Guthrie Campgrounds Changing Lives One Camp At A Time

The Central Oklahoma Camp and Conference Center in Guthrie is a campground for everyone, but it is their Make Promises Happen program that makes the place extra special.

“Our mission here is to enrich people’s lives through inclusive outdoor experiences,” said Executive Camp Director, Jon Cunningham.

The Guthrie campgrounds opened in 1955, and in 1982 they started what they call the Make Promises Happen program.

“We accept campers with any physical or intellectual disability, any ability level, and really while they are here at camp, we focus on living life with no limits,” said Cunningham.

Giving kids and adults with disabilities the same summer camp experience that every other kid has.

“Some other outdoor recreation programs for people with disabilities have pretty strict ability requirements. One of the things that makes us pretty unique is we don’t have that,” said Cunningham.

No matter the ability, each camper is paired with a volunteer for the duration of the camp, giving them the full camp experience.

“We did arts and crafts, we did zipline, we did boat riding, we did fishing,” said camp attendee Jasmine Willimas.  

Williams, now 44, has been coming to the camp since she was six.

“My favorite part about coming to camp is me making new friends and them loving on me and me being able to get out of the house and do different things,” said Williams.

“For me as a parent, it’s one of the few places where I have no second thoughts as I drive away,” said Jasmine’s mother.

The camp recently caught the attention of Nominee Design.

“We develop brands across industries, so that’s logo design, that’s core messaging, that’s the whole visual system,” said Matt Stansberry with Nominee Designs.

Every year the company selects a local nonprofit to receive the impact grant.

“So, one of the things that really stood out about this organization was not only their commitment to the individual but to the guardians and the families,” said Stansberry.

The $50,000 service grant will help inform more people about 300 acres of land that is changing lives one camp at a time.

“The joy that they experience in being fully included is huge for us,” said Cunningham.

In addition to the Make Promises Happen program, there are 20 cabins and four ponds, and all the amenities available for large and small groups for day or overnight camps. For more information about the Central Oklahoma Camp and Conference center visit www.centralokcamp.org