Camp Loughridge (CL) is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian camp located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Encompassing over 180 acres, the camp offers facilities for weddings, receptions, retreats, challenge courses, summer camps, banquets and other large-group events.
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The mission statement of Camp Loughridge is "To provide a quality, year-round, intergenerational program and facility in a rustic, natural environment for the promotion of Christian growth and spiritual renweal." The vision states that the camp is "to maintain and expand the quality programming that currently serves the Tulsa community by adding facilities, program, and support staff to grow the camp while maintaining its highest performance standards."
Tulsa's first YWCA camp, then known as Camp Parthenia, began offering summer camps during the 1920s. In 1959, First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa acquired the camp, and changed its name to Camp Loughridge, in memory of the Reverend Robert McGill Loughridge, a pioneer missionary to the Creek Indian Nation. In 1995, Camp Loughridge was chartered as an Oklahoma not-for-profit corporation. This corporation now maintains and operates the 186-acre (0.75 km2) camp with a full-time, year-round staff.
The cornerstone of Camp Loughridge's programs, the summer camp is currently divided into three age-based sections. The Summer Day Camp (ages 6–11) and Adventure Day Camp (ages 11–13) share several activities including: archery, canoeing, challenge courses, sports, arts and crafts, swimming, hiking, Chapel, and devotionals. In addition to these programs, ADC campers also participate in an over-night campout where they have bonfires and other late-night activities. In the TeenXtreme program, campers ages 14–16 are able to participate in a variety of activities, including scuba diving, go-kart racing, backpacking, and mountain biking. Over the course of the seven-week program, Camp Loughridge serves around 1600 children. In 2007, Camp Loughridge was voted Tulsa's best local Summer Day Camp by Tulsa area parents.[1]
As part of the summer camp programs, Camp Loughridge has a ministry whereby local families, churches, and organizations are given scholarship funds to send underprivileged children to camp. Funds for this program come primarily from three sources: individual donations, the annual Spring Fling silent auction, and a 5k known as the Kids to Kamp run.
Camp Loughridge houses a large challenge course with both high and low elements. Included in the high elements are: a dual series, Wild Woozy, three-man zip line, two giant swings, an incline log, and a Pamper Pole. Low elements include various team building games, trust fall, an elephant grave yard, and TP logs. The programs are administered by professionally certified challenge course technicians. The course is used by a variety of local groups including businesses and schools.[2] Programs are available for four and eight hours time periods.
Within the facilities of Camp Loughridge, there is an A-Frame chapel and two reception halls. The larger hall is known as the Temple Conference Center and the small one is called the Lodge. Camp Loughridge is a popular place for couples to get married in Northeast Oklahoma. Due to its non-denominational status, Camp Loughridge does not discriminate against couples seeking a Christian marriage.
The Outdoor Education program offers school classrooms the opportunity to take a field trip to the camp's grounds to study science and nature. Students participate in various activities including fishing, hiking, and model rocket construction and launching. The program caters to scholarship schools as well as paying schools.
The camp employs an 8 person staff including an Associate Director, Challenge Course Director, Maintenance Director, Office Manager, Wedding Director, Funds Development Director, an annual intern, and the Executive Director.
Camp Loughridge also employs roughly 80 seasonal staff every summer. These staff include high-school and college-aged wikt:counselors, lifeguards, and program facilitators.
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