I went to Camp El Tesoro as a child and have continued to be involved with camp ever since. Now, in my job at Camp Fire, I help parents register their children for camp and – more often than you would think – I help a parent feel at ease about sending their children away from home for the first time. I always get questions about what to pack and what kinds of activities we offer, but it’s the questions about the benefits of camp that I love the most. Camp is great for children – we know that. If you are thinking about sending your child to camp, here are 26 things you need to know – A to Z:
A – Summer camp is an awesome adventure for your child!
B – Bordered by the Brazos River, Camp El Tesoro has a memorable swinging bridge at its entrance.
C – Campers have the opportunity to express their creativity, meet new challenges, and enjoy collaboratively singing around the campfire.
D – Discover nature, new experiences and skills. Discover the magic of camp!
E – El Tesoro – “the treasure”; our Camp Fire camp for boys and girls was established in 1934.
F – Friends – as the song says: “Make new friends, but keep the old.” Summer camp is one of the best places ever to make new friends and reunite with those you have met in the past. The shared bonds and experiences can last a lifetime.
G – If you’re looking for a camp for your child, El Tesoro is a great one! It is located about 45 minutes southwest of Fort Worth near Granbury.
H – Horseback riding is a hugely popular summer activity at Camp El Tesoro.
I – The Inclusion program at El Tesoro provides an opportunity for children with special needs to connect with the camp experience. Campers are paired with a “camp buddy” – a counselor who assists as needed so that campers with disabilities can fully participate with their cabin mates.
J – Joy! – “a thing that causes delight” – and summer camp at El Tesoro inspires joy.
K – Camp offers programs for all ages, but in the summer – camp is for the kids! All kinds of kids find a second home at Camp El Tesoro. Kids with different backgrounds, interests, talents, abilities, personalities – everyone is welcome.
L – Listen … to the breeze and sounds of nature, laughter, singing, the splash of swimmers in the pool, a paddle bumps a canoe, an arrow hits the target. Listen … to the hush of sunset, giggles in your cabin after lights out, and the voices of counselors and friends.
M – Making Memories!
N – El Tesoro has a Nature trail that follows the creek from one end of camp to the other – where Fall Creek meets the Brazos River.
O – Observe … a fox, a herd of deer, fossils in the creek bed, the sheltering oaks, and spectacular sunsets – priceless!
P – Pool – the perfect place to be on a summer afternoon.
Q – Quiet Time – otherwise known as rest time … following lunch, everyone at Camp El Tesoro takes a bit of a break to relax and spend quality time with their cabin mates.
R – Recognition – El Tesoro invites family members to attend a closing ceremony at the end of each session. Campers receive recognition for accomplishments achieved during the week. Campers who have attended for three summers receive a walking staff branded with their name.
S – S’mores – need I say more?!
T –At camp, children have a terrific time! They can thrive in the camp environment, discovering talents and learning valuable life skills such as decision making, problem solving, and working with others as a team. It is indeed a special time in the journey through childhood and adolescence.
U – Unplug from technology. You can do it! Camp can help.
V – Don’t take my word for it. Visit Camp El Tesoro! Attend a camp preview event on April 23 or May 7.
W – WoHeLo – the original watchword for Camp Fire when the organization was established in 1910. Representing the words “Work, Health, and Love.” The concepts may have evolved over the years, but the values represented by these words remain just as relevant for youth and their families today.
X – An eXcellent, eXciting opportunity to eXplore and find something eXtraordinary and new.
Y – Yippee!! Summer is almost here! It’s time to register your children for camp.
Z – Zip liiiiiiine – A challenging camp activity that’s a favorite of many campers.
Lydia Goetz is the Camp El Tesoro Coordinator for Camp Fire First Texas. Lydia enjoys her work with Camp Fire because she believes Camp Fire programs truly make a positive impact on the lives of children and adults in many ways. She has been a part of Camp Fire since she became a Blue Bird in the second grade. Lydia was a camper at El Tesoro for seven summers, a CIT and a member of summer camp staff for seven summers. She is still attends camp during the week-long, El Tesoro de la Vida program, a camp for grieving children. Lydia holds a Bachelor of Science in recreation, Master of Science in physical education from Baylor University and a Doctor of Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State Univeristy.
