mccjames said:

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I can't imagine myself as a 16 year old counselor keeping my head on straight with my 9 year olds!

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I can't imagine that as a 40 year old mother.

https://www.hccommunityjournal.com/article_6fa8f3fc-f866-11e6-8f06-d731a4d8212f.html

Tell me Tanner out there saving Aggie rings ain't Glenn's relative.

Blood runs strong.

I held Glenn's tailgate spot on Fridays while I was in college. He overpaid me every time, even after I tried to tell him "this is way too much." An amazing man!!

mccjames said:

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I can't imagine myself as a 16 year old counselor keeping my head on straight with my 9 year olds!

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The youngest counselors at these camps are graduated high school kids. 18-19

As a mother of a third year Mystic counselor this summer, they are not counselors until the summer after they graduate from high school, so generally 18. It is their "Ette" year - as in Counsleorette. That said, Ettes can be in charge of the cabin depending on how nights off work, but they are all back in the cabin by 1a, regardless of who has a night off.

ETA: Ettes always have older counselors in the cabin, too. Was just trying to convey that the cabins were not run by 16-year-olds. I

They Will survive and they Will Evolve. New Safety Measures, plan, Training, and practice.

Not sure if anyone else here is a foodie, but I just saw that Chef Crista Luedtke is Tweety Eastland's sister. I never would have made that connection. Camp Mystic and the number of alumni/connections has made my world seem so small over the past few days. Still praying for miracles.

*EDIT: Chef Crista's sister is Tweety's daughter-in-law!

Please take the speculation to another thread, way too many variables at this time.

[We have cleaned it up. Thank you to the posters that are using the voting function to alert us to derails. -Staff]

Swirling waters was mentioned by one of the Easltand boys into the WaPo article.

In the olden days La Junta CIT's were 15 and jr counselors were 16 if you had been a CIT. They were short handed my CIT year so I was a Jr counselor in cabin 4 with 9 year olds, next year I was in 99 with 10 year olds. Obviously I was not in charge of anything being the 4th hand at riding.

That is probably frowned upon these days. I know Honey Creek lets girls be counselors and campers at 17.

That being said I am amazed and impressed with the stories of the heroics and clear heads of all the counselors at Mystic and LaJunta

Glenn Juenke - thank you.

Same today re the CIT route. We have just been sad - all three of my boys - to only go one half of the term their CIT years. My CIT twins are golf addicts with high aspirations and enjoyed Auburn Golf camp in early June this year (the Mystic sister goes to Auburn), but would have traded the world to have been at LaJunta the whole term. Each were 3x Bulldoggers.

It's easy to second guess after the fact.

As a former camper, counselor, staffer for a week camp along the Brazos river, and as a security and compliance specialist…..I am so impressed and proud of all of these camp's staffers and counselors.

There was a plan in place, it was executed, and when worse came to worse, they put their own wellbeing on the line to save lives. Even the best plans fail in the face of natures awesome power.

Using my daughter as a reference, the idea of trying to wake up dozens of 8, 10, 12 year olds in the middle of the night and trying to impress upon them the absolute necessity to wake up and move immediately is not an easy task in the best of circumstances.

Bottom line. This is a tragedy, and while we as a society love to place blame, sometimes terrible things just happen.

Wow I am very impressed! I was 2x Bulldogger and that was pretty rare.

This. Hearing stories of children hanging on rafters, counselors breaking out windows, kids having to huddle on mattresses 10 feet in the air, trying to find a way out, all in pitch blackness, and drowned out by the furious sound of rushing water - it's an absolute miracle that is many survived as they did, and a genuine testament to everyone who worked to keep them safe.

Centerpoint posted on Facebook that they need help. They have a 7:30am mtg tomorrow at fire dept. Was there today and going in AM. Bring chainsaw.

Too soon, RIP

Blair and Brooke Harber were among the children who died due to ravaging floods that hit Kerr County on Friday morning. The bodies of the 13-year-old and 11-year-old girls were found about 12 hours after the heavy rain saturated the area, according to their aunt,  Jennifer… pic.twitter.com/X1u3fx2zHz

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) July 6, 2025

That's too sad

To be clear - twins were the 3x bulldoggers. They are kind of a force. My 17 year old boy is taking it all pretty hard, in a teenage boy way. He was the one who has been in the stables first term the last two summers. The joy of being a Rough Rider. I pray my twins get to experience being counselors there. LaJunta has instilled so much good in our boys. And Mystic our girl. It is hard to watch them process all of the news from their friends as young adults.

ETA Also, sorry to word vomit a lot. It is all so distressing.

SIAP

Chloe Childress’s family have confirmed that she did not make it.

Chloe Childress was a Camp Counselor at Camp Mystic when the flash floods occurred.

Chloe Childress graduated from The Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas on May 23, 2025.

Many Prayers to Chloe’s Family!! 🙏🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/GuhdOjIfOG

— Southern FFA Family (@FFAFamily) July 6, 2025

Was heading to Texas in the fall

Too young. God bless her

My All Round Cowboy buckle was my most prized possession for years. Great memories.

My daughter is missing her last year at Vista which is just a few miles down and was also largely destroyed. So thankful they were between sessions.

All of the last year girls are getting together at an Airbnb in Austin next weekend so they can see each other and spend time together one last time. We are hoping that a few councilors get there.

My daughter would not be who she is today without summer camp on that river.

Her sister is married to Tweety and Dick's 2nd eldest son.

can i have a missing list of some type? or the canva link? Im behind on this, and i know some people involved

whats a bulldogger?

100% agree with this post!

I personally believe strongly in the camp system based on me, my brother, my daughter and my nieces.

I believe they will come back and will be stronger than ever.

swimmerbabe11 said:

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whats a bulldogger?

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La Juntaers

swimmerbabe11 said:

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whats a bulldogger?

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Camp La Junta is divided up into 2 Ranches (teams) they compete for points to name champion of the term. The kid with the highest point contribution from each age group is given the honor to lead their Ranch as a bulldogger or team leader the next summer. Essentially camp Yell leaders.

slammerag said:

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Centerpoint posted on Facebook that they need help. They have a 7:30am mtg tomorrow at fire dept. Was there today and going in AM. Bring chainsaw.

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Thanks for heads up. Coming in Tuesday with haul of donated goods.

The two boys in each age division - and each ranch - who accumulate the most points in their activities each term.

ETA. Again. I nearly said camp Yell Leaders. A good analogy.

I still have mine!

And yes I am old enough have been at camp when they started the point system!

Wiggle, Bubble, Chatterbox, these used to be fun adjectives that we assigned to our bubbly younger girls based on their personalities, their ambitions, and their attitudes.

I thank everyone who has shared, so far, with their experiences and memories at Camp Mystic

It's so sad that these words will be used in a different context now.

I can only continue to do what I can, which is pray for safe passage of the missing girls.

Miracles are still possible and I will pray, with all of my effort, to see them completed.