Standing with the Texas Camp Community
The Texas Hill Country is home to countless summer camps where lifelong memories are made and friendships are forged. This season, that treasured landscape has been struck by tragedy, as devastating flash floods have brought heartbreaking loss to these cherished places and the people who call them home.
In moments like this, words feel small, but we still try to offer them as a way of sharing the sorrow and strength of this community. Here is what we shared with our community on Facebook:
Our hearts are shattered by the devastating floods that swept through the Texas Hill Country, impacting multiple camps and claiming precious lives. Among the most deeply affected is Camp Mystic, where children and staff were tragically lost, and others remain missing. We also mourn the passing of Dick Eastland, Mystic’s beloved owner, and Jane Ragsdale, the cherished owner of Heart O’ the Hills, both pillars of the Texas camping world.
To the campers, counselors, families, and entire communities grieving right now — we stand with you. Whether you are mourning loved ones, waiting for news, or trying to pick up the pieces after unimaginable loss, you are not alone.
Summer camp is a place of joy, growth, and connection — a second home for so many. That makes this loss all the more painful. As we come together in heartbreak, we also come together in love — for the lives lost, for the camps forever changed, and for the enduring spirit of the camp community.
Please join us in honoring the memory of those we’ve lost and reaching out with love and support for all who have been affected. Keep this camp community in your thoughts as they navigate the difficult road ahead.
As the days ahead unfold, we will continue to hold these camps and families close in our hearts. To all who are grieving, rebuilding, and holding each other up—please know you are not alone.
With love from the Everything Summer Camp family