Oxford College hosts many groups that keep things bustling on campus during the summer break.
Summer usually signals a slower pace on campus with students and most faculty gone from Oxford College. But playing host to 20 groups keeps things busy with camps, conferences and other events.
Oxford College Events and Conferences (OCEC) manages all the summer events and programs that take place on campus. The OCEC team balances all these groups and their needs with the help of student interns who serve as summer conference coordinators.
Danielle Dockery, Oxford’s events manager, appreciates watching the conference coordinators interact with groups on campus.
“They love the energy the groups bring and sharing their love of Oxford with new people,” she says of the summer staff.
Oxford’s summer break lasts from the second week of May through the first week of August. Several children and teen groups, with both day and overnight camps, come to Oxford’s campus. Dockery enjoys meeting campers who have never been on a college campus or to camp.
“They’re completely blown away by the experience and light up when you ask if they’re having fun,” she says.
Creative Kids Camp has made the Oxford campus its summer home for the past 19 years. The Arts Association in Newton County sponsors this arts day camp. Rising 1 st through 6 th graders spend the week learning new skills in music, singing, dance, drama, and visual art. Campers perform on the last day of camp for family and friends and leave campus proudly showing the art pieces they created.
When asked what campers and counselors enjoy most about being on campus, Abigail Coggin has a quick answer. “Lunch of course!” jokes Coggin, operations director for the arts association. Creative Kids campers and counselors give Oxford’s lunches high marks and were concerned when they first heard the dining hall had changed.
Oxford’s new dining hall soon won them over and “they loved it,” she says.
Coggin appreciates how the Oxford staff has always been welcoming to Creative Kids campers, counselors, staff, and parents. “No matter the request, big or small, the staff is always willing to work with us,” she explains.
Other summer events hosted at Oxford include:
East Metro Tennis Camp, June 5-8 and July 10-13: The Newton County Recreational Department and the East Metro Tennis Association present a youth tennis camp for ages 5-18. The camp includes drills, footwork training, peer matches, games, and snacks with USPTA Certified Coach Gwen Blount.
International Karate Kobudo Union Camp, June 7-11: This annual martial-arts instruction and training camp’s theme is Camp Katsu-Ryu Kempo. Soke Joseph Ruiz is the foremost U.S. expert in Katsu-Ryu Kempo. The camp is open to all styles and all ranks.
Oxford College Basketball Camp, June 13-16: Oxford College Athletics hosts a basketball camp for boys ages 9-13 with college coaches and players. The camp includes shooting drills, ball handling drills, defensive drills, agility drills, skill competitions, and scrimmages.
Oxford College All Sports Camp, June 19-23 and July 17-21: Oxford College Athletics hosts All Sports Camp for children ages 7-13. Camp includes soccer, tennis, basketball, and optional swimming.
OWN Oxford, June 26-29: Incoming first-year students will spend three-days on campus before regular orientation in August. Students who participate in this program will form lasting bonds with other students, learn more about themselves, and connect with the campus in a distinctive way.
Academy of Liberal Arts at Newton High School (ALANHS), July 17-19: Students who take part in this collaboration between Newton High School and Oxford College spend three days on campus learning. ALANHS provides a structure for students to take courses specifically designed to prepare them for the rigor demonstrated at the collegiate level.
Gwinnett Quilters' Guild Summer Retreat, July 18-21: Quilters’ Guild members will spend four days on campus furthering the love, art, and craft of quilting. This non-profit also provides charitable quilts, volunteer services, and donations to various organizations.
Find out more about hosting an event or conference at Oxford. Groups who wish to use college facilities can contact Danielle Dockery at 770-784-8389 for more information.