Session: Young Women’s Design + Building Institute and Builder Bootcamp, Summer 2025
Artists: 73 high school and middle school students
Materials: Redwood planks, wooden dowels, 1/4″ plywood (for hanging sea creatures and water droplets)
Description:
Humphrey the Whale is a vibrant, interactive play structure built by a dedicated group of 73 campers aged 9 to 18, supported by staff, instructors, and community partners, at Berkeley’s Adventure Playground. Inspired by the real humpback whale that first swam into the San Francisco Bay in 1985, this whale-themed sculpture invites kids to climb, crawl, hammer, and paint as they explore its many features.
The design highlights include a baleen mouth filled with whimsical sea creatures, crawlable ribcages, a tail ramp, and a towering spout visible from the parking lot. Adding to the tactile experience, campers from Girls in Engineering crafted and installed playful handholds modeled in papier-mâché and 3D printed, alongside iris diaphragm mechanisms that animate the whale’s eyes.
This project was a powerful collaboration between youth builders, educators, industry partners, and generous sponsors, all united by the mission to equip girls and gender-expansive youth with hands-on skills and the confidence to shape the world around them. Completed during summer camp, Humphrey now stands proudly as a beloved landmark for community play and creative exploration.
This work couldn’t have been completed without support from U.S. Bank Charitable Foundation, Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund, Zellerbach Family Foundation, Bayer West Berkeley Community Investment, Frog Crossing Foundation, SEAONC DEI Endowment Committee, and Wareham Development.
Our cornerstone partners—Novo Construction, Turner Construction, Eames Institute, Kiewit Construction, Cello & Maudru Construction, Custom Drywall Inc., and Hensel Phelps Construction—are invaluable associates who continue to support our mission to equip girls and gender-expansive youth with the tools they need to build the world they want to see.
