Monument fifth- and sixth-graders enjoy hands-on lessons at the outdoor school held at Lake Creek Youth Camp. Other students from Spray and Adrian school districts also attended the three-day camp.

The Lake Creek Youth Camp, with its lodge, cabins and grounds, is a breath of fresh air for visitors and a treasure the camp’s board hopes will continue for many years to come.

With a few longtime board members retiring, two last year and two this year, Lake Creek’s leaders are seeking more assistance to keep the camp running smoothly.

Lake Creek’s next board meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the John Day Senior Center. Anyone interested in learning more or who would like to volunteer as a board member or occasional helper is invited to attend.

Vicki and Carl Heckman retired from the board in September — Vicki was the camp cook, and Carl was the groundskeeper and maintenance worker.

With Lake Creek’s busy season coming to a close, the board is now looking to fill those positions as well as an assistant cook.

“If we can hire some experienced people, we’ll be able to continue our reputable service,” said Treasurer Aimee Rude.

The camp hosts various groups, mainly from June through September, including youth groups, weddings, retreats and family reunions.

Board president Amber Wright said that if a group is not already scheduled at the camp, visitors are welcome to stop by.

“A lot of people don’t know that it’s not private, and that it’s a day use area,” she said.

She said if someone would like to hold a birthday party there, they can call, or if they’re in that neck of the woods, they can stop by for a tour.

They also offer ice and showers to hunters for purchase.

Lake Creek is a board-run camp, so the group is especially interested in having board members and other volunteers who can devote time on occasion to the grounds and facility.

Rude said when they have back-to-back groups of visitors, they may need assistance with changing linens at the cabins or, if there is a large group, making lunches.

Board member Darla Carpenter, who has been an assistant cook at the camp, said help in the kitchen with food prep or general assistance during the day is sometimes needed for groups with over 40-50 people.

“It really means a lot,” she said.

Volunteers, not just board members, help with a beginning-of-the-season clean-up day to dust the cabins and rake and sweep up the grounds as well as a clean-up day in October.

A three-day outdoor school, organized by OSU Extension’s Didgette McCracken, was held in September for students, most in sixth grade, from Monument, Spray and Adrian school districts with 42 kids attending.

Monument teacher Laura Thomas said all 11 students in her fifth- through sixth-grade class enjoyed the camp.

“It was fabulous,” she said. “There was such a variety of subjects for the kids to learn about.”

She said even those students who were a little nervous at first about camping overnight enjoyed the event.

The youths learned about astronomy from OMSI staff, which included a dome tent with the constellations shown — the students also viewed the stars in the night sky.

Andy Day, a 4-H leader, gave archery lessons; Bob Parker, the OSU forester for Grant and Baker counties taught forestry and team building; and there were numerous other lessons and hikes.

“It was a really neat bonding experience,” Thomas said.

Wright said she hopes they receive the help they’re looking for, so Lake Creek Camp can be available to Grant County residents and others for years to come.

“It’s the serenity, it’s the outdoors, it’s the peace and quiet, all there in Logan Valley,” she said. “It’s just breathtaking. There are creeks around there, and it’s near Strawberry Mountain. It’s a really peaceful place to be.”

For more information about Lake Creek Camp, call Aimee Rude at 541-206-2421 or visit the website at lakecreekcamp.org.