Just one of the benefits of having a small airfield in our community is the opportunity for children to participate and learn about the wonder and excitement of aviation. Each year a number of youth not only have a chance to attend a week-long day camp, but they are eligible to receive scholarships to fund their future careers in aviation. These children will be our future airplane pilots! Summer 2009 was no exception and attached are just a few photos showing the education, airplane rides–and fun–enjoyed by participants and volunteers.
September 12 marked an historic event for the Port. Five Indian tribes and nearly 100 guests were present at a ceremony honoring the native tribes in the Northwest at the Parkersville National Historic site in Washougal. The dedication ceremony for the Chinook Plaza was marked by tribal drummers, a recitation of the native Chinook Wawa language (read from cell phones notes – in an ironic twist!) local dignitaries a speech by a local historian and concluded with a food blessing on the refreshments. The plaza entrance on the north side of the site is marked by dedicatory statues and sculptures and is worth viewing. For your benefit, we’ve included a brief 30-second video clip of one of the drumming ceremonies.
Since safety is the primary concern of safe marina operations, the Port of Camas-Washougal maintains a supply of lifejackets for free use by child boaters. In a covered storage container adjacent to the boat ramps, there is now a much improved and much more visible self-service container thanks to Wyatt Hancock, a local Boy Scout who completed the renovation as part of his Eagle project. Thanks to Wyatt and a group of volunteers, the container has been upgraded with new wood, a fresh new coat of paint and better signage to let people know there are lifejackets available when needed. Watch Wyatt in this video explain his work:
The Camas Washougal Aviation Association is hosting a candidate forum Wednesday, September 23 at 7 p.m. at the Camas-Washougal Municipal Court building located at 89 “C” Street, next to the Treasure House. There are two candidates each for District 1 and District 3 and each has been invited to participate. The format is designed to provide opening and closing statements by each of the candidates as well as questions asked by CWAA moderator Liz Pike and Brent Erickson, the executive director of the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce. It should be a very enlightening public forum.
A young child walked into the Treasure House on Saturday during their Back to School Drive with her family. She saw the same pair of shoes that earlier in the week she had seen while school shopping with her family, but was unable to afford. Her face lit up as she tried them on and to her delight fit perfect! ~to me and other port staff this is what it’s all about!
Thank you to everyone who helped in making “SHOES FOR SCHOOL” successful. We raised 65 pairs of shoes for local kids to get the right start as they return to school this fall!
If you would like to help the Interfaith Treasure House, they are in great need for donations! The Treasure House is located at 91 C Street Washougal, WA 98671. Program Director Nancy may be reached at 360-834-4181 and the thrift store at 360-834-5786.
Posted by jackhardy 
