HUNT, TEXAS – Where the sound of laughter once rang, silence still lingers over the debris of Mystic Camp for Girls. Amid the rolling hill country, residents of central Texas continue the long process of cleaning up, rebuilding, restoring infrastructure, and mourning the loss of many lives. Headlines often obscure reality while attempting to report the facts. Yet, as families and neighbors seek answers, the rest of the country – and the world – also holds a collective breath, in silence.

The Guadalupe River overflowed it banks, sweeping over the landscape, taking houses, cars, and human lives in its current. Cries for help rose above the sound of rushing water.

 A word, fitly spoken, can help in the healing process. Resolve mingles with grief. What are the lessons thus far and will summer camps ever be the same?

Henry DeHart, an interim chief executive of the American Camp Association recently said, “In light of recent events, many camps are busy boosting efforts to reassure families by answering their questions and transparently communicating the protocols in place to protect their children.”

Spring of Discovery

Jud Millar, director at Stone Mountain Adventures in Huntingdon, Pa, said in a recent interview, “Camp is such a great place for kids to build independence. It can be one of those real first major experiences that you have away from the family unit.” Summer camps are a long-standing tradition in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The tradition also spread to Eastern countries, i.e. China, India, and Israel.

In 1861, Camp Gunnery came to life in rural Connecticut, led by Frederick William Gunn, an intrepid educator and abolitionist. Mr. Gunn led a group of boys and girls from Washington, CT, to the town of Milford on the Long Island Sound. Gunn wished to help prepare the boys for military service and to inspire a love of nature in general. By providing meals and shelter, the camp created a phenomenon.

Churches and religious organizations quickly adopted the idea as well. Examples of this enduring legacy include Tri-State Bible Camp,, located above the Delaware River, in Montague, NJ, and Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, in Sharon, CT.

  Throughout the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the desire to get away from the bustle and grime of city life, especially in the summer, grew more intense. The ideal of quietly learning and thinking in nature opened the scope of the American mind.

High Water Mark

As camps grew and developed in the post-WWII world, concerns for safety also emerged. Health and safety inspections took on deeper nuances and protocols as state and local officials declared their desire to keep children safe. In 1970, sweeping legislation  included the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), designed to create safe working conditions across the business sector both public and private.

According to reports, state officials approved Camp Mystic’s facilities and procedures on July 2^nd, just two days before the torrential storms. Although Camp Mystic did not respond for comment, it’s website stated that the camp is “in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott rebuked those who seek someone to “blame” for the tragedy. “That’s the word choice of losers,” Abbott said in a press conference, July 10.

Every camp in the United States is subject to rules and regulations; emergency protocols must be displayed throughout a camp’s facilities and its staff/volunteers trained to handle emergency situations. Will more rigorous regulations come as a result of the tragedy?

Presence News contacted the office of both Silver Lake and Tri-State Bible Camp. Although no comment was given, Silver Lake provides safety information on its website. Tri-State Bible Camp provides a place for parents to inform staff of their child’s medical needs.

Poor cell phone communication is coming to the forefront. Jeff Carr, a spokesman for Camp Mystic and director’s family, told the press, “Communication was a huge deficiency. This community was hamstrung, nobody could communicate. The first responder, the first rescue personnel that showed up was a game warden.” Due to the camp’s rural location, cell phone service is “spotty,” at best.

Beside Still Waters

Summer camps rest upon the core foundation of getting away from distractions and getting into nature. Does the model warrant a fresh look, and how can parents rest more easily while sending their child to camp?

Survivors often carry a heavy burden, and many of the Texas flood survivors are children. If you’re in a situation where a child asks questions about the tragedy, the following points can be helpful.

• Be present and honest. Even if your beliefs vary from Christianity, admitting that you do have all the answers is crucial. You can answer your child’s questions without giving too much detail.
• Help your child navigate between grief and hope. Hard times come in life, and you are the primary example to your child of how to handle difficulties. Find the balance between vulnerability and remaining strong for your child.
• Do something. Even if you cannot physically help, consider other ways of helping those around you. Conduct research online and see what you can do for the Texas survivors.
• If your child is going to attend a summer camp, review all emergency protocols with a staff member and then ensure your child understands what to do in a case of an emergency.

 Let us do what we can to be good neighbors and tread that balance between silence and right words as we collectively mourn and move forward.

https://camp.mystic.texas.flooding.response