<p>Lake Creek meanders through the campgrounds, providing a living laboratory for students and a quiet respite for campers.</p> <p> </p>

 

JOHN DAY For groups seeking a rustic yet scenic getaway, Lake Creek Youth Camp is worth looking into.

Located in Logan Valley, visitors will find themselves surrounded by wilderness and wildlife with a view of the Strawberry Mountain Range.

While the camp caters mainly to youth groups and family reunions, they also schedule organized and nonorganized groups for gatherings.

The grounds, 32 miles southeast of John Day, feature a lodge for large gatherings meals are prepared by onsite staff in a full kitchen several bunkhouse cabins and activities such as volleyball, ping pong, horseshoes and basketball; a baseball field is coming soon.

An outdoor fire pit flanked with log benches provides a relaxing meeting spot, and grassy fields offer room to run.

Visitors can take paths alongside Lake Creek which runs through the property, biking the forest roads and hiking in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness trailheads are just a couple miles away.

The facilities are rustic, yet comfortable two bathhouses have recently been renovated and have hot showers, flushing toilets and sinks.

Five A-frame and five straight-sided bunkhouses are available and each sleep up to 10 people. Beds and bottom sheets are provided and guests bring blankets or sleeping bags, and pillows.

As the facilities are generator-powered, electricity goes out at 10 p.m. and turns back on at 6 a.m., so caretakers remind visitors to bring flashlights solar lights brighten pathways to the bathrooms.

Arrangements can be made for tents and RVs, however, there are no RV hookups.

There is plenty of seating and tables in the lodge for workshops and meetings and meals, included in the price of the stay, which visitors say are delicious.

After a day of activities, guests can relax on couches at the lodge near the large crackling fireplace.

For more information about Lake Creek Youth Camp, call Linda Ankenman at 541-575-2153 or Maxine Day at 541-575-1515 or visit www.lakecreekcamp.com.