The land was once inhabited by the Nechesne, a Salish speaking tribe of the Oregon Coast, also known as the Salmon River Indians.[1][2]
Founded in 1936 (first camp sessions in 1937), the camp was run by the YWCA of Greater Portland until September, 2013, when the camp program was acquired by the Westwind Stewardship Group (WSG). In 2006, the Westwind property was purchased by the newly formed Westwind Stewardship Group (founded in 2004), an organization of former campers, counselors and Westwind guests dedicated to permanent protection of the Westwind landscape and its use as an educational retreat and camp.[3] The camp remains accredited by the American Camp Association.
Westwind hosts Fall and Spring Stewardship weekends where guests volunteer on-site and facility projects. Westwind also hosts a community Earth Day event in April and a Visitor's Day in June.
Westwind is a host site for the Multnomah Education Service District's Outdoor School program, a youth camp that recruits high school volunteers to teach 6th-grade students about nature and conservation.