Camp Lake Stephens Prepares for Summer Youth Activities

Camp Lake Stephens offers area youth a chance to enjoy nature and experience healthy Christian fellowship beginning in early June until August. Sessions range from a few days to a few weeks long.
Camps are split into age and grade ranges and include adventure camps that feature travel to nearby nature sites.
The camp has been improving the grounds in anticipation of the campers’ arrival, planting fruit trees and flowers throughout the area.
Camp Lake Stephens is a United Methodist organization, drawing visitors from all areas and religious affiliations. It was founded more than 60 years ago as one of the first summer camps in the state and has stayed true to their Christian mission ever since.
Boasting 400 acres, that includes a fishing lake, hiking trails, a tennis court and an Olympic-sized swimming pool, Camp Lake Stephens hosts retreats and conferences year round, in addition to numerous summer camps.

Camp Lake Stephens also offers events for older adults. Tthis year’s older adult trip was a three-day excursion to experience the sights, sounds and food of New Orleans in April.
As part of the 2014 Double Decker Arts Festival, Camp Lake Stephens hosted their first ever food vendor booth on the Square. Newly hired chef, Karen Irby, is an expert when it comes to pizza and many other dishes. Originally from Oxford, she attributes her love of cooking to her grandfathers, who were both chefs.
According to Irby,, everything she cooks at Camp is made from scratch and many of the ingredients are grown in the camp’s garden. Campers even help in the garden during the summer.
Last fall, CLS launched its Environmental Education Program to help campers and camp visitors learn more about nature and take full advantage of the environmental wonders that surrounds the Camp. More information about the program can be found here, on the CLS website.
Camp Lake Stephens is located just off Highway 334 southeast of Oxford. For more information about Camp Lake Stephens, please visit their website and/or Facebook page.
-Cherry Mathis is a staff writer for HottyToddy.com and can be reached at cnmathis@go.olemiss.edu.