THE OAKS Camp and Conference Center

About Us…

With a deep desire to join in what God is doing among the urban poor, THE OAKS provides a place where people from all cultures, backgrounds and situations in life can step away.  Our hope is that in this place, the distractions of day-to-day life will fade into the background and all who come will hear the Lord and be drawn closer to Him.  As is often said, “God is changing lives at THE OAKS.”

Ever since the Lord provided this beautiful, secluded valley to World Impact there has been continuous growth. Older buildings have been remodeled and many new ones have been built. Programs and events have been to meet an increasing range of needs and situations.  And especially important, more and more people have come to be part of what God is doing.  As you tour our web site you will be able to see these facilities. In 1995 the Lord even added 475 acres of the National Forest, which surround the camp.

A distinctive of THE OAKS is the core staff who are full-time missionaries. Each of these missionaries have responded to God’s call to demonstrate and declare God’s love to the people of the inner city.  Many of the programs and the events at THE OAKS are specifically designed to accomplish this purpose in a camp setting.  Their dedication to God’s vision has certainly furthered the Kingdom. May the Lord continue to build Oaks of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Our Mission Statement…

Changing lives. Impacting communities.
Pursuing God's heart for the poor.

Looking back…

Located in the quiet little town of Lake Hughes, THE OAKS Camp and Conference Center has definitely been a gift from God.  THE OAKS Camp and Conference Center was originally known as Juday Flats, named after Clarence Juday who homesteaded the property back in 1900.  In 1960, Mr. Juday donated 122 acres of his land to the Brigade Trails Association to be used as a campsite with the specific intent that it promotes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Around 1970, Brigade Trails donated the property to Rolling J Ranch which continued the boys brigade camps and enhanced the programming with family camping.  For over nine years, Keith Phillips, president of World Impact, prayed for God to provide a place free from  the distractions and pressures of life in the city where missionaries in the inner city could take those who would not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy a camping experience and learn more about a relationship with Jesus Christ.  In August of 1986, God led the Rolling J. Ranch board to donate the camp to World Impact.  The donation included a total of 172 acres of beautiful mountain property just an hour and a half north of Los Angeles.  World Impact changed the name to THE OAKS to acknowledge God’s call to build “Oaks of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:3.

The Lord has provided continuous growth for the camp since World Impact was given the property. The growth began with a maintenance facility in 1987 and continued with the addition of two cabins which brought the guest capacity to 148. Prayer Mountain, the prayer chapel, was funded by Glendale Presbyterian Church in 1989. Staff housing was added at the same time, along with numerous amenities. The Master Plan was also completed in 1989. An intern program to train and disciple inner-city young s began in 1994.

In 1995, the Lord blessed the camp with the acquisition of 475 acres of surrounding land. An Act of Congress was needed to acquire this National Forest land and Rosey Grier, a long time supporter of World Impact, was very helpful in making this happen. Two new buildings were completed at the same time. Wimer West, a prayer retreat center, was dedicated for the renewal of Christian workers. Hamblen Lodge, a 260 seat dining room, was built in honor of Stuart Hamblen. The program grew by leaps and bounds as adventure elements of rappelling, rock climbing and a challenge course were added.

The Leaders in Training (LIT) program started in 1997. This program is aimed at developing inner-city teens into next generation leaders for the cities. It is a three-year program that incorporates an intense summer camp experience with a curriculum in the cities during the school year. During this time we added a Winter Teen Retreat as well as the summer program growing from three to five weeks of camps. Up to 550 campers were now attending. Our Outdoor Education program began and quickly grew to nine weeks each spring. World Impact's Los Angeles Christian School started bringing their 4th and 5th grades for a life-changing experience. The zip line and leap of faith were added and started stretching the faith of hundreds of campers. New hiking trails were cut by volunteers.

With youth camping established, in 1999 we started development of a Family Conference Center. Nelson and Fickett Lodges, motel style housing, were dedicated in 2001. These increased our housing capacity to 270. Two weekends of Family Vacation Camps started in the summer of 2002. Families from World Impact inner-city church plants attended and thoroughly enjoyed being able to have a family vacation filled with food, swimming, crafts, worship and fellowship. Hayford Hall was dedicated in October of 2004. This state-of-the-art facility has a 400-seat auditorium and seven break out meeting rooms. In the spring 0f 2007 we broke ground on two motel lodges, a second dining room and a child care facility; these were completed and dedicated September 2008.

Since 1987, the number of campers who come per year to THE OAKS has grown from 2,000 in 1990 to over 13,000 in 2006. The ministry of THE OAKS is the result of many staff responding to God's call to come as full-time missionaries. With God's guidance THE OAKS will continue to serve inner-city youth and families as well as churches of Southern California. May the Lord continue to build Oaks of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, for the display of His splendor.

Looking ahead…

After a substantial season of growth and increase, THE OAKS has taken time for an extensive self-assessment process to listen for the Lord’s direction for the days ahead.  Through this effort, we have realized several areas of focus.

We desire to incorporate the feedback from customers and staff.

We desire to concentrate on a mission statement that is short, memorable, focused, and in language and nature.

We desire reflect our competencies, opportunities and commitments.

We desire to connect to and reflect the mission of World Impact in our mission.

We desire to reflect our participation with God as He changes guests’ lives.
We desire to see this change impact where they live.  
 
We desire to connect our guests to the core of our call: to know and pursue God’s heart for the poor.
We desire to challenge our guests to join us in that purpose.

Come join this adventure!

Changing lives. Impacting communities.
Pursuing God's heart for the poor.