Through the hard work of a few OSU students and one faculty member, the new tradition of Camp Cowboy, located at OSU's Camp Redlands, is in full operation after several years of planning. 

"Since I came to OSU in 1980, I have thought we needed to do something like this," said Ron Beer, vice president of student affairs.

Beer said he had hopes of bringing new students to the camp for several days of positive and constructive training on what to expect in college life. Over time, this idea was placed on the back burner. 

A couple of years ago, Beer mentioned the idea again, sparking the interest of a couple of students. These students, Misty Ambrose, recent agricultural communications graduate, and Kyndra Littrell, marketing junior, visited a site similar to what was in mind for Camp Cowboy - Texas A&M University's Fish Camp, located in College Station, Texas.

Ambrose and Littrell presented the camp proposal to Jeremy Welter, former OSU student government president. In the meantime, Beer did the same among his colleagues. 

And as they say, the rest is history. Beer's office approved a $2,000 donation, seeding a pilot program for summer 1999. 

The idea of a freshman camp caught on, leading to tremendous support and donations from alumni, the university, campus organizations and the community. Additional funding was derived from the $95 camp registration fee, which covered room, board and activities. Food was brought in from a combination of the Student Union, residential life and local restaurants. In total, the first Camp Cowboy was a $50,000 project, including funding for renovations such as attic fans and heating installation in the cabins, new lighting and new bunk beds. 

"Over time, we hope to complete about $6 million in renovations at Camp Redlands, and hopefully $2.5 million by next season, depending on funding," Beer said. "The goals are to construct a sort of pole barn for activities and meetings to provide protection from weather, to install air conditioning, rest rooms and showers in each cabin, and to add six new cabins." 

Beer and a committee of students mailed announcements to incoming freshmen, while a screening process for Camp Cowboy's peer counselors began. Counselors attended training sessions on a weekly basis throughout the 1999 spring semester. Faculty members were invited to serve on a panel, allowing students to ask questions. Volunteers known as "wranglers" also assisted with technical work such as prop setup for skits.

"Two sessions were initially scheduled, each hosting 100 students. However, because of the overwhelming response, coordinators added a third session and not one student was turned away," Beer said. Students arrived to a schedule loaded with workshops, activities, OSU traditions and questions - many questions! 

"The underlying theme for the camp was to ease the transition from high school to college," said Mahlon Hunt, OSU agricultural communications graduate and co-executive director for Camp Cowboy 1999. "We wanted to help students realize they each are leaders and can have an enjoyable college experience if they make the right choices."

One activity emphasizing self confidence was the ropes course located at Camp Redlands. 

"Some students did not want to participate at first, but by the end, they successfully completed the course. This gave students a sense of self reliance that they could do something now they did not think they could do before they came here," Beer said.

Natalie Leach, biochemistry/pre-veterinary freshman, said she particularly enjoyed the ropes course and the dance.

Leach said Camp Cowboy was a great way to drop in and meet new people and learn hymns of her future alma mater, a major point of training during camp. 

Dustin Bowen, agricultural economics freshman, said he enjoyed meeting new people. He said it eased the overwhelming transition from high school to college.

"I am more comfortable knowing I can recognize some faces on campus right off," Bowen said. "I am still friends with people I met at Camp Cowboy." 

Although the inaugural Camp Cowboy went smoothly, Beer said there would be some changes for next year.

"Because this is such a large responsibility, we are planning to increase the executive committee from last summer's three to six or eight," he said. "We also plan to expand the number of camp sessions from three to maybe six or 10, and try to tie each with the students' fall enrollment." 

Attending students shared their ideas and suggestions as well. Bowen said he would like to see more time management workshops.

"My first semester at OSU was fairly calm, but still busier than I expected," he said. "They need to tie in more about what you can have done before the semester starts, such as obtaining ioNET service." 

Leach said she would like to hear more motivational speakers and have more question and answer time. 

"Overall, I think this was a great experience," Hunt said. "It was phenomenal to be involved with this for the first time. There was a lot of learning going on, not only by the new students but by us, which will provide for an even better and smoother time next year."

So get fired up about OSU's latest tradition, Camp Cowboy. 

For more information, contact the campus life center located in 060 Student Union, call (405) 744-5488 or check out the Camp Cowboy Web site at www.osu.su.okstate.edu/Campus_Life/camp_cowboy/index.html.