Oklahoma City's cherished Camp DaKaNi and Camp CANOE, key community institutions for 95 years, will be closing due to ongoing financial challenges. According to KFOR, the Camp Fire Heart of Oklahoma board has confirmed their inability to "restore funding or programming to the levels required to continue operations," in particular due to the setbacks imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A representative from Emma Hoisington, a former camper and staff member, expressed her shock and sadness upon receiving the news, telling KFOR, "I really never in my mind imagined that it wouldn’t be there anymore."
Virtual attempts to maintain Camp DaKaNi's presence during the summer of 2020 did not suffice to keep engagement high, with Hoisington acknowledging low attendance. Reflecting the sentiment of many former campers, Denise Moses told KOCO that she was "absolutely crushed" by the news.
While the Camp Fire Heart of Oklahoma conveyed their gratitude for the community's longstanding trust, they also admitted to The Oklahoman that coming to this decision was exceedingly difficult. A board spokeswoman reflected on the generations that have passed through their camp, saying, "We knew that this would be a hard blow to a lot of people." She revealed that changing times and declining enrollments post-COVID were significant factors in their choice to dissolve.
The future of the campgrounds is uncertain, though there is anticipation that an announcement regarding their future may come in the next few months. Camp officials shared this update in statements to KFOR. Despite the closure, efforts are being made to keep the grounds available for public use, which may help preserve the camp’s legacy for Oklahoma's communities.
