For almost 50 years, Johnson County families have sent their children to Outdoor Education Laboratory (OEL) to escape screens and discover the woods of southern Johnson County. The camp, which began as a teacher‑led effort to give students more outdoor time, announced on August 15 that this summer would be its last.
Long‑standing community institution
Founded by a group of local educators, OEL offered weekly programs for students in the Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley and Olathe school districts, as well as other parts of the southern Kansas City area. Children from kindergarten through sixth grade could attend activities ranging from fishing and aquatics to yard games and photography.
The camp operated at two sites: Sycamore Springs off 183rd Street and State Line Road, and Red Cedar off 183rd Street and Metcalf Avenue. Over the decades, generations of Johnson County children formed lasting memories of creek hikes, snapping turtles, and campfires.
Parents and alumni react with grief
“It was confusion, and honestly, grief,” said former camper Nancy Holcroft Benson, who spent many summers at OEL in the 1980s. Benson, now a professor of Organismal Biology at Johnson County Community College, credits the camp with shaping her career path.
Her children, Diana and Henry, also spent six summers at OEL, recalling feeding hot‑dog pieces to a beloved snapping turtle and tie‑dyeing camp shirts. They had hoped to become “grubs,” or counselors‑in‑training, next summer.
Other families echoed the sentiment. “Being in the suburbs, they don’t really get a lot of just outside run‑around time,” said Mandy Mason, mother of seventh‑grader Zeke Mason, who also planned to serve as a counselor‑in‑training. “It was a really great opportunity for them to actually get out into the woods and see animals in a safe environment.”
Why the camp closed?
The email sent to families described the decision as “difficult” but did not provide a specific reason. Calls and additional inquiries to the camp have not yet been returned, leaving many to wonder about the factors behind the abrupt shutdown.
Looking ahead
Former campers hope the two sites will remain nature‑focused and accessible for future generations. “It was a special place for everybody who went,” Benson said. “A lot of people have connections to it.”
While the closure marks the end of an era, the community’s love for outdoor education remains strong. Local schools and churches continue to promote nature‑based activities, and families are exploring alternative programs to fill the gap left by OEL.
What’s next for Johnson County families?
Parents are now seeking other summer options that emphasize hands‑on learning and stewardship of the environment. The Johnson County Parks and Recreation Department has announced plans to expand its own nature‑exploration programs, and several private organizations are considering new outdoor curricula.
As the county adjusts to the loss of OEL, the legacy of the camp’s half‑century of fostering curiosity, respect for creation, and community bonds endures.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
