WRTCA CAMPS

Campbell Loughmiller

 At a critical time after World War II, when homes across the nation were reeling from the tragic loss of husbands, fathers, sons, daughters, and brothers, Campbell Loughmiller came upon the child-care scene.  In 1946, he was employed by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, a group of business and professional men to work with a summer camp for underprivileged children. In response to the success of the summer camp in helping boys with emotional and behavioral problems, the camp program was expanded in 1948 into a year-round, therapeutic/education camp, known as Camp Woodland Springs (later renamed the Salesmanship Club Youth Camp). During his years at Camp Woodland Springs, Campbell Loughmiller shared with the boys, not only professional talents, but his lifelong interest in nature study, folklore, travel and conservation.

When he and his wife, Lynn, accepted the challenge of running the new camp in 1946, they had no theory to test nor any hypothesis to prove or disprove.  Yet there evolved from this direct experience and extraordinary and highly unique rehabilitation program which has given many a boy a new hold on the future.     

With the solid support of his wife, Lynn, and a staunch belief in the worth and potential of every child and family, Campbell developed a philosophy of childcare that has inspired programs across the nation – and beyond. It was his hope that these principles of therapeutic camping might continue in their natural simplicity.      

In 1993, several camps accepted the challenge and, with Chief Lock’s approval and encouragement, they formed the Wilderness Road Therapeutic Camping Association, Inc.  The purpose of the association is to offer mutual support through training workshops, consultation as needed, and an annual all-camp conference, all with the goal of “staying the course” with a proven way to help hurting youth:  working with the whole child the whole time – body, mind, and spirit.     

Campbell Loughmiller received a bachelor of arts in philosophy and a graduate certificate in social work from the University of California at Berkely in 1935.  In 1951 he received the degree of master of education from Southern Methodist University.     

Despite this solid background in the social sciences, he still retained the air of a man who had spent seven years at sea, traveled around the world three times and navigated by canoe nearly every major stream on the North American continent.  Later he and Lynn packed to the bottom of Grand Canyon of foot for three days of camping on the river and more recently they completed a rugged canoe trip down the Buffalo River in Northwest Arkansas.     

Campbell Loughmiller’s varied professional career included a period as Director of Public Welfare, Del Norte County, California; Director of the Dallas City County Welfare Department; and as chief of the regional Farm Labor Program of the War Food Administration.  He also authored the books:  Camping and Christian Growth, Let’s Go Camping, Wildflowers of Texas, The Big Thicket Legacy, Wilderness Road and Kids in Trouble.