When you tell people you live in Camp Sherman, the usual response is “What a pretty place.” Ponderosa pine and the Metolius River are hard to beat, and the unincorporated Jefferson County community is a beautiful place to live in or visit. Camp Sherman has about 250 full-time residents, more during the summer months.

There is a spirit of friendship among many who live in Camp Sherman and a willingness to help. A large community hall hosts cabin fever potluck dinners during winter months and community breakfasts on holidays. The Camp Sherman Store barbecues also get neighbors together.

There is no garbage collection in Camp Sherman. People bring their garbage and recyclables to the transfer station (aka the dump), open one day a week during winter and two in the summer. The transfer station is the site of many meetings and conversations. There is also a free “gift shop” of still-useful materials “donated” by people bringing in their recyclables.

In downtown Camp Sherman, on Sunday morning, you’ll find a nice group of people attending the church service at the nondenominational Chapel in the Pines. A little farther down the street, Black Butte School (BBS) is “a place where education really works,” according to former resident Ray Hatton, a well-known geography professor.

The library room open to locals on Tuesday afternoons honors Toni Foster, a former head teacher at the school. Many wonderful stories remain about Toni—for instance, if she saw someone passing by her class who could share information, she would open the door and invite them in. Hatton was called in from the street many times. Such is life in Camp Sherman, even to this day. Head teacher Delaney Sharp and Jennie Sharp continue the tradition of excellence at BBS.

Across the bridge over the Metolius River is the building that holds the store and the post office. The famous Camp Sherman Store has most things you might need—food, beverages, gift items, fishing gear, and information.

The post office is always open—only certain hours for postal service, but the free Camp Sherman library is located there too. Local folks bring books and magazines to donate and take home any they find interesting.

Winter is nice and quiet for the inhabitants of Camp Sherman. Popular pastimes include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and skiing at nearby Hoodoo.

In the summertime, benches on the deck outside the store serve as both a meeting place for friends and an information site for visitors. Frequent questions include “Where are the headwaters of the Metolius River?” and “How do we get to the fish hatchery?” About five miles down the road, the Wizard Falls Hatchery is a great place to visit.

Summer also means kayaking on nearby Suttle Lake or Big Lake, a real joy on warm days, or a picnic lunch at Cinder Beach beside Suttle Lake for a pleasant afternoon with water fun for the kids. There are many trails through the forest or along the river in the Camp Sherman area. Don’t miss the Metolius Preserve, a quiet forest location with walking trails and beautiful scenery.

The river offers great spots for fishing or photography (how can you miss with the tall forest, lovely river, and blue skies?)

Where to eat? Sandwiches are very popular at the store. Hola!, the local Mexican restaurant, serves nice lunches. A few miles up the Camp Sherman road is the restaurant at Lake Creek Lodge.

There are a number of campgrounds along the Metolius River. Riverside Campground comes with an interesting historical note: the land was used during the 1930s as a Civilian Conservation Corps location. People who were unemployed during the Depression were given CCC jobs to build up the local area, which included shelters still standing in Camp Sherman campgrounds. There are also campgrounds at Suttle Lake and Big Lake.

If you visit Camp Sherman in the summertime, I might be sitting on the bench outside the store. Feel free to say hello. •