Dear Neighbors and Friends,
The Board of Trustees of the Oxford Kids Camp(OKC) is pleased to share the news of the appointment of Elizabeth Wainwright as the Executive Director of Oxford Kids Camp, Inc. Jennifer Stanley, founder and leader of OKC for 41 years, is delighted to be turning over leadership of the camp to Oxford resident, former camper, counselor, experienced educator, and friend Elizabeth.
Supporters of OKC, your generosity has sustained the Oxford Kids Camp, scholarship program and supplemented the operating budget of Oxford Kids Camp for 42 years. Your support has been vital to our existence, we hope this year will be no different. We are grateful for your friendship and endorsement of a summer day camp in Oxford.
A little reminiscing by Jennifer: When I moved to Oxford in 1979 I was disheartened to see few children out and about, especially for a small town bordered by rural countryside and surrounded by the waters of Chesapeake Bay—truly an adventure playground. It wasn’t long before I initiated the idea of a summer bicycle day camp in Oxford. Concurrently, the Community Center was just getting underway and its board was receptive to the idea of a summer day camp using the facility. Our first summer (1982) 15 children attended; soon we grew to a weekly capacity of 50 campers and we stated our mission: Oxford Kids Camp creates a community which encourages imagination, respect, and growth in a fun summer learning environment.
Over 41 summers OKC worked hard to build and nurture a joyful, supportive camp community through its activities, discovery challenges, camp traditions, shared relationships and social interactions. As importantly, OKC strived to engender a camper-connection to the community of Oxford for which the camp owed its origin and support. Oxford is literally OKC’s campus—camp activities are interlaced throughout the town and locale. It is no wonder campers identify Oxford as their neighborhood: they can safely ride their bicycles around, they are welcome to explore and discover new things about the neighborhood, they have social interactions with members of the community, they have access to abundant amenities, parks, and beaches, and they see a streetscape that is welcoming, diverse, attractive, and speaks of history. For these privileges campers are made mindful of practices that maintain the well-being of the community they respect, love, and share a sense of belonging. Elizabeth Wainwright is dedicated to carrying on the mission of OKC and looks forward to championing the bond between the camp and the community of Oxford. As importantly, she will be bringing invigorating leadership, educational skills, and dedication to our community in creating a safe, engaging, and fun experience for campers and counselors.
Jennifer Stanley
Susan Delean-Botkin
Lauren Fogle
Susan Stockman
Courtney Sykes
Ginna Tiernan
Oxford Kids Camp, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The four one-week sessions are held Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Camper eligibility—children 2nd through 8th grade. Tuition is $250 / week. Camp dates for 2024: June 24-28 and July 8-26. Online registration opens Saturday, March 9. Visit the website for the OKC brochure, scholarship application, and registration guidance.
Download the letter as a pdf.