Oakridge football players, athletes, educators give back as Camp Sunshine volunteers

Oakridge’s football program has been a benchmark in the West Michigan Conference and Muskegon area for several years as one of the winningest around.

The Eagles aim to set the tone off the field, too.

For the last half-dozen years, members of Oakridge’s football program as well as other athletes, educators and alumni from the school have volunteered with the Camp Sunshine program at Camp Blodgett.

In operation since 1983, Camp Sunshine offers those with cognitive or developmental disabilities summer camp experiences in a safe, caring and inclusive environment, according to the official website.

The two 2023 sessions at Camp Blodgett in West Olive, along the shores of Lake Michigan, were held June 26-29 and June 30-July 3.

Trisha Lowry, an assistant secretary for Oakridge Lower Elementary, and husband Todd Lowry, a teacher at Oakridge Middle School, have been part of the volunteer/leadership team at Camp Sunshine since 2012 and 2013, respectively. In 2013, their children began to volunteer at the camp.

Gage Lowry, a 2023 Oakridge alumnus, was a first-time counselor for the first session this summer.

Watch the video at the top of this story to hear from Oakridge football coach Cary Harger and to see some images from Camp Sunshine.