Camp Ozark

Camp Ozark, originally known as Ozark Boys' Camp, was begun by Carey Selph, a native of Central Arkansas and a star athlete at Ouachita Baptist University. Selph and a partner, John Froelich, both living in Houston, Texas, at the time, acquired the area where the camp is located and began constructing the original camp buildings, which included cabins, a dining hall, a bathhouse, a gymnasium, an infirmary and a small office, on March 1, 1949. On June 10, 1949, Camp Ozark opened its gates to 27 boys, mostly from Houston.

In 1953, John Froelich sold his interest in Ozark Boys' Camp to a recently retired professional baseball player named Pat Ankenman who had been a professional baseball player for 14 years in the organization of the Brooklyn Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals. In 1956, he purchased Carey Selph's interest in Ozark Boys Camp and became its sole owner.

Ankenman, his wife Betty, and their 4 children, Norman, Lyndal, Damon and Decie, spent the next thirty years of their lives laying the spiritual and philosophical foundation of Camp Ozark. There were many additions and changes throughout the Ankenman years, but perhaps the most significant was the decision in 1977 to open the camp to girls as well as boys. At this time, Ozark Boys' Camp was renamed Camp Ozark. At the end of 1984, when Pat Ankenman retired, Camp Ozark had 18 cabins and a wide variety of programs and support facilities.

On January 2, 1985, Sam and Susan Torn acquired the assets of Camp Ozark from the Ankenman family. At the time, Sam was a lawyer in Houston, Texas, but his association with Camp Ozark was extensive. Sam had first come to the camp with his family in 1953 at the age of 5 for what was known then, and for many years afterwards, as "Family Week". In 1959, at the age of 10, Sam spent the first of 11 consecutive summers at Ozark Boys' Camp. During those 11 summers, Sam experienced Ozark Boys' Camp as a camper, Junior Counselor and Counselor. Since acquiring Camp Ozark, Sam and Susan, a R.N., have pursued the goal of establishing Camp Ozark as one of the premier residential Christian summer camps in the United States. Since 1985 Camp Ozark has grown from 18 cabins to 96 cabins, from 375 campers per summer to over 6,100 campers (as of 2015), and has launched several associated ministry programs (Ozone Ministries.) Camp Ozark is also a partner camp with Camp War Eagle, located in northwest Arkansas.

Camp Ozark is located in Montgomery County, Arkansas, six miles (9.7 km) west of Mount Ida on Arkansas State Highway 270. Camp Ozark occupies several hundred acres of National Forest land (the Ouachita National Forest.) Camp Ozark is located adjacent to the Ouachita River and is 15 miles from Lake Ouachita.

As of 2016, Camp Ozark utilizes 96 cabins for its summer camp program. Twelve of the cabins are heated for non-summer use. Recreational facilities include three large covered pavilions for basketball, volleyball and tennis, a smaller covered pavilion for gymnastics, a dance studio, a woodshop, a wrestling and weight room pavilion and a large crafts building which includes a pottery room. Located in the middle of Camp Ozark is a natural, spring-fed waterfront which features six "Blobs", four water trampolines, two free swim areas, bumper boats and water logs. There are also nine water slides. There is a challenge-course area which features four different Ropes Courses, two 35-foot (11 m) pamper poles, and a 65-foot "monster" pamper pole. Also located in the challenge area is a 40 ft (12 m) rappelling/climbing tower and a bouldering wall. There are several playing fields suitable for a variety of sports and activities. The Camp Ozark barn features three riding rings and a barn housing approximately 25 horses. Camp Ozark makes use of the abundant Ouachita Forest trail system for both horseback trail rides and Mt. Biking. There are two ponds located at Camp Ozark, one for fishing and one for canoeing/kayaking. A multi-element skatepark, featuring a half-pipe, funbox and jump rail, is available for skateboarders and roller-bladers. Three tennis courts are located adjacent to the skatepark. There are four netted batting cages, an 18-hole mini-golf course, and an archery range, rifle range and skeet range (which features five automated skeet throwers.)

Camp Ozark also has 2 camp stores, a "post office", two Health Centers, two Dining Halls, and a main office.

Lake Ouachita, located 20 minutes from the camp, is the site of Camp Ozark's lake program, which includes eleven competition-caliber ski boats, two catamaran sailboats, two "water-weenies", paddle boats, and a free-swim area.

Camp Ozark also offers a thorough line of scuba classes through central Arkansas' Ocean Extreme Dive & Travel Center. Classes range from beginner "Open Water" classes all the way to "Master Scuba Diver" classes to accommodate all levels of experience. These classes are held half at Lake Ouachita and half in the classroom at camp.

Camp Ozark was founded and still operates on evangelist Christian principles. Camp Ozark promotional material states that Camp Ozark seeks to provide a wholesome, upbeat Christian environment for all of its campers. Camp Ozark also promotes a spiritual theme termed "F.I.T.", which stands for "First Is Third." This theme represents the idea that in order to "win" in life as a Christian, a person must put God first, others second and themselves third.

During the summer, Camp Ozark conducts three nightly worship services: "Lifeline" for grade school campers, "Prime Time" for campers in Junior High and "Ozone" for High School campers.

Ozone Ministries is a year-round ministry started by Camp Ozark. Camp Ozark currently operates Ozone chapters in Houston, Dallas, Springdale, Arkansas, Rogers, Arkansas, Fayetteville Arkansas, Lafayette, Louisiana and Baton Rouge. Funded primarily by donations, Ozone Ministries strives to continue the Ozark message throughout the school year. Ozark campers and non-Ozark campers may attend Ozone. Ozone conducts several events throughout the year, including fund raisers, garage sales, and dodgeball tournaments.

Camp War Eagle is a joint effort of the Walton Family Foundation and Camp Ozark. Located on Beaver Lake near Rogers, Arkansas, Camp War Eagle serves boys and girls ages 7 to 17 from Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison counties in northwest Arkansas. Although similar to Camp Ozark, Camp War Eagle's campers generally pay no tuition. Instead, the Walton Family Foundation pays most of the camper's fees to attend the camp. Camp War Eagle campers typically earn their place at camp through a variety of factors such as school performance and community service. Camp War Eagle began operations in the summer of 2006.

In July 2000, camper Sam Shubert was involved in an accident that occurred while he was on a canoe trip. His canoe hit a fallen tree and overturned, pinning him between the tree and the canoe. He was unconscious under water for nearly 12 minutes while awaiting emergency assistance and spent the next six weeks at various hospitals in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before dying six weeks after his accident due to post-anoxic demyelination. The Schubert family and its insurance company filed a lawsuit against Camp Ozark, and in 2002 they were awarded $5 million in damages by a Harris County jury.[1]

Plaintiff attorneys argued that because several campers had become stuck against the same tree a week before Schubert's accident, counselors and camp officials should have made more adequate strides to prevent a reoccurrence. Camp counselors also reportedly lacked proper training in canoe operation. The jury found the camp and its owner negligent.[2]

• Official website
• Camp War Eagle