Camp Winnarainbow is a circus and performing arts camp for all ages, a

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 5 ...

co-founded by American entertainer and peace activist

Wavy Gravy Hugh Nanton Romney Jr. (born May 15, 1936), known as Wavy Gravy, is an American entertainer and peace activist best known for his role at Woodstock, as well as for his hippie persona and countercultural beliefs. Romney has founded or co-founde ...

and his wife Bonnie Beecher. Wavy, Bonnie (better known as Jahanara Romney, or Jah) and Txi Whizz jointly co-directed the camp. The camp adjoins the

Hog Farm The Hog Farm is an organization considered America's longest running hippie commune. Beginning as a collective in North Hollywood, California, during the 1960s, a later move to an actual hog farm in Tujunga, California gave the group its na ...

commune near

Laytonville, California Laytonville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mendocino County, California, United States. It is located north-northwest of Willits, at an elevation of . The population was 1,152 at the 2020 census, down from 1,227 at the 2010 census. Geog ...

Activities

Classes that campers can attend include aerials (

trapeze A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes, metal straps, or chains, from a ceiling support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or ...

, silks and Spanish web),

juggling Juggling is a physical skill, performed by a juggler, involving the manipulation of objects for recreation, entertainment, art or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling. Juggling can be the manipulation of one object o ...

, improvisation,

tightrope Tightrope walking, also called funambulism, is the skill of walking along a thin wire or rope. It has a long tradition in various countries and is commonly associated with the circus. Other skills similar to tightrope walking include slack rope ...

gymnastics Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises requiring Balance (ability), balance, Strength training, strength, Flexibility (anatomy), flexibility, agility, Motor coordination, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movem ...

, acting/drama,

unicycle A unicycle is a vehicle that touches the ground with only one wheel. The most common variation has a frame with a saddle, and has a pedal-driven direct-drive. A two speed hub is commercially available for faster unicycling. Unicycling is prac ...

stilt walking Stilts are poles, posts or pillars that allow a person or structure to stand at a height above the ground. In flood plains, and on beaches or unstable ground, buildings are often constructed on stilts to protect them from damage by water, wav ...

clowning A clown is a person who performs physical comedy and arts in an Improvisational theatre#Comedy, open-ended fashion, typically while wearing distinct cosmetics, makeup or costume, costuming and reversing social norm, folkway-norms. The art of ...

and clown philosophy, art and

magic Magic or magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces ** ''Magick'' (with ''-ck'') can specifically refer to ceremonial magic * Magic (illusion), also known as sta ...

. Campers are given free choice as to which classes they want to attend on a daily basis, with two mandatory periods offered in the morning and optional classes offered at free time in the afternoon. The main camp is for children ages 7-14, with some 15-year-olds also attending, and runs for 1 week in the "A" session, 2 weeks in sessions "B" and "C", and 1 week in session "D". Camp Winnarainbow also runs a program for adults who have "forgotten how to lighten up and let loose," and two programs (teen staff and teen camp) for teenagers ages 15-17. The camp has ties to individuals and organizations from the founder's

counterculture A counterculture is a culture whose values and norms of behavior differ substantially from those of mainstream society, sometimes diametrically opposed to mainstream cultural mores.Eric Donald Hirsch. ''The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy''. Ho ...

background. Danny Rifkin, a former co-manager of the

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in Palo Alto, California, in 1965. Known for their eclectic style that fused elements of rock, blues, jazz, Folk music, folk, country music, country, bluegrass music, bluegrass, roc ...

, has served on the camp's board and the camp has received funding from the Furthur Foundation, the Bill Graham Foundation,

Jerry Garcia Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician who was the lead guitarist and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, which he co-founded and which came to prominence during the counterculture of the 196 ...

Rex Foundation The Rex Foundation was created by "members of the Grateful Dead and Friends" in 1983 as a charitable non-profit organization to "proactively provide extensive community support to creative endeavors in the arts, sciences, and education." The organ ...

and many others.

Notable alumni

Tré Cool Frank Edwin Wright III (born December 9, 1972), better known by his stage name Tré Cool, is an American musician, best known as the long-time drummer for the rock band Green Day. He replaced the band's former drummer, John Kiffmeyer, in 1990. ...

Green Day Green Day is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, with drummer Tré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their majo ...

* Thessaly Lerner - Ukalady * Jory Johns - Author *Avery Monsen - Actor / Author *

Gabriel Sunday Gabriel Chechik Sunday (born October 18, 1985) is an American actor and director, best known for portraying Archibald Holden Buster Williams in the teen comedy-drama film '' Archie's Final Project'', and for directing and starring in the Daniel J ...

- Actor * Mara Hruby - Singer *

Emily Heller Emily Heller is an American comedian, writer, actress, and podcaster. Her stand-up comedy career includes two Comedy Central specials, two albums, and guest appearances on '' Conan'', ''Late Night with Seth Meyers'', and ''The Late Late Show wit ...

- Comedian * Ryan Torf -

The Story So Far The Story So Far may refer to: __NOTOC__ Books * ''The Story of Far'' (book), a 2003 book by Bhawana Somaaya Films * ''The Story So Far'' (2001 film), a film about the band Sick of It All * ''The Story So Far'' (2002 film), a documentary about ...

The Amazing Bubble Man Louis Pearl (born June 30, 1958), known as "The Amazing Bubble Man" or "Pope of Soap", is an American entertainer, bubble artist, entrepreneur, and author who performs shows with soap bubbles to global audiences. Louis Pearl founded the company Ta ...

- bubble artist * Taft Crowley - prominent political scientist

References

External links

*{{official website, http://www.campwinnarainbow.org
Official Facebook Page
Circus schools