BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – A local Girl Scout camp with nearly 70 years of tradition is making a change this summer after new Texas safety laws made it impossible to operate as usual.
Camp Howdy cannot meet new state requirements this year, but leaders like Devin Harman, a camp aide adviser, are launching Alchemy Academy flooding at Camp Mystic, to ensure girls still have a place to call camp.
“In the wake of the tragedy at Camp Mystic last summer, there was some legislation passed to tighten restrictions at camps across Texas,” Harman said.
The new state legislation was passed following last year’s deadly flooding at Camp Mystic. The laws require safety training, PA systems, and internet access for weather warning systems at overnight camps.
“Things that certainly should exist at overnight camps like safety training, PA systems, and access to the internet for weather warning systems,” Harman said.
Instead of canceling, camp leaders are launching Alchemy Academy, a twilight series running June 1st through 3rd from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Program registrar and director Christien Lawrence said the program is designed to accommodate working parents, volunteers, and campers of all ages.
“I want girls to be able to come out and have their community and have their time out here at camp and not feel like because something horrible happened, they aren’t getting anything,” Lawrence said. “I want them to have something, and so I want them to have something to look forward to. It’s going to be different, but hopefully it’s going to be good.”
Harman said the camps provide important leadership opportunities.
“I think it’s so important to provide these camps to Girl Scouts here in College Station because of the leadership opportunities that it creates,” Harman said. “It’s really about women empowering other women, which we could all use a little bit more of in today’s society.”
8-year-old Girl Scout Matilda Smith said she is looking forward to the program.
“I’m looking forward to doing some more archery and more crafts,” Smith said. “It’s like making new friends and learning new stuff.”
To register for the camp, click here.
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