Camp Mystic reopening for summer 2026

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think if the shrieking harpy in here actually knew the families who send their kids to this camp they would rethink their very vocal stance. These extremely wealthy, right wing religious families don't spend a second of their day worrying about random elderly women in Virginia or thereabouts. Their kids will just go to another camp if it doesn't work out.

You’re dead wrong! We knew several children at that camp in that flood. One was a friend of my daughter’s a classmate. Their families care very much about others. These are not right wing people at all. Some are slightly right of center, some slightly left - none on the wings - ZERO! And they all care about others. Many families are still grieving, including mine. You should have compassion, especially as you are making assumptions about the compassion of others.

Be honest. The camp took a serious religious turn recently. These people are my friends, neighbors, and my kid's classmates.

They’re religious- true. It’s always been a religious camp. Are you saying religious people don’t deserve compassion if their children die? Are you saying religious people all had right political affiliations that don’t align with yours, therefore they don’t deserve compassion?

I'm saying their religion is a huge reason why they want to return to camp and that's why people here are struggling to understand their motivation. They have completely different world views. The returning campers aren't asking for anything from the people here, certainly not their compassion. I know returning campers and I certainly don't question them or discuss it with them. We are not the same, but it's their decision to make.

You keep bringing this up. We are not trying to discuss it with them. We are discussing it amongst ourselves. It is a bizarre, real-world case study in people acting adverse to their own interests.

Again with the ignorance and hubris. You don't have all of the facts. You don't know them. You have not experienced what they went through. You don't know their motivations. Stop judging them and MYOFB.

So funny. Those of us questioning the parents decisions to send their daughters to that camp clearly have more of the facts than you or they do.

No, you don't have more facts than the families who were actually there, FFS. You're mental.

The camp could have allowed the girls to walk 60 for 60 seconds up a hill and they would have lived. Instead they made them stay in their cabins and they died. I don’t need to “be there” to understand that this level of failure is criminal and has nothing to do with the river and everything to do with terrible risk assessment. No one should trust them with children ever again. It’s so painfully obvious to everyone not in the cult.

In hindsight yes, but at the time it was dark and they opted to shelter in place which in many occurrences is the right thing to do. But now everyone's an armchair quarterback. What if in trying to escape they had been swept away in the current?

The Eastlands themselves were out walking around the grounds hours before the flash flood hit, worried about their canoes and other equipment. I think it's safe to assume that if they had alerted the girls in the cabins at that time, they could have made it to safety in just a few minutes.

Hindsight is 20/20.

Not good enough. They could have walked up a hill like all the cabins that survived. “Oops! Oh well!” isn’t going to cut it.

Cut it? What are you even talking about. We'll see if/when there are criminal charges. Until then you'll just have to cope.

The camp is not opening this summer. Thankfully all the children whose parents were going to send them to this camp will be safe instead. So I’m coping great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question authority- Why did more counselors not get the kids out once water started coming in and rising fast? I think at least one counselor did and got her girls out in spite of being told to stay inside.

She was brave, smart, and not afraid to go against the one page posted "safety plan"
that said to remain in place.

She listened to her instincts and saved a cabin full of girls.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Question authority- Why did more counselors not get the kids out once water started coming in and rising fast? I think at least one counselor did and got her girls out in spite of being told to stay inside. [/quote]

She was brave, smart, and not afraid to go against the one page posted "safety plan"
that said to remain in place. [/quote]

She listened to her instincts and saved a cabin full of girls. [/quote]

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question authority- Why did more counselors not get the kids out once water started coming in and rising fast? I think at least one counselor did and got her girls out in spite of being told to stay inside.

This happened in 4 cabins that we know off. The girls and counselors in 2 of those cabins all went out a window and up the steep hill. In the other 2 cabins, half of the girls made it and half did not (Twins 1 and 2).

[Anonymous]

"Doesn't follow the rules" isn't generally what people want in a camp counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Doesn't follow the rules" isn't generally what people want in a camp counselor.

Creative thinkers are an asset in emergency situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if the shrieking harpy in here actually knew the families who send their kids to this camp they would rethink their very vocal stance. These extremely wealthy, right wing religious families don't spend a second of their day worrying about random elderly women in Virginia or thereabouts. Their kids will just go to another camp if it doesn't work out.

You’re dead wrong! We knew several children at that camp in that flood. One was a friend of my daughter’s a classmate. Their families care very much about others. These are not right wing people at all. Some are slightly right of center, some slightly left - none on the wings - ZERO! And they all care about others. Many families are still grieving, including mine. You should have compassion, especially as you are making assumptions about the compassion of others.

Be honest. The camp took a serious religious turn recently. These people are my friends, neighbors, and my kid's classmates.

They’re religious- true. It’s always been a religious camp. Are you saying religious people don’t deserve compassion if their children die? Are you saying religious people all had right political affiliations that don’t align with yours, therefore they don’t deserve compassion?

I'm saying their religion is a huge reason why they want to return to camp and that's why people here are struggling to understand their motivation. They have completely different world views. The returning campers aren't asking for anything from the people here, certainly not their compassion. I know returning campers and I certainly don't question them or discuss it with them. We are not the same, but it's their decision to make.

You keep bringing this up. We are not trying to discuss it with them. We are discussing it amongst ourselves. It is a bizarre, real-world case study in people acting adverse to their own interests.

Again with the ignorance and hubris. You don't have all of the facts. You don't know them. You have not experienced what they went through. You don't know their motivations. Stop judging them and MYOFB.

So funny. Those of us questioning the parents decisions to send their daughters to that camp clearly have more of the facts than you or they do.

No, you don't have more facts than the families who were actually there, FFS. You're mental.

The camp could have allowed the girls to walk 60 for 60 seconds up a hill and they would have lived. Instead they made them stay in their cabins and they died. I don’t need to “be there” to understand that this level of failure is criminal and has nothing to do with the river and everything to do with terrible risk assessment. No one should trust them with children ever again. It’s so painfully obvious to everyone not in the cult.

I truly DGAF about the camp -- it can stay closed.

That doesn't change the fact that you weren't there. You don't know more than families who were actually there. It's ridiculous for you to claim otherwise. They made a different decision than you think you would make in that situation.

I don't understand why you are so intent on tearing down these families.

May I point out, ma'am, that none of the "families" were actually there, either. If they were, I bet they wouldn't have let their daughter drown.

They know far more about it than you. Be thankful that you’re not in their position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if the shrieking harpy in here actually knew the families who send their kids to this camp they would rethink their very vocal stance. These extremely wealthy, right wing religious families don't spend a second of their day worrying about random elderly women in Virginia or thereabouts. Their kids will just go to another camp if it doesn't work out.

You’re dead wrong! We knew several children at that camp in that flood. One was a friend of my daughter’s a classmate. Their families care very much about others. These are not right wing people at all. Some are slightly right of center, some slightly left - none on the wings - ZERO! And they all care about others. Many families are still grieving, including mine. You should have compassion, especially as you are making assumptions about the compassion of others.

Be honest. The camp took a serious religious turn recently. These people are my friends, neighbors, and my kid's classmates.

They’re religious- true. It’s always been a religious camp. Are you saying religious people don’t deserve compassion if their children die? Are you saying religious people all had right political affiliations that don’t align with yours, therefore they don’t deserve compassion?

I'm saying their religion is a huge reason why they want to return to camp and that's why people here are struggling to understand their motivation. They have completely different world views. The returning campers aren't asking for anything from the people here, certainly not their compassion. I know returning campers and I certainly don't question them or discuss it with them. We are not the same, but it's their decision to make.

You keep bringing this up. We are not trying to discuss it with them. We are discussing it amongst ourselves. It is a bizarre, real-world case study in people acting adverse to their own interests.

Again with the ignorance and hubris. You don't have all of the facts. You don't know them. You have not experienced what they went through. You don't know their motivations. Stop judging them and MYOFB.

So funny. Those of us questioning the parents decisions to send their daughters to that camp clearly have more of the facts than you or they do.

No, you don't have more facts than the families who were actually there, FFS. You're mental.

The camp could have allowed the girls to walk 60 for 60 seconds up a hill and they would have lived. Instead they made them stay in their cabins and they died. I don’t need to “be there” to understand that this level of failure is criminal and has nothing to do with the river and everything to do with terrible risk assessment. No one should trust them with children ever again. It’s so painfully obvious to everyone not in the cult.

I truly DGAF about the camp -- it can stay closed.

That doesn't change the fact that you weren't there. You don't know more than families who were actually there. It's ridiculous for you to claim otherwise. They made a different decision than you think you would make in that situation.

I don't understand why you are so intent on tearing down these families.

May I point out, ma'am, that none of the "families" were actually there, either. If they were, I bet they wouldn't have let their daughter drown.

They know far more about it than you. Be thankful that you’re not in their position.

Clearly not. Many of them apparently didn’t even read or listen to the sworn testimony.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question authority- Why did more counselors not get the kids out once water started coming in and rising fast? I think at least one counselor did and got her girls out in spite of being told to stay inside.

The counselors were just out of high school. One was only 17. I think the cabins that self evacuated had older and more experienced counselors.

[Anonymous]

I watched the hearing - and I never do that kind of thing. The evidence and timeline laid out by the investigator, Casey Garrett, was devastating. This was about the worst run camp imaginable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question authority- Why did more counselors not get the kids out once water started coming in and rising fast? I think at least one counselor did and got her girls out in spite of being told to stay inside.

The counselors were just out of high school. One was only 17. I think the cabins that self evacuated had older and more experienced counselors.

Ainsley was only 19 and the oldest counselor in Giggle Box. She and the 2 younger counselors saved 16 campers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question authority- Why did more counselors not get the kids out once water started coming in and rising fast? I think at least one counselor did and got her girls out in spite of being told to stay inside.

The counselors were just out of high school. One was only 17. I think the cabins that self evacuated had older and more experienced counselors.

Ainsley was only 19 and the oldest counselor in Giggle Box. She and the 2 younger counselors saved 16 campers.

WP story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/07/12/texas-flooding-survival-camp-mystic-counselor/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Doesn't follow the rules" isn't generally what people want in a camp counselor.

Creative thinkers are an asset in emergency situations.

Problem is nobody knows how they will respond until they are in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question authority- Why did more counselors not get the kids out once water started coming in and rising fast? I think at least one counselor did and got her girls out in spite of being told to stay inside.

The counselors were just out of high school. One was only 17. I think the cabins that self evacuated had older and more experienced counselors.

Ainsley was only 19 and the oldest counselor in Giggle Box. She and the 2 younger counselors saved 16 campers.

So brave. 19 is still young but being even a year or two into college can make a difference in trusting your own judgement, versus being straight out of hs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if the shrieking harpy in here actually knew the families who send their kids to this camp they would rethink their very vocal stance. These extremely wealthy, right wing religious families don't spend a second of their day worrying about random elderly women in Virginia or thereabouts. Their kids will just go to another camp if it doesn't work out.

You’re dead wrong! We knew several children at that camp in that flood. One was a friend of my daughter’s a classmate. Their families care very much about others. These are not right wing people at all. Some are slightly right of center, some slightly left - none on the wings - ZERO! And they all care about others. Many families are still grieving, including mine. You should have compassion, especially as you are making assumptions about the compassion of others.

Be honest. The camp took a serious religious turn recently. These people are my friends, neighbors, and my kid's classmates.

They’re religious- true. It’s always been a religious camp. Are you saying religious people don’t deserve compassion if their children die? Are you saying religious people all had right political affiliations that don’t align with yours, therefore they don’t deserve compassion?

I'm saying their religion is a huge reason why they want to return to camp and that's why people here are struggling to understand their motivation. They have completely different world views. The returning campers aren't asking for anything from the people here, certainly not their compassion. I know returning campers and I certainly don't question them or discuss it with them. We are not the same, but it's their decision to make.

You keep bringing this up. We are not trying to discuss it with them. We are discussing it amongst ourselves. It is a bizarre, real-world case study in people acting adverse to their own interests.

Again with the ignorance and hubris. You don't have all of the facts. You don't know them. You have not experienced what they went through. You don't know their motivations. Stop judging them and MYOFB.

So funny. Those of us questioning the parents decisions to send their daughters to that camp clearly have more of the facts than you or they do.

No, you don't have more facts than the families who were actually there, FFS. You're mental.

The camp could have allowed the girls to walk 60 for 60 seconds up a hill and they would have lived. Instead they made them stay in their cabins and they died. I don’t need to “be there” to understand that this level of failure is criminal and has nothing to do with the river and everything to do with terrible risk assessment. No one should trust them with children ever again. It’s so painfully obvious to everyone not in the cult.

In hindsight yes, but at the time it was dark and they opted to shelter in place which in many occurrences is the right thing to do. But now everyone's an armchair quarterback. What if in trying to escape they had been swept away in the current?

The Eastlands themselves were out walking around the grounds hours before the flash flood hit, worried about their canoes and other equipment. I think it's safe to assume that if they had alerted the girls in the cabins at that time, they could have made it to safety in just a few minutes.

Hindsight is 20/20.

+1

So much venom spewed by clueless gossips.

A few posters like you here are attempting to defend the camp owners' incompetence that was noted by candid starements made by Texas lawmakers and attorneys. Even the Eastlands admitted their mistakes.

Liar. I have not defended the camp owners at all. Just calling out the grotesque attacks on the grieving families. Leave them alone.

The families that want to return are defending the Eastlands. Maybe you missed that part. They think the Eastlands did nothing wrong and the girls could not have been saved.

+1 And they want to carry on with camp as usual, with little regard for those whose daughters died.