CCCJC’s Camp Hope moving next summer
Mallory Poplin
By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
EL RENO – A weeklong camp that gives Canadian County youth hope for a brighter future will be in Anadarko, Okla. next summer.
Canadian County Commissioners, at their Monday morning meeting, approved a contract with Oakridge Ministries to reserve its facilities June 22-26 for Camp Hope 2026.
Located on a beautiful, wooded hillside off U.S. Highway 62 in Anadarko, Oakridge hosts summer camps, gatherings and retreats.
This will be the annual summer camp for the Gary E. Miller Canadian County Children’s Justice Center, 7905 E Highway 66.
“This is a new campground that we toured, and we would like to move camp here from the previous location [in Guthrie],” CCCJC Facility Director Mallory Poplin told Canadian County Commissioners at the Sept. 29th weekly meeting.
“It’s beautiful; less than we were paying and more accommodations.”
Camp Hope is a camping and mentoring program that focuses on children and teens ages 7-17 who have experienced trauma and receive services through CCCJC partner agencies.
During the week, campers participate in a variety of activities such as rock climbing, art projects, field games, rock climbing, tubing, and silly campfire songs.
At Camp Hope, participating youth are challenged to step outside their comfort zone.
Each summer, juvenile facility staff and camp counselors join 40 Canadian County youth at the camp.
“Our mission is to give youth a brighter future by creating pathways to hope and healing,” according to the CCCJC website. “[W]e have the opportunity to use fun-filled avenues to give children and teens hope for a brighter future.”
THIS AND THAT…
Among other business at their Sept. 29th meeting, Canadian County Commissioners approved:
- A low bid from Turf Care & Beyond to provide pest control services for county office buildings. Cost is $7,680 annually; $640/monthly.
- A low bid from RIP Pest & Weed Control to provide weed management services for the county properties. Cost is $4,050 for three applications annually; $1,350 per application.
- Authorizing the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to pay $12,750 to the Canadian County Water Authority for utility relocation services on the Banner Road bridge project over Purcell Creek in District 1.
- A resolution allowing District 3 to accept a $3,490 donation from the Calumet Public Works Authority. These funds will pay for District 3 crews to help maintain the town’s infrastructure.
- Participating in a settlement agreement as part of pending litigation against opioid manufacturers. District Attorney Tommy Humphries represents Canadian County.
Undersheriff Kevin Ward on Sept. 29 presented the weekly Canadian County Jail report showing 199 inmates in custody with 171 housed at the El Reno detention center and 28 others in contracted counties.
The total count was down by seven from last week as 24 prisoners awaited transfer to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
