Camp Longhorn™ General Information

What is Camp Longhorn™?

Camp Longhorn™ is FUN! But much more. Camp Longhorn is Texas camping and reflects traditional Texas values and courtesy. It's an exciting way of life built on happiness, love, friendship, respect and admiration. It's a big team with each camper being important and essential to the success and happiness of all others. This highly organized Team, with its many Longhorn ways and over half century of traditions, is, as always, guided by the Golden Rule.

Fun is number one at Camp Longhorn and is the goal of a large variety of activities that are based on individual achievement rather than competition. Not all of this continual fun is easy. Campers and counselors alike gain confidence by being responsible for themselves, from making their bunk to brushing their teeth.

Camp Longhorn operates two Camps in the Hill Country of Central Texas. Camp Longhorn - Inks Lake is located on the shore of Inks Lake, which is the second lake in the seven lake chain known as the Highland Lakes of Central Texas. Camp Longhorn - Indian Springs is located in the hills above the eastern shore of lnks Lake and is situated along two spring-fed lakes.

The two camps operate identically with the exception of specialty activities of sailing at the lnks Lake Camp and horseback riding at the Indian Springs Camp. Campers from both camps water ski on Inks Lake.

If you're going to Camp Longhorn, prepare to love it. And be ready for the time of your life, summer after summer. You'll catch the valuable and happy positive spirit that stays with you for a lifetime. For the best description of Camp Longhorn, ask a friend who has been there.

CLH Motto--"EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY AT CAMP LONGHORN™"

Camp Longhorn™ expects the best from each camper and it shows. The positive attitude of bragging on everything and everybody except themselves prevails. That comes back to each camper as respect, a feeling of self-worth, appreciation and confidence. Like the Sailo-Frizbee, Blob, and the Merit System, Longhorn invented "Attawaytogo"™ in 1939 to praise, acknowledge, and inspire Campers to realize they are really "somebody." This self-esteem has resulted in pride as a happy, successful and unselfish person. Longhorn's main requirement for an Early Bird Award (Invitation for the next year) is to love Camp and be a friend and have friends.

Cabin Life

The most important part of Camp life is the cabin! Twelve campers are placed in each cabin according to their school grade. Two to four counselors live in the cabin with the campers and become a vital part of the group. At Longhorn, the youngsters in each cabin work to become a unit. They learn to depend on and to help one another. They also go to all their activities together. Special bonds are formed through countless group activities from their time in the cabin, dances, campfires, and special events. Friendships that last a lifetime are formed within the cabin group.

Counselors

Camp Longhorn™ is proud of its role model counselors. Our standards are the highest. We have one counselor for every four campers here at Longhorn. Not everyone can be a counselor. Years of experience have proven that counselor ability amounts to a special talent.

Counseling is hard work, but must not appear so. Our counselors sleep, eat, and play with their campers. They are instructors, big brothers and sisters, above all buddies and friends... in the closest contact with youngsters in their most impressionable years. Camp Longhorn's Counselors are selected from among college students and young adults only after a personal interview. A gratifying number of Longhorn counselors were Longhorn campers who have continued their camping interest and possess leadership ability and inspiring traits. Our Junior counselors are selected from our most promising older campers and are trained under close supervision of Senior counselors and Camp Directors.

Interview & Placement

Most Longhorn campers return to Camp year after year; however Camp Longhorn wants and needs fine new campers! Prospective campers must have completed the 2nd grade before attending Camp. Applications are accepted beginning the summer after first grade. We must have your application along with a deposit in order to consider your youngster for placement.

Camp is able to place some new campers in the fall after our Early Bird campers have had an opportunity to sign up. More new applicants are offered places as cancellations occur through the Winter and Spring. A personal interview by one of the Longhorn Directors is required before placement. This visit is always available at Camp or at one of the Longhorn Carnivals in a City near you. When a camper is placed, parents are notified in writing.

Carnivals

A Camp Longhorn Carnival is held in several states and many Texas cities and several towns during January and February. Enrolled campers, waiting list campers, prospects, parents, and counselors are invited. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know Camp Longhorn and meet the Longhorn Staff in person.

Early Bird Invitations

Campers must maintain an acceptable standard of conduct. Receipt of an Early Bird invitation indicates that such a standard has been maintained and that the camper is eligible to return. In addition, older campers must qualify for selection to the Wrangler, Wrangler-Chief, and Ranger programs.

Expenses

Tuition is set each spring for the following summer. The tuition and extra expenses shown on the current application card are all-inclusive. Everything a camper needs is included, with the exception of an optional bus fare to camp. A refundable deposit is required with each application. Click here for current Tuition & Fees.

Health

A well child is the first prerequisite for a happy camper, and Camp Longhorn is proud of its health record. It has been achieved only by constant vigilance and years of experience. Preventive medicine in the form of regular rest, excellent meals and constant care is practiced diligently.

Counselors are well trained to check campers and to refer minor or major health complaints promptly to Camp's resident registered nurses and to the Doctor who is at Camp each morning.

Food

Our head cooks and their staff keep hundreds of youngsters and counselors happy three times a day. Any camper will confirm that the Chow Hall is one of the favorite places in Camp. To ensure go-power, there is a mid-morning and mid-afternoon refreshment time.

Transportation

Longhorn expects campers to arrive by our Chartered Buses whenever possible. These buses bring campers from most major cities in Texas. Camp Longhorn provides a counselor to ride with each bus. Camp really starts when the bus leaves your town.

Merit System

Camp Longhorn operates the Merit Store filled with child-pleasing items that may be purchased with merits. Campers earn merits for good deeds each day and may save them year to year or spend them. The Merit System rewards good behavior and encourages saving. Our campers may not bring money to camp as it is not needed.

Schedule and Activities

This is the standard schedule, however it does vary slightly between the camps

Just some of the great things campers get to do

Adventure Archery Ball Games Baseball Basketball Blobbing Canoeing Cheerleading Climbing Wall Crafts Dancing Diving Exercise Fishing Football Golf Gymnastics Horseback Lifesaving Miniature Golf Pickleball Pistolry Rappelling Racquetball Riflery Rocketry Rock Climbing Ropes Course Sailing Salo Scuba Diving Singing Skin Diving Soccer Softball Swimming Tennis Trampoline Tumbling Volleyball Water Aerobics Water Ballet Water Polo Water Skiing Wildlife Windsurfing

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