Wheeler Dealers Camping Club announces 2021 schedule

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Story by Kathy Tippin.

Wheeler Dealers Camping Club members met for lunch recently optimistic that they will be able to camp together this year. Last year, campouts scheduled for the first half of the year were often cancelled or had minimal participation due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but members are hopeful they can gather carefully and still enjoy the outdoors together this year.

Members from Bartlesville, Ponca City and Norman gathered for the luncheon. Hosts this year for the luncheon held at Montana Mike’s in Bartlesville were Joe and Pat Brown of Bartlesville. Guests were Tulsa residents Steve and Michelle Vaughn and their sons Ford and James.

After lunch, the February business meeting was held with Lowry Blakeburn, president presiding. He and his wife, Rebecca, will be in charge of the March campout at Wah Sha She at Hulah Lake. The group chose this location because of the use of a large meeting room for pot lucks and games. Other plans are still being discussed.

Other campouts scheduled for the year include:

  • April – Keystone State Park at Keystone Lake hosted by Lee and Ellen Cobb and Bill and Pam Doyle. The group plans to attend the Sand Springs Herb Festival.

  • May –Claremore Expo Campground hosted by Randi and Clarice Olsen and Joe and Pat Brown. The group plans to tour the Will Rogers Museum and the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum.

  • June – Sequoyah State Park at Lake Fort Gibson hosted by Clarence and Karla Hill, Gary and Charlotte Piersall, and Larry and Elaine Stevens.

  • July – Sarge Creek Campground at Kaw Lake hosted by Jon and Kathy Tippin, Charley and Vie Bottger, and Lowry and Rebecca Blakeburn assisted by Donna Metevia.

  • August – Outdoors Meet and Eat probably at Osage Hills State Park hosted by Mike and Helen McHale.

  • September – Melvern Lake, KS hosted by Cecil and Linda Sparks and Stan and Linda Long.  Activities include a tour of the Kansas State Capitol.

  • October – Brush Creek Campground below Keystone Lake (subject to completion).

  • November – Big Hill Lake, Cherryvale, KS hosted by Cecil and Linda Sparks, Clarence and Karla Hill, and Lee and Ellen Cobb.

  • December – Christmas Party at the McCord Senior Center hosted by Gary and Nancy Shepard.

Wheeler Dealers monthly campouts are held weekends from March to November with only lunch or breakfast gathering in February and August and a special Christmas Party in December. Members can make their own reservations at many of the Corps lakes through recreation.gov, the Corps of Engineers reservation service. 

Current members are from Bartlesville, Sand Springs, Tulsa, Norman, and Ponca City.  However, anyone is invited to join.

Persons interested in joining or knowing more should contact Lowry, president, at 580-304-5445 in Ponca City or Clarence, vice-president, at 405-612-7781 in Bartlesville.