Youth Camps and Public Safety

Nearly six months after July 4 floods along the Guadalupe River killed 25 girls and two counselors at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, the 100‑year‑old all‑girls Christian camp plans to begin enrolling new campers in January 2026 and reopen partial operations in May, moving cabins to higher ground and adding new safety measures such as cabin radios and river‑monitoring devices. The decision has divided families and drawn criticism as state lawmakers prepare investigative hearings and local officials rush to install an upgraded flood‑warning system in the region known as 'Flash Flood Alley,' where at least 117 people died in the disaster and two victims, including an 8‑year‑old camper, remain missing.