission, policies, and safety procedures

The Impact of COVID-19 on Washington State Summer Camps

The global pandemic has necessitated adaptations in the summer camp industry, and Washington State is no exception. While specific details for many camps are not provided, the mention of COVID-19 policies for Sunset Lake Summer Camp & Retreat Center indicates that camps in the state are taking the situation seriously.

Adapting to New Guidelines

How are Washington State summer camps adapting to ensure safety during the pandemic? While specific measures may vary by camp, common adaptations might include:

• Reduced capacity to allow for social distancing
• Enhanced cleaning and sanitization procedures
• Modified activities to minimize close contact
• Health screening protocols for campers and staff
• Outdoor-focused programming to reduce indoor exposure risks

It’s important for parents to inquire about each camp’s specific COVID-19 policies when considering options for their children.

The Educational Value of Washington State Summer Camps

Beyond providing fun and adventure, summer camps in Washington State offer significant educational benefits. These experiences can complement traditional schooling by fostering personal growth, social skills, and hands-on learning.

Skill Development and Personal Growth

What specific skills do children develop at Washington State summer camps? While each camp may have its own focus, common areas of growth include:

• Independence and self-reliance
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Leadership abilities
• Problem-solving skills
• Environmental awareness
• Cultural competence and empathy

Camps like Cougar Kids Camp explicitly aim to help young people develop a strong self-concept, self-responsibility, and the ability to get along with peers.

Choosing the Right Washington State Summer Camp

With the diverse array of summer camp options in Washington State, parents and guardians face the challenge of selecting the best fit for their child. Several factors should be considered when making this important decision.

Factors to Consider

What should parents keep in mind when choosing a Washington State summer camp? Key considerations include:

• The camp’s philosophy and values
• Types of activities offered
• Staff qualifications and camper-to-staff ratio
• Location and facilities
• Duration and scheduling options
• Cost and financial aid availability
• Special accommodations for diverse needs

It’s also crucial to involve the child in the decision-making process, ensuring their interests and comfort level align with the chosen camp.

The Role of Summer Camps in Building a More Inclusive Society

Washington State summer camps, particularly those like Camp Ten Trees, play a vital role in fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. By bringing together diverse groups of young people and actively addressing issues of identity, privilege, and social justice, these camps help shape a generation of more empathetic and socially aware individuals.

Long-Term Impact on Campers

How do the experiences at inclusive summer camps influence campers’ future attitudes and behaviors? Research suggests that such experiences can lead to:

• Increased empathy and understanding for diverse perspectives
• Greater awareness of social issues and inequality
• Enhanced ability to form meaningful relationships across cultural boundaries
• Improved self-confidence and self-acceptance, particularly for marginalized youth
• Motivation to engage in social activism and community service

By providing a safe space for youth to explore their identities and learn about others, these camps contribute to building a more tolerant and inclusive society.

The Future of Summer Camps in Washington State

As society evolves and new challenges emerge, summer camps in Washington State continue to adapt and innovate. The COVID-19 pandemic has already prompted significant changes, but other factors are also shaping the future of camping experiences in the Evergreen State.

Emerging Trends in Washington State Summer Camps

What trends are likely to influence the future of summer camps in Washington? Some potential developments include:

• Increased focus on mental health and emotional well-being
• Integration of technology and STEM activities into traditional outdoor experiences
• Greater emphasis on environmental stewardship and sustainability
• Expansion of specialized camps catering to specific interests or demographics
• Enhanced accessibility features to accommodate campers with diverse abilities
• Incorporation of virtual or hybrid camp options to complement in-person experiences

As camps evolve, they will likely continue to prioritize the core values of community-building, personal growth, and fun that have long been hallmarks of the summer camp experience.

About Us | Camp Ten Trees

Camp Ten Trees is a nonprofit residential camp in Washington State. Camp Ten Trees was founded in 2000 by four co-directors and offered its first summer camp session in August 2001, serving just 20 campers.  Since that time, we have served campers from throughout the United States and beyond. Camp Ten Trees is a place for diverse youth who share common experiences to come together and form a community that is truly their own.  In addition to traditional camp activities like swimming, archery, and nature hikes, campers engage in age-appropriate workshops exploring identity, issues of oppression/privilege, youth coalition building, social justice, and more.

Camp Ten Trees is a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 01-0923793).  Donations to the organization are deductible to the extent permitted by law.  Donations, grants, and other contributions allow Camp Ten Trees to maintain accessibility, high-quality programming, and low costs for children, youth, and their families. Camp Ten Trees was one of the first of its kind in the world and still offers the Pacific Northwest’s only residential summer camp programming for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their allies and for children/youth of LGBTQ or non-traditional families.

Camp Ten Trees strives to create a socially-just, youth-empowered camp community for youth of LGBTQ and nontraditional families, LGBTQ youth, and their allies.

Inclusion, Family, Integrity, Stewardship, Health, Courage, Leadership, Acceptance, and Play.

Camp Ten Trees operates through a social justice framework grounded in the awareness that people are wrongfully divided based on their identities, experiences, and backgrounds.  We enact our social justice values through:

• Education: We seek to educate our youth, volunteers, and staff by providing trainings, workshops, and community forums.
• Engagement: We seek to engage in building connection between people by interrupting the dominant systems of oppression that benefit from dividing people. These systems uphold racism, heterosexism, queerphobia, transphobia, classism, ageism, and ableism.  By holding each other accountable, acknowledging the ever-shifting culture, and addressing injustice through an intersectional framework, we engage in nurturing an accountable and diverse culture.
• Empowerment: We seek to empower those who have been disempowered by systemic injustices by creating an equitable and diverse community where all are welcomed and engaged.

Cougar Kids Camp – University Recreation

The commitment at Cougar Kids Camp is to provide each camper with a fun and exciting experience and the opportunity to learn new things. The camp is for children going into grades K-7 and promotes physical activity, healthy lifestyles, skill development, cooperation, fairness, fun, and respect for each camper. 

“Camps ought to be environments where differences are not merely tolerated, but appreciated and celebrated. Not all camps will address diversity issues in the same way, but the goal of all camp programs can be to strive toward developing a multicultural organization where social oppression does not exist.” – Dr. Karla Henderson

In harmony with Washington State University standards, Cougar Kids Camp strives to uphold diversity and support diverse populations of every kind in its recruitment and retention of youth into its programs. Our staff works hard to embrace individuals regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, and ability. Staff members will not tolerate any form of prejudice or stereotyping aimed at any person connected with our programs.

Cougar Kids Camp strives to help young people gain skills that will help them achieve a strong self-concept, self-responsibility, and the ability to get along with peers. It is our goal to provide every child with activities that are both enjoyable and educational.

Our Camp Staff Vows To:

• Conduct themselves professionally and in a positive manner while interacting with campers, members of the Student Recreation Center, parents, and other members of staff
• Actively promote inclusion, fairness, fun, and equal treatment of all campers
• Maintain the integrity of the program by adhering to Washington State University’s and Cougar Kids Camp’s mission, policies, procedures, rules, and safety policies at all times

View the camp brochure.

For accessibility, contact University Recreation.

Questions about camp? Contact DJ Mackie ([email protected], 509.335.2218) or Melanie Rossetti ([email protected], 509.335.3791)

Summer 2021 COVID Policies Released — Sunset Lake Summer Camp & Retreat Center

The State of Washington has released its guidelines for the operation of overnight camp during the summer of 2021. Based on these guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and the American Camp Association, Sunset Lake has released its COVID Policies for 2021. Currently overnight camps are only allowed in phase 3 of Washington’s recovery plan. Pierce County was shifted back to Phase 2 because of a rise in cases. We will only be able to operate summer camp when the county returns to Phase 3. We are hopeful that we will meet this goal, but will keep you informed of our plans in the coming weeks. If you have questions regarding these policies, please contact the camp.

Sunset Lake COVID-19 Policies

Summer 2021

Introduction

The State of Washington has approved the operation of residential summer camps in counties operating in Phase 3 or higher of Washington’s Roadmap to Recovery Plan. Sunset Lake is in Pierce County which was dropped back to phase 2 on April 16. Our county’s status is being evaluated every three weeks (May 3, May 24, and June 14).

We are hopeful that with the vaccine now available for everyone over 16 that we will begin to see our numbers go down before the start of camp. We will keep our camp families updated on our status as we move forward.

The procedures outlined below are based on the guidelines from the State of Washington. We are also utilizing guidelines and input from the American Camp Association, the Center for Disease Control, the Association of Camp Nurses and Environmental Health and Engineering Inc., and the Washington State and Pierce County Departments of Health. These polices may need to be adjusted as the guidelines from the State of Washington are constantly changing.

A complete COVID Policy Guidebook will be produced prior to summer, posted on our website, and submitted to the county health department for review. For more information and resources see the following documents:

1. Washington State Guidelines – https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/COVID19%20Outdoor%20Recreation%20Guidance.pdf

2. CDC Guidelines for Camps – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/summer-camps.html

3. ACA Field Guide for Camps – https://acacamps.app.box.com/s/7gkh9buu3ntssx2v38gajg4z94631lag

Preparing to Welcome You

At Sunset Lake you belong. Pandemics and social distancing can never change that reality. Our summer team is working hard before you ever arrive to make sure your week is safe and filled with amazing memories.

1. Staff Arrival Procedures – All summer staff will follow CDC travel guidelines on their travel to camp. All staff members will receive a COVID test upon their arrival at camp. We will quarantine throughout staff week and test all staff again at the end of the week.

2. Vaccination – While we are not allowed to require vaccinations for our staff, we have strongly encouraged them to consider this alternative. Most of our team will arrive at camp fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

3. Creating a Bubble – To do all we can to limit potential exposure from outside elements, no visitors will be allowed on camp, except for deliveries. Unvaccinated staff will not be allowed to leave camp except on supervised outings where our social bubble can be maintained. Anyone leaving camp will adhere to all state and local guidelines, including social distancing and mask wearing.

4. Testing and Health Screening – All staff members will receive daily temperature checks and health screenings. Once a week all non-vaccinated staff will be tested for COVID-19.

5.      Cleaning Procedures – Each Sunday, between camp sessions, cabins and facilities will be cleaned and sanitized using the latest guidelines from the CDC, State and local health departments. For more information on our cleaning procedures see below.

Getting Ready for Fun

Aside from registering for camp and packing your suitcase, there will be a few more things that you will need to do this year to be ready for camp.

1.14-day Self-screening – Campers, with the parent’s help, will need to monitor their temperature and symptoms for 14 days prior to the start of camp. Each camper will receive a form to record the results. Please bring this with you to camp. You will need to show it when you arrive. During this time we also suggest that you maintain physical distancing and mask-wearing when not at home, avoiding unnecessary travel, and refraining from indoor social gatherings with people outside of your household.

2. COVID Testing – No more than three days before the start of camp (Thursday) each camper will need to receive a COVID test. You must show proof of a negative test result upon your arrival at camp. Check online with your local county health department for a list of sites offering free COVID tests. While several types of tests are available, we would prefer the PCR test as it is the most accurate. These self-administered tests are quick and painless. If you have trouble finding a free test in your area, let us know and we can assist in finding a testing site near you.

3. Quarantine – Once your child has taken the COVID test they must quarantine at home and have contact with only immediate members of their family living at the same address. Make it a fun weekend with movie and game nights or a camp-out in the backyard!

Arriving at Camp – What to Expect

Arriving at camp is always exciting and at times a bit stressful. Here’s what you can expect when you arrive at Sunset Lake.

1. Transportation – We strongly encourage only those in the same household to travel to camp together. If you must carpool with another family, everyone in the car must wear a face covering and spread out as much as possible. Maximize ventilation by opening windows.

2. At the Gate – Your first registration stop will be at the gate. Our staff will check each camper’s temperature and symptoms. Make sure you have your proof of a negative COVID test and your 14-day self-screening form ready for the staff to review.

3. Drive through registration – To keep everyone safe and healthy, our registration will be entirely drive through. Parents will not need to leave the vehicle. Be sure to take care of all finances and paperwork prior to arriving at camp. Have any medications for your child in a separate bag outside of your child’s luggage. Camp staff will carry your child’s luggage to the cabin. You will say your goodbyes in your vehicle.

The Week at a Glance

While camp may look a little different this year, we are going to pack the week full of all the familiar fun and adventure you’ve come to expect from Sunset Lake.

1. Cabin Groups – In order limit the possible spread of COVID at Sunset Lake, the camp will be divided up into cabin groups of up to 16 campers (two cabins). Cabin assignments and cabin group arrangements will be based on what class your camper has signed up for. During the week, these cabin groups will operate independently and have no close contact with other cabin groups. If you want to ensure that your child stays in the same cabin as a friend, they will need to be registered for the same morning class.

2. Weekly Schedule Change – Because of the restructuring required to organize camp around cabin groups, we will need to shift from a 7-day week of camp to a 6-day camp week. Camp will begin on Sunday as usual but will end on Friday evening at 7:30 pm. Camper pick up will be at 7:45 on Friday night. Unfortunately, because of increased costs of operating during this health crisis, we will not be reducing the cost of summer camp.

3. Outdoor activities – Because the state COVID guidelines require that camp activities be primarily outdoors, there are several classes that will not be offered in 2021. All STEM programs and the culinary class have been canceled.  Our Art Studio will transition to be mainly outdoors this summer.

4. All the Fun you’ve come to Expect – The day will look and feel much like any other summer. We’ll have classes in the morning, activities in the afternoon, recreation and campfire in the evening.

Mealtime with a Twist

Mealtimes are always a favorite at Sunset Lake. And while some of our procedures will be new, the food will taste just as good and the great conversation and laughter will still ring out over a meal of Alberto’s famous pizza!

1.  Hand Washing Station – Hand washing will be a ritual at camp this summer. To help in the process, we will install a handwashing sink outside the dining hall. All campers will wash their hands prior to every meal.

2. Cafeteria Style – all meals will be served cafeteria style or grab and go. There will be no self-serve buffet lines.

3. Outdoor seating – The State is strongly encouraging campers and staff to eat outdoors. We will have picnic tables set up outside for cabin groups to eat at. We will also set up a tent with tables and chairs in case the weather is rainy. We can also seat people in the cafeteria at 50% capacity.

4. Food prep – As always, all of our food service workers will earn their food handlers permit and gloves will be worn during food preparation.  In addition masks will be worn at all times.

5. Utensils – Disposable dishes and cutlery packs will be used throughout the summer.

6. Drinks and Condiments – Single serve drinks and individual packs of condiments and dressings will be available at each meal.

10 Secrets to a Safe Week

The most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and provide a safe week of camp for all is to utilize several key non-pharmaceutical interventions. Think of these practices as layers of swiss cheese. One layer won’t stop the virus from spreading, but as you layer one on top of the other these practices become more and more effective at preventing the spread of the virus.

1. Masks – Mask will be required to be worn throughout the day when interacting with campers or staff outside of your cabin group. Masks will not need to be worn in the cabin, while eating at mealtime, at the waterfront, and when your cabin group is outside by themselves and can maintain proper distancing.

2. Social Distancing – maintaining 6 feet of distance helps to minimize the potential spread of the virus. Sleeping arrangements in the cabins will ensure that there is at least 6 feet between heads.

3. Proper Ventilation – Outdoor activities and proper indoor ventilation are two of the keys to reducing the risk of an outbreak. We will hold most of our activities outside and provide indoor ventilation, particularly in sleeping areas, with the use of fans.

4. Cabin Groups – By creating cabin groups – or cohorts – we can create small bubbles that limit the potential spread of the virus to a small group. Each cohort will have up to 16 campers.

5. Temperature and symptom checks – each morning the campers will have their temperature checked and will be asked specific question about how they are feeling.

6. Testing – Unvaccinated staff members will be COVID tested each week to ensure that they are healthy. All campers will be tested prior to coming to camp. If any camper or staff presents symptoms during the week they will immediately be quarantined and given a rapid antigen test.

7. Hand washing – There will be designated hand washing stations around camp. Campers will wash hands at regular intervals throughout the day, particularly before each meal and after using the restroom.

8. Quarantining and Isolation – If someone does get sick, immediate quarantining is the best method to prevent an outbreak. See the next section for more details.

9. Sanitization and Cleaning – Sunset Lake Camp will follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing. On Sunday’s, between sessions, the camp will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. At least two times a day high touch areas and bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized. Shared equipment, such as helmets and lifejackets will be sanitized after each use.

10.  Vaccination – all staff members have been strongly encouraged to receive the vaccine. Most of them will come to camp fully vaccinated. Those not vaccinated will be unable to leave camp.

What If Someone Gets Sick?

We will do our best to prevent this from happening, but the possibility remains that someone may contract COVID-19 while at camp. Here is how we will respond.

1. Our medical team will immediately contact you (the parent or legal guardian) if your camper displays COVID-19 symptoms or has been exposed to someone who is symptomatic.

2. If your child is displaying symptoms, they will immediately be quarantined from all other campers and staff and administered a 15-minute rapid Antigen test. If the test is positive, they will remain in quarantine and you will be advised to pick up your child as soon as possible. You should consult your physician upon returning home.

3. If the test is negative and symptoms persist, the child will remain in quarantine. You will be advised to pick up your child. A negative antigen test should be followed up by a more accurate PCR test.

4. If a confirmed COVID-19 case is found on camp all members of that person’s cabin group will be quarantined as a group and their parents will be contacted. Sunset Lake will follow the current guidance of the CDC and local health department to mitigate the risk of further spread. The most likely outcome is that the entire cabin group will be sent home. Each person who had exposure should receive a PCR test within 3-5 days of exposure. If the test is negative, they should remain in quarantine for a total of 7 days.

Attending a Second Week

If your child is registered for two weeks of camp in a row, the following procedures must be followed.

1. Pick your camper at the end of the first week (Friday Evening). Only immediate family members from the same household can be in the car.

2. Maintain strict quarantine on Saturday and Sunday morning. Make sure your child has contact with only members of their immediate family from the same household.

3. Travel to camp on Sunday with only immediate family members in the car.

4. Upon arrival at camp your child will be given a rapid antigen COVID test. If positive, your child will not be admitted to camp.

Going Home

It is always sad to see camp end. Aside from listening to all the great adventures your child had, there are a few other things we would ask you to do.

1. We recommend keeping your child home for one week after attending camp. During this time, monitor your child’s symptoms and temperature daily.

2. Between 3-5 days after returning home have your child tested for COVID utilizing the free testing site you utilized before camp.

3. If your child’s test returns positive, please contact the medical team at Sunset Lake as soon as possible to allow us to carry out contact tracing and limit the spread of the disease. 

Updated April 26, 2021

Wolf Camp & School of Natural Science at Blue Skye Farm – Wilderness Survival Camps, Nature & Outoor Skills

We’ve been running safe, exciting outdoor camps every year since 1997, including in the summer of 2020 under strict pandemic protocols, and we plan to continue limited offerings under our essential business designation for child care providers in 2021.

Our summer nature and wilderness camps are lead by highly skilled instructors who specialize in outdoor risk management for kids and adults alike. Whatever your outdoor interest, we work hard to ensure that you and your family will love the Wolf Camp experience. Check out our 2021 Schedule:

Online & In-Person at Blue Skye Farm

Join us virtually or in person for in-depth workshops this summer with Kim & Chris Chisholm. In-person workshops run 9:30-3:30 and you can also attend virtually! Interactive broadcasts will air live with time afterwards for questions and personal demonstrations. All workshop participants will have perpetual access to recordings.

Mon, July 12, 2021: Wildlife Safety, Tracking & Bird Voices including field guide instruction and live tracking in our special wildlife restoration site. (4 spots remain as of 4/28)

Tue, July 13, 2021: Backcountry Navigation & Leadership including risk management, emergency first aid, and navigation challenges. (4 spots remain as of 4/28)

Wed, July 14, 2021: Wilderness Survival & Traditional Fire including emergency preparedness, shelter making, fire intro, cattail harvesting and nettle processing for cordage and food. (4 spots remain as of 4/28)

Thu, July 15, 2021: Wildcrafting Edible & Medicinal Plants including hands-on harvesting and cooking of wild edible plants around Blue Skye Farm, plus making salves and tinctures. (2 spots remain as of 4/28)

Fri, July 16, 2021: Advanced Ethnobotany, Survival & Fire including your choice of hands-on traditional fire making and fire-by-friction challenges, completion of salves and tinctures, and other options with prerequisite of one of the prior two workshop days. Click on July 14 or July 15 workshop to register. (2 spots remain as of 4/28)

New York Times Photo Clip from July 6th, 2020 • Virtual Summer Camps ran weekly in 2020 and included the • Virtual Secret Spot, • Farm The Yard, • Wild Cooking & Herbology, • Wildlife Search & Rescue, • Wilderness Survival Craft, and • The Conservation Scout

Kim & Chris Chisholm created the non-profit Conservation College to take over its adult programs including the Earth Skills Teaching Apprenticeship which is an environmental educational, work-trade program unique to the field and first piloted in 1999. In addition, the Blue Skye Farm Internship is the primary farm program Chris and Kim started in a decade ago. It has been certified by the Washington State Farm Internship Program since 2016.

Garden & Farm Camps — Tilth Alliance

Our new school year farm and garden camps will be held in-person with reduced capacity and increased safety health precautions recommended by the Washington State Department of Health. Precautions include: limiting camp group sizes; conducting daily temperature checks; increasing sanitization of surfaces; maximizing outdoor time, staggering activity times, and practicing social distancing to the greatest extent possible. Read our Safety Plan for Camps.

After-School Farm & Garden Programs

Is your child ready to dig into the worlds of the farm, garden, and kitchen this year? At both the Good Shepherd Center and Rainier Beach Urban and Wetlands, participants will find out where food comes from as they care for the crops in Tilth’s gardens and farm and engage in outdoor science, art, and play.

Our program is informed by Learning in Places materials that are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and emphasize equitable, field-based experiences for children. We actively work to incorporate family and community knowledge into our programming as we learn together in our farm, gardens, and wetlands.

Tilth Alliance has been offering children’s garden education for more than three decades. We provide a positive, structured and educational outdoor learning environment. Many kids return year after year to experience the variety of opportunities at various ages and we love seeing returning campers, as well as meeting new ones!

Locations

• Good Shepherd Center (GSC) – 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Suite 100, Seattle 98103
• Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands (RBUFW) – 5513 S Cloverdale St, Seattle 98118

Join the Summer Camp Waitlist

We’re looking forward to having fun adventures in our gardens and farm, engaging in science investigations, making art, singing songs and cooking up delicious dishes at summer camp! Camps filled quickly, but it is possible to get on a waitlist and we will contact you if a spot opens up. Fill out this form to get on the waitlist. (Please use the form to join the waitlist, rather than sending an email.)

Scholarships & Sliding Scale

Tilth Alliance strives to educate everyone, regardless of their financial means. All camps and classes include a limited number of reduced price tickets, which can be selected at checkout. If a reduced price ticket is not affordable, we welcome you to apply for a scholarship.

Our sliding scale provides general guidelines for what families may be expected to pay for camp. We take a variety of factors into account when determining financial awards and ask that you provide as much detail as possible regarding your family’s circumstances on the scholarship application. 

Member & Donor Discounts

Tilth Alliance members and donors receive a $5 discount on mini-camps and a $10 discount on weeklong summer camps – make your gift online today! 

Cancellation & Photo Policy

Please read our Photo & Cancellation Policy before registering for camp.

Questions?

If you have questions or concerns about Tilth Alliance’s summer or school year farm and garden camps and classes, please contact Dan Friedman, Youth & Families Education Project Manager: [email protected] or (206) 633-0451 ext. 109.

Hooray for Summer!. Camps are back this year — what you… | by Washington State Department of Health | Public Health Connection | Jul, 2021

Camps are back this year — what you should know.

Summer has arrived in full force! After a challenging school year, it comes as no surprise that kids are more than ready to let loose and have fun with their friends. Summer camps are a great way for children to learn, socialize, and let out some extra energy.

As businesses and our lives get back to a new normal, you may be thinking about sending your child off to enjoy summer camp. The good news is that most camps plan to reopen this summer — with some new safety guidelines in place.

But before we dive in, let’s remember that children ages 12 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine is your child’s best protection against COVID-19 while at camp. But remember to plan ahead. Kids are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose.

We also recognize that many campers may not be old enough for the COVID-19 vaccine. However, they can still have a fun-filled, and safe, camp experience if everyone follows these precautions.

Day Camps and Group Childcare

Is your child headed to day camp or another daytime childcare setting? Here’s how to prep:

1. Maintain physical distance from other families while dropping off and picking up your child.
2. Screen your child every day and keep them home if they have any COVID-19 symptoms.
3. Ensure your child is kept in manageable group sizes throughout the day. This will vary by age and can range from 5 to 30 campers.
4. Remind your child to wash their hands many times during the day.
5. Mask rules do apply in some camp settings, regardless of vaccination status. This is to help protect unvaccinated campers.
6. Indoors: staff and children age five or older must wear facial coverings regardless of their vaccination status, unless eating or sleeping. Children ages two to four should also wear cloth face coverings when indoors, with adult supervision.
7. Outdoors: Campers and staff are not mandated to wear masks by DOH. However, please understand that some camps can still require masks outdoors based upon their own risk assessments.

*Summarized. For more information, see DOH’s full guidance here.

Overnight Camps

Sleepaway camp is an exciting time for campers and parents alike! As you can imagine, overnight camps have some special considerations and require some different guidelines. Here’s a brief summary of what to know:

1. All campers and staff must do one of the following before arriving at camp:

1) be fully vaccinated, OR

2) quarantine for 72 hours prior to arrival at camp AND get a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before arriving at camp. Details on quarantining can be found here.

1. Your child’s camp will conduct daily COVID screenings for campers. If your child has symptoms, the camp is responsible for locating free COVID-19 testing.
2. Vaccination status must be verified before arriving at camp.
3. The mask rules outlined for day camps still apply. Campers are required to wear masks indoors, except when eating or sleeping. Masks may be required outdoors by the camp.
4. Parents or caregivers may only enter camps for medical emergencies or early pickups.
5. All campers will keep at least 6 feet physical distance from other camper’s heads in sleep facilities, such as beds, bunks, cots, or tents.

Please be aware that camps may always add extra safety precautions beyond these guidelines. Be sure to contact your camp to see if there’s anything else you and your child should be aware of.

So, the bottom line is that s’mores, campfire stories, and other treasured camp activities are back — just with some extra precautions to keep everyone safe. Have a wonderful –and safe — summer!

More information

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Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone 12 and older. For more information about the vaccine, visit CovidVaccineWA.org and use the vaccine locator tool to find an appointment. The COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost to you.

WA Notify can alert you if you’ve been near another user who tested positive for COVID-19. Add WA Notify to your phone today: WANotify.org

Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays. Language assistance is available.

90,000 Coolest Adult Summer Camps in the USA – Recipes & Travel

Earlier, a few years ago, the only way for adults to get into summer camp was to become a counselor. However, if you have always dreamed of going to summer camp, but you didn’t have the opportunity or don’t miss

Contents

Earlier, a few years ago, the only way for adults to get into summer camp was to become a counselor. However, if you’ve always dreamed of going to summer camp but didn’t get the chance or didn’t miss the days of drinking insect juice by the fire, you’re in luck.Summer camps for adults are gaining popularity in the US for adults who want to recreate their childhood or have eaten too many episodes. Wet hot American summer. Whatever your reasons, here are the best summer camps open to adults. Happy camping!

Getaway Club

Perhaps the most socially inclined of adult camps, the Getaway Club is all about fun, freedom and friends. The 300-acre camp is located in Kent, Connecticut, about 90 miles from New York City, and offers all the classic camp activities (swimming, crafting, hiking) as well as more unique adventures such as hot air ballooning and trapeze rides. After dark, the atmosphere is decidedly more mature, with a flowing bar and themed dance parties every night. Club Getaway also offers a variety of themed weekends, including a camp for families, LGBT people, Gen Xers and Jewish young professionals.

Soul Camp

Built for the opposite of the party-goers, Soul Camp is the hippie cousin of summer camps. The camp focuses on yoga, meditation and healing, as well as a non-alcoholic experience that focuses on detoxifying the mind and body.Camps are held throughout the United States, and if you don’t like spending the night or are short on time, Soul Camp also offers a day camp option at their Chicago and New York locations.

Space Academy for Adults

For vacationers who prefer to exercise their mind over their body, Space Camp is for you. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, campers learn about NASA and commercial space exploration initiatives and can test their newfound skills in a simulated mission and model launch. If you’re a kid of the Nickelodeon era, this camp is your 1990s dream come true. Their motto? “It’s never too old for a space camp.”

Camp No Counselors

Camp No Counselors is another classic camp located in Paradox, New York that promises holidaymakers “escape from happiness.” Each location has 200 undergraduate students (there are several in the US) who enjoy water sports, arts and crafts, epic nightly theme parties, gourmet dining, and an open bar.This camp has no Wi-Fi and banned mobile phones to encourage campers to meet new friends and reconnect with themselves and nature.

Camp Sweyolakan Women’s Retreat

Located in Spokane, Washington, Camp Sweyolaken celebrates its 26th annual single women’s camp this year. Seclusion offers a wide range of activities such as canoeing and yoga, as well as more luxurious offerings such as massages. Unlike other camps that require participants from 21 years of age, this retreat is open to adults 18 and older.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

For vacationers who prefer to sleep on Egyptian cotton sheets rather than sleeping bags under the stars, The Ritz-Carlton in Bachelor Gulch Colorado bridges the gap between outdoor and indoor activities. This is the first season for their adult version of summer camp, which means activities such as whiskey, wood-fired ovens, painting and pino are on offer, as well as adult treasure hunting expeditions, educational hikes, and intimate dinners.This is the camp you want your parents to send you to.

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90,000 Read “The Secret of the Whispering Pines” – Ellis Tara – Page 1

Tara Ellis

The Secret of the Whispering Pines

This story has a special meaning for me. Therefore, I dedicate it to Lisa Hansen, with whom we have been friends all our lives. Many of our summer camp antics formed the basis of the plot of this book. But the most important thing is a unique friendship, which can only arise when you experience such amazing moments with someone as walking in the forest, swimming in mountain lakes and horseback riding. Our imaginations did not know rest, and although we sometimes got into trouble … we always had fun!

I would like to express a special thanks to my first readers: Linda Morris, Cindy Pierce and Lisa Hansen!

1

Summer Camp!

The phone rang three times before Sam ran out into the corridor and grabbed the receiver.

– Hello! She said loudly, flopping down into an easy chair next to a small table.

Grimacing at the old-fashioned setting, Sam mentally complained about her mother refusing to turn off the landline phone.And although the main reason was that mobiles were barely caught in the house, he still annoyed her.

– Sam! – shouted at the other end of the tube. – It’s me, Ellie! I have a great idea for our next trip!

Sam smiled at the completely unnecessary clarification. Of course she knew who was calling! These two twelve-year-old girls grew up on the same street in a small coastal town in Washington state. They were best friends and never parted. The first part of their summer vacation was already incredibly interesting: they traveled to Montana and lived in a hotel owned by their aunt and uncle Sam.This trip combines legend, ghosts and treasure hunt! What could have worried Ellie so much after like ?

– Well, I really hope that you have really good plan in stock, – answered Sam, brushing her long dark blond hair from her face, and eagerly slipped onto the edge of the chair. – Because we only stayed at home for a week, and I’m already going crazy. You can’t go anywhere without bumping into a crowd of people!

Oceanside was a nice and quiet town for most of the year, but in the summer it was packed with tourists.Friends’ favorite places of pastime were occupied by children with melting ice cream in their hands. Parks and beaches were swarming with travelers and sunbathers. The owners of local shops were in seventh heaven, but the local guys, who were limited to the immediate vicinity (where they could move by bike), all this was very uncomfortable.

“Not to mention,” Sam continued, “Hunter has been on horseback this week. He seems to have played with me five times already.

Hunter was Sam’s older brother, he was fourteen.And it looks like he decided to devote his life to torturing his sister.

– Come right now, and I will explain everything to you, – Ellie promised a little mysteriously. – I can’t wait to tell you!

They lived only three houses from each other, so running back and forth cost nothing, but Sam was never patient.

– So don’t wait ! Tell me! I’ll have to sit with the twins in less than an hour.

If Hunter was Sam’s tormentor, then the “Jump Sisters,” as they were nicknamed for their incessant need to jump, she adored.Two little girls were crazy about Sam. And although she had to constantly keep her ears open with them, she did not complain. When they were born two years ago, her mother left the school where she worked as a teacher to be at home and take care of their education. Dad was a professional fisherman and received good money, but because of the seasonality of his work, finances in the family were always tight.

Saturday night was bowling night and Sam’s parents were in the same league as her aunt and uncle who lived nearby.Last year, they agreed that Sam would look after the twins and two little cousins ​​every Saturday, and for that they would pay her cell phone subscription. Aunt and uncle should have arrived very soon to exchange their children for Sam’s parents. There was very little time left.

Ellie chuckled good-naturedly, but did not want to let the fog pass.

“It will be easier to explain everything in person,” she said. “And then I need to show you a flyer.It will only take a couple of minutes, but I’m sitting with Cora right now … So you have to come !

Cora was the name of a little girl across the street. Ellie often looked after her on weekends while her parents worked.

Leaflet? Now Sam has become really interesting, but instead of begging her friend to tell her everything faster, she slammed the receiver on the phone and jumped out of the chair.

– I’m to Ellie! She shouted, running through the kitchen where her mother was preparing an early dinner.- I promise I’ll be back soon! She added hastily, suppressing possible objections.

Sam slammed the door behind her, which muffled Mom’s answer, but she knew she didn’t mind. Sam went to see Ellie all the time, and her parents rarely told her no. Mom knew that her daughter can be relied on and she will return on time.

After running down the bumpy cobbled path, Sam crossed the manicured front lawn and turned towards the evergreen trees that marked the boundary of the lot. They had three acres of land, and the backyard was nowhere near as presentable.Sam’s favorite place was an old barn right next to the forest. She read for hours there, in the attic, where there was always the sweet smell of old hay. She had begged her parents for years to get a horse, but although there was enough room, they would not give in, citing lack of time or money to properly care for it. But Sam didn’t give up on this dream.

It took her less than a minute to run past the neighboring yards and headlong towards Ellie’s mansion. Sam’s house looked faded against it, but Ellie’s backyard was small, a little less than an acre.But the difference was felt especially strongly inside. Sam’s house was full of children’s laughter, harmless squabbles and warm aromas of homemade biscuits, and silence and expensive design ruled in Ellin, and everything always stood in its proper place.

Ellie’s parents both worked. Her dad was an administrator at the nearby Boeing plant (where planes were assembled), and her mother worked as a nurse in a large hospital half an hour away, in the intensive care unit. Ellie had a sixteen-year-old brother, but since John got his license, the girls have hardly seen him.He either went somewhere with friends, or disappeared in football training, or locked himself in his room.

Ellie was often alone at home. And Sam preferred to spend time with her friend, because it was quiet there and no one interfered, but, returning to her family and the chaos invariably reigning in their house, she always felt a little bit of relief. Ellie claimed that she was fine alone, but Sam did not always believe her.

It was almost five in the evening when Sam knocked twice on the front door, and then went inside.Ellie’s mom insisted that knocking was not necessary, but the habit was hard to break.

– We are here! Ellie shouted from the break room at the far end of the spacious house.

Kicking off her shoes in the hallway, Sam crossed the granite-dominated kitchen and stepped into what any teenager would consider heaven. Only in this room was it allowed to eat and play at the same time. Half of the room was occupied by a pool table, bar and kitchenette and dart board.In the second half, opposite the 80-inch plasma screen, was a soft leather U-shaped sofa. Bespoke shelves lined the walls, packed with a variety of games and other entertainment.

Ellie and Cora sat in the center of the room, surrounded by toys. A three-year-old girl played with a large pink pony, making him gallop across the floor with a doll bouncing on his back.

choosing a camp in America for the holidays | EduTravel

To the section: Holidays in the USA

Down with boring lessons and textbooks – on vacation to relax and get acquainted with
the subtleties of American English we go to the USA camps: in Miami, Florida, Boston, New York
or California! Learning the language is more interesting when there are golden beaches and colorful sunsets around, when barbecues are at
the beach is replaced by parties, and after tennis, rugby, basketball or golf, you go on educational excursions, when you find new friends and every day brings a lot of fresh impressions.In an interesting
company, perhaps, you can even repeat school subjects, especially if through
a year or two waiting for serious exams or
admission to an American university.

We will tell you what is happening with international camps in different countries – as briefly as possible. News from 20.07.2021.

And if you want to study online in courses, at school or university, you are here.

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Learning English in American Summer Camps

A standard English course in an American camp includes 18 lessons per week – this is the educational maximum that an American tourist visa allows. If the child is ready for more intensive education, it will be necessary to obtain a student visa to the United States.

Children with an advanced level of English often get the opportunity to choose additional study blocks – preparation for the TOEFL language exams, conversation clubs, writing skills, regional studies, attending lectures at US universities. Some camps will offer additional one-to-one lessons or mini-group practice on special topics. Also, children receive new vocabulary and a large amount of language practice during their leisure time – sports, creative workshops, games, quests, excursions.

How can a student from Russia travel inexpensively to study at a US school? In exchange!
EduTravel is launching US School Exchange Recruitment for high school students aged 15-18. Limited number of seats!

Summer camp in the USA for teenagers from 14 years old

The older the children, the wider the range of their interests, therefore all teenage summer camps in America are thematic. Most programs are geared towards introducing teenagers to a new activity, but some have really big professional and academic goals for children.

Among the most popular topics:

• Sports program (emphasis on one or more sports with classes under the guidance of professional coaches, sometimes with world names).
• Creative program – master classes and lessons in art, design, cinematography, dancing, playing musical instruments, singing; upon completion of a number of programs, teenagers can take a professional exam, collect a portfolio, and get the opportunity to continue their studies in the preparatory program for a creative university.
• Academic program – for those who are preparing to enter US universities or schools, want to get used to the American education system (includes 2-3 school subjects, lectures and seminars, discussion and reading clubs, writing essays, research projects, developing flexible skills, training to TOEFL, study trips to US universities).
• Extended excursion program (sometimes with the possibility of studying and living in 2-4 US cities).

US Summer School Accommodation

Typically, American summer camps offer one or more accommodation options: on campus, in a city residence, in summer residences (usually residential buildings on a college or university campus), a host family.

Camp Accommodation

For those who are traveling to a United States camp for the first time or whose English level is not yet high, we recommend that you choose to stay on the campus where the program is taking place. This way you will not need to waste time on the road, and difficulties with buying tickets for transport, the danger of passing the desired stop or getting lost in the city will be excluded. Children under the age of 14 must either live on the college grounds or are transported to and from their place of study by a school bus.

As a rule, the younger children live in rooms for 3-4 people, the older ones – two or three. Shower and toilet are most often in rooms, sometimes on the floor. Girls and boys always live separately, and sometimes even in different buildings. The camp authorities never place children who speak the same language together – even if they are relatives or friends. This excludes communication in the native language and forces you to practice English as much as possible.

For older and more independent adolescents, aged 15 and over, we recommend taking a closer look at city and summer residences or choosing a host family.

City residence

Students of university summer schools or language courses usually live in city residences, which expands the circle of communication. City residences are located in prosperous prestigious areas, 30-60 minutes away from the camp site. Buildings, as a rule, are guarded around the clock, and their strict routine requires students under 16 to return no later than 21 hours, those who have not yet turned 18 – no later than 22 hours.

Summer Residence

Summer Residence is most often residential buildings on campuses of American colleges and universities, which the educational institution rents out for the summer, while its students went home for the summer.For the guys from the camp, this becomes a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the atmosphere of the most prestigious universities in the United States. The campuses of American universities are excellently landscaped, and in many cases, stunningly beautiful. A feature of many American universities is also that classes in them continue even in the summer – some students want to finish their program faster or study several subjects more deeply, others need to pass their “tails”. Perhaps it is here, after meeting students and professors, that the child will first look into his professional future.

Homestay

Living with a host family is a special and valuable experience that will help you better understand how American everyday life and life work. As a rule, participants in summer camps live in rooms for 1, 2 and, less often, 3 people, use a washing machine and the Internet, common rooms and equipment, which may even include a mini-gym or a swimming pool.

Choosing a children’s camp in America for the summer

In order to choose the perfect camp for a child or teenager, answer the following questions:

• Location of the camp (by sea / ocean, in the mountains, surrounded by nature or in a large city).
• The intensity of the English program (the type of visa that the child will need depends on this).
• Leisure programs: does the child want to try new sports and creativity, or is he seriously engaged in a studio or section and would like to take lessons from professional teachers in America?
• Excursions and trips: what does a child most want to see in the US? Disneyland, the Statue of Liberty, Harvard University, Silicon Valley, the first capital of the United States, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, amusement parks, a music festival or a Broadway show?
• Where will the child live? If he is not yet 14 years old, choose a campus or a host family, provided that the camp administration organizes a transfer to and from the place of study.

No time or difficult to make a choice? Send a request, and EduTravel specialists will select the best options for summer camps in America with accommodation and excursions, help you get a medical policy, a visa to the United States, book flights, resolve issues of escort and transfer. During the child’s stay in the camp, we are in touch 24/7 and promptly resolve any issues.

Useful articles: holidays for schoolchildren

Ailton at Werder Bremen: late, getting fat, lazy in training, but falling in love with the fans and becoming the best player in Germany – Football Archive – Blogs

Brazilians usually get fat after retirement.Ailton decided not to wait.

21 clubs in 9 countries, 250 goals, no matches for the national team and 5-10 kilograms overweight. Ailton Gonçalves da Silva spent twenty years in professional football but is remembered for one great season at Werder Bremen, when he became the first foreigner to receive the German Footballer of the Year award.

Ailton has always been very fond of melodrama. After the 2003/04 season, the Brazilian signed a contract with Schalke and talked about it very emotionally.“I cried a lot at the end of the season. At home, in bed, in the toilet. Again and again I asked myself: Why Schalke? Why Schalke? ” Maybe the Brazilian felt that this transition would be the beginning of the end?

***

The future footballer was born into a family of farmers in Mozheiro, Brazil. In the first five years of his professional career, the striker changed six clubs, starting with Ipiranga, which, following the results of Ailton’s first season in football, entered the third Brazilian division for the first time in its history.Two years and three teams later, the Brazilian ended up in Guarani from the state of São Paulo, where he first attracted the attention of European clubs, hitting twenty goals in a season. Wolfgang Zidka, the coach of Werder Bremen, turned out to be one of those who showed a keen interest in the player, but the amount requested by Guarani seemed to the Germans a little too high, so Ailton went to Mexico instead of Germany, joining Tigres.

Not even a very successful season in the Mexican league by the standards of any striker (5 goals in 23 games) did not deter Zidka, who continued to insist that Werder needed a Brazilian striker.As a result, the Tigres received 2.75 million euros, the 25-year-old Ailton crossed the Atlantic, and twenty days after that Wolfgang Zidku, who recently won the Intertoto Cup, was fired from his post as coach of Werder Bremen for a disappointing 13th place in the Bundesliga.

The first three weeks in Germany, Ailton lived in a hotel and ate nothing but spaghetti. When he was admitted to training, such a diet had almost no effect on the striker’s physical form: in his debut match against Freiburg, he scored.Unfortunately for the Brazilian, Zidka was fired three days after that, and the new Werder Bremen coach Felix Magath did not like the striker from the very beginning. Throughout most of the season, Ailton has polished the bench, coming off as a substitute and making the starting lineup only four times. Two games before the end of the season, Magat followed Zidka, and Werder Bremen’s head coach was taken over by 37-year-old Thomas Schaaf, a former Bremen defender who worked with the team’s double. The club immediately won the German Cup.

In the summer, the management of Botafogo approached Werder with a lucrative offer for Ailton.The Brazilian literally sat on his suitcases, but the negotiations dragged on so much that the striker regained weight and missed the first matches of the 1999/2000 season, and only appeared on the field against Wolfsburg when Rade Bogdanovic was injured. Werder Bremen won 7-2, Ailton scored a goal and gave two assists to Claudio Pizarro. Schaaf decided to bet on an international line of attack with Peruvian Pizarro, Brazilian Ailton and Bremen club legend German winger Marco Bode, the current president of Werder Bremen.By the end of the season, Ailton had scored 16 goals and made 14 assists.

The German sports press has been actively discussing the transformation of an unknown 27-year-old overweight player into one of the top strikers in the Bundesliga. Ailton himself said that great play form is the result of daily sex with his girlfriend. In fact, the transformation of a rather plump caterpillar into a fast butterfly, nicknamed Kugelblitz (Fireball) is almost entirely the merit of Thomas Schaaf, who perfectly used the strengths of the Brazilian and skillfully masked his weaknesses.He taught the striker to step back, practicing in the center of the field, and put behind the striker first Andreas Herzog, and then Joan Micu, who consistently supplied Ailton with balls in favorable situations. It is not surprising that the Brazilian spent the best years of his career under the guidance of the head coach of Werder Bremen, never returning to the previous level after leaving the club.

***

Over the next two seasons, Ailton played with the same high impact, but the newspapers were more discussing not his athletic performance, and problems with discipline.The disorderly, gay life in Brazil contrasted sharply with the punctuality and coldness of the Germans, and Ailton could not fit into the new coordinate system in any way. After each vacation, he was late, returning to Werder Bremen, and among the fans it was customary to place bets on the number of days being late and the amount of the fine, which the Bremen residents wrote to their undisciplined striker. During the preseason of 2002, the striker returned to Bremen too late, and in order to be in time for the training camp on Nordenai Island, he took a taxi, paying the fabulous sum of 750 euros at that time.There were constant rumors about the striker’s laziness and unwillingness to work hard in training. In addition, Ailton’s weight remained one of the main topics of discussion.

Despite all these roughness, before the start of the 2003/04 season, the player almost ended up in Bayern Munich, but the Bavarian club chose Roy Makai from Deportivo. In the first round, the Brazilian put his foot to all three goals in the match against Hertha, making a double and giving an assist. Ailton then scored four more games in a row, and after two goals against Wolfsburg, he made a decision that would change his life forever.The striker’s contract expired at the end of the season, but Werder Bremen’s management did not seem to notice the interest of numerous clubs in the Brazilian, and was in no hurry to renew the agreement.

Therefore, when Schalke representatives approached Ailton directly with an offer of a transfer on extremely favorable terms, including a double salary, the striker entered into a preliminary agreement with the Gelsekirchens just three days after the first contact. Werder Bremen filed a complaint with the German Football Association, but from a legal point of view, Schalke did not violate any laws (subsequently revised).Moreover, the “miners” lured the team-mate of the Brazilian, the central defender Mladen Krstaich.

Ailton needed money all the time: being at the peak of his career, he spent one hundred thousand euros on clothes a month, and after each goal scored he bought jewelry for Rosalia’s wife.

Despite the tainted relationship with Werder Bremen’s management, Ailton’s performance continued to delight the green-and-white fans. A double against Freiburg, a hat-trick against Bochum, eight assists during the season – the striker did not slow down from match to match.The main partners of the Brazilian were the Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic, the already mentioned midfielder Joan Miku and the German national team midfielder Fabian Ernst. By the winter break, Werder Bremen were five points ahead of Bayern, and Ailton was the main catalyst in this race for first place.

In January, the club’s fans panicked when the Brazilian pulled a thigh muscle in a friendly against Dutch Rhoda, but the striker managed to recover and again scored a double against Gerta in the 2004 Bundesliga opening match.Two more doubles and two assists in the matches against Cologne and Stuttgart did their job, and in the next game against Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen could become the champion. After the blows of Klasnich and Miku, the Bremen took the lead 2: 0. 35 minutes after the start of the match, Ailton scored the third goal of his team from outside the penalty area, and the Munich team was able to respond to the attacks of the green-whites with only one goal from Roy Makai in the second half. For the first time since 1993, the Bremen club became the champion of Germany.

After the match, Ailton, after crying in the center of the field, gave his most famous interview, called Versteh den Ailton (Understand Ailton), which entered German football folklore just like the famous press conference of Giovanni Trapattoni.The Brazilian was talking rambling in a wild mixture of broken German and Portuguese. Later, more than one talk show made cuts with attempts to translate from this speech.

Ailton never played for the Brazilian national team. He offered himself to Germany, but Rudy Feller ignored the striker. But Qatar became interested in the attacker, offering one and a half million euros for Ailton to obtain citizenship and become a footballer of the national team. FIFA intervened in the alleged deal, banning further negotiations on the topic.

***

After the registration of the championship, Werder Bremen stopped playing and were defeated by Bayer Leverkusen and Hansa, conceding 9 goals (!) In two matches and scoring only three. During the season, Ailton hammered 28 goals and became the second after Henry in the race for the Golden Boot. The last game of the Brazilian for Werder Bremen was the German Cup final, in which the Bremen defeated Alemannia from Aachen, securing their second trophy of the season. After that, Ailton together with Krstaich left Bremen, going to Schalke.They were moving to a club that was 24 points behind Werder Bremen in the championship, which Ailton himself once called a “dump” and which looked like a few steps down in their careers. The Serbian defender immediately made his way to the main team of Gelsenkirchens and spent five seasons at the club. The Brazilian forward stayed in the new team for only a year.

Despite 14 goals in the Bundesliga, Schalke fans never accepted Ailton, who made no secret of his sadness for Werder Bremen and more and more often shirked from work in training.In one of the interviews, the striker said that it was painful for him to miss the Champions League games, and he regrets about the transfer to Schalke, and in another – that he will live in Bremen and travel 500 kilometers every day for training and games.

In August 2005, Schalke gladly accepted the offer from Besiktas and sold the 32-year-old striker for 3.5 million euros. In Turkey, the Brazilian played poorly and more and more often found himself on the bench. This was followed by a loan to Hamburg and a funny game with Werder Bremen in the last round of the Bundesliga.The winner of the match was supposed to go to the Champions League, and the score in the game 20 minutes before its end was 1: 1. Ailton received a pass from Bosnian Sergei Barbarez, found himself in front of an empty net and missed from a distance of eight meters. And shortly thereafter, Miroslav Klose, who replaced the Brazilian at Werder Bremen, scored after a mistake by defender Khalid Bularuz. The Bremen went to the Champions League, and after an online poll, Ailton became the player of the season at Hamburg: thousands of grateful Werder Bremen fans were not too lazy to vote for the Brazilian.

In the summer, Ailton moved to Crvena Zvezda, then ended up on loan at the Swiss Grasshopper. In the summer of 2007, the Bundesliga top scorer trophy, the famous cannon cup, was put up for auction on eBay. The amount of the auction surged to € 600,000 before an injunction closed the auction just 80 minutes before its close. It turned out that the trophy was put up for sale by Ailton’s agent Werner Hellekes, who claimed that the striker owed him hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The visibly fat footballer returned to the Bundesliga with the newly promoted Duisburg, but remained on the bench and finally quarreled with the club’s management, asking for parental leave in October.Once again late from vacation, the Brazilian was dismissed in February 2008, having scored only one goal in nine games – ironically, against Werder Bremen, apologizing to the fans, throwing up his hands to the stands. When the striker left the field, the fans gave him a standing ovation.

After Duisburg, Ailton traveled all over the world, expanding his club roster in just 16 months with Metallurg from Donetsk, Altach from Austria, Campinense from Brazil and Chongqing Lifanem from China. In December 2009, the Brazilian signed a contract with Uerdingen 05 from the sixth division of Germany, and six months later, at the age of 37, he became a player for Obernoiland from Bremen (fourth division), saying that he never forgot this city.After a short stint at Rio Branco Brazil, Ailton returned to Germany, where he spent a year and a half with Division 6 Hassia Bingen, scoring 19 goals in 21 games and setting the league’s attendance record. When asked why he still plays football, the Brazilian replied: “I can’t just sit at home on the couch and drink coffee.” Ailton played his last professional football match at the age of 40 and a half.

***

Ailton currently lives in three countries, wandering between a farm in Brazil, a ranch in Texas and an apartment in Bremen, where he produces energy drinks and records songs.In 2014, Werder Bremen, seeking to financially help the Brazilian’s family, organized a farewell match for Ailton, in which the former Bremen striker scored a hat-trick.

Ailton and Werder Bremen were together for only five years, but they fell in love with each other forever.

–

“Nooldu, Paşınyan, NATO alınmadı?” Now Iravan proposes to deploy CSTO mission along Armenian-Azerbaijani border | 1news.az

“ Tutdu qatıq, tutmadı ayran ” – probably this Azerbaijani proverb illuminated I.O. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan with another “brilliant” idea.

Now he proposes to deploy a CSTO monitoring mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and, obviously, this new idea was prompted by the failure of the previous initiative to deploy international observers along the border, including NATO countries.

“Being a member of the CSTO, Armenia, which will become the chairman of the Organization from September 16, understands its responsibility not to create threats to the security of the CSTO, not to involve the allied countries in military actions.I officially rule out any provocation by the Armenian Armed Forces. I believe that to clarify the reality of mutual accusations on the part of Armenia and Azerbaijan, one of the solutions could be the deployment of the CSTO monitoring mission along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, ”Pashinyan said at a meeting of the Armenian government on Thursday.

In his words, given the impossibility of carrying out such a mission within the framework of the CSTO, other formats recognized by the international community, including the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, may be acceptable for Armenia.

As you can see, these days Pashinyan – not knowing who else to call, to whom to stick to and who to ask for help – is frantically rushing from one extreme to another and calling on the border of the mission of polar opposite military blocs.

If the Armenian leader – due to the factual absence of his army – wants to “intimidate” Baku with this, then the crushing retaliatory strikes of the Azerbaijani army to the latest provocations of Armenia on the border clearly demonstrate how futile this idea is.