What do you remember from going to summer camp as a kid? I remember getting the camp t-shirt. That was particularly important to me at the time. I also remember making friends, Bible lessons and fantastic food with giant dinner rolls the size of two fists!
Wendy Thomas, executive director of Leadership Tulsa remembers her favorite things from summer camp included arts, crafts and campfires where she and her fellow campers sang songs. Local journalist, Kris Miller-Dudley fondly remembers, “Building friendships, hiking, swimming and S’mores.”
This year, some folks thought that children would not get to participate in summer camp due to the Coronavirus closing so many venues. However, several camp facilities are now opening, following safety protocols and offering kiddos the opportunity to have fun and build lifelong memories.
Camp Loughridge is one of those camps that is welcoming campers in July and with its 101-year history, it’s one camp not to miss. Loughridge is a non-denominational Christian day camp located 15-minutes from downtown Tulsa at 4900 W. 71st Street. It’s 188-acres is beautifully wooded with trails, a lake, and updated facilities. One minute you’re driving in the city and the next you’re in a wooded campground ready to break out the canteen and the bermudas.
Originally, the camp was called Camp Parthenia and run by the YWCA. In 1959, First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa acquired it and changed its name to Loughridge in memory of Reverend Robert M. Loughridge, a pioneer missionary to the Creek Indian Nation. Later in 1995, the camp was chartered as an Oklahoma nonprofit and continues operating today as a partner of First Presbyterian.
This year, Camp Loughridge is offering day camp for children 6 to 13 years of age, Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Activities include swimming, canoeing, archery, ropes course, chapel, Bible study, nature hikes, sports and team building. And, each camper is treated to lunch. I wonder if they will have those giant dinner rolls I remember from my camp days? And, there’s one more thing. Camp Loughridge also gives each kiddo a camp t-shirt! Perfect.
For more information, contact Camp Loughridge at 918.446.4194 or visit them online at CampLoughridge.org.