Index:

• History
• Facility Highlights
• Program Possibilities
• Before You Arrive

HISTORY

Camp Oakes has a long history dating back to the nineteenth century when Native Americans used to pitch their teepees where the dining hall now stands because of the dense piñon pines and accessible water. It wasn’t too long ago when after a rain shower, one could still find arrowheads all over the Camp Oakes property. Unfortunately for new visitors, most of the arrowheads have disappeared, going home as souvenirs with campers over the years.

In the late 1800’s, the Camp Oakes area developed into a working cattle ranch known as El Piñon Rancho. Then in 1956, representatives of the Long Beach YMCA hiked from Big Bear to the area of the present camp in response to an newspaper ad placed by Mrs. Mark Rhoades to sell the property she and her husband had homesteaded. The land was purchased for $10,000 in 1957 from a $100,000 grant given by Roscoe Oakes, a San Francisco oil executive, and his wife, Margaret. And the rest, as they say, is history.

FACILITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Equestrian facilities, run by a staff of trained professionals, provide all campers with the opportunity to experience the thrill of riding on horseback
  
• High adventure and team challenge (ropes) courses…our repertoire of challenging games and initiatives provide an ideal context for individuals to discover new information and try out new behaviors
  
• Camp Oakes features their very own lake and pool, in which there are numerous opportunities for swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing
  
• Mountain biking allows participants an opportunity to progress along a variety of trails chosen for their skill level and can, ultimately, experience an extended, guided wilderness trip
  
• Wanda L. Bose Conference center is available to host organization planning retreats, group development seminars or other adult functions
  
• During the summer season, up to 350 people can be accommodated comfortably in 18 Adirondack-style cabins
  
• More than 175 people can be accommodated in the heated dormitories, which offer indoor bathroom/shower facilities and provide a comfortable stay throughout the year.

PROGRAM POSSIBILITIES

Outdoor Wilderness Adventure

• Explore the Big Bear Valley wilderness and enjoy a truly restorative experience that evokes interest, curiosity, fascination, and harmony with the natural surroundings. You will learn and then have an opportunity to practice such wilderness skills as fire making, shelter building, and tracking wildlife. Undertake a mountain bike ride or slow down and hike the Pacific Crest trail that is easily accessible and offers spectacular mountain views.

Ground-based Team Initiatives

• Groups participate in carefully selected and sequenced activities that focus on such issues as cooperation, communication, leadership, and decision-making. By engaging themselves physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially, they learn better, enjoy it more, and retain the lessons longer.

Low and High Rope Challenge Course

• The Team Challenge Course is an adventurous environment containing various obstacles or physical challenges used to develop group support, build self-esteem and trust, and enhance confidence. You will have a chance to create opportunities for decision-making and prudent risk-taking, develop a sense of community, and have loads of fun at the same time.

  Through cooperative learning, participants develop more positive attitudes toward people. Working together to solve common problems, they learn the value of diversity; they learn to appreciate the contributions made by others, and they come to experience the joy of supporting other people in their endeavors.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Please review the following information before your trip, and keep it with you during your stay.

Weather and Road Information

Local Big Bear Weather: www.bensweather.com
Road Conditions: www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi. Or call (800)-427-7623

Site Information

Emergency Information

Directions from Camp Oakes to Hospital: Turn right onto Hwy 38 (turns into Big Bear Blvd). Follow through Big Bear City and into Big Bear Lake. Pass Vons and Kmart on the right. Turn right onto Garstin Rd. Follow signs for hospital.

Directions

The map can also be found in the San Bernardino Thomas Brothers® on page 4813, D2

Take Artesia Freeway (91 Freeway) toward Riverside (East.) Just past Riverside take the San Bernardino Freeway (interstate 10) East toward Redlands. Take the ORANGE STREET EXIT in Redlands. After the stop sign, go straight for one block to ORANGE STREET, then turn left. Go North on ORANGE STREET to LUGONIA STREET (Highway 38), turn right. Highway 38 runs all the way past Camp Oakes to Big Bear. Camp is 45.5 miles from the corner of ORANGE and LUGONIA STREET.

ONXY SUMMIT is 40.5 miles from ORANGE and LUGONIA, watch for the ONYX SUMMIT sign. 5 miles past this sign is the turn off for Camp Oakes. LAKE WILLIAMS ROAD, follow the small "CAMP OAKES" signs into Camp.