10 Reasons for Camp

10 Reasons to Go to Camp Balcones Springs

1) New friends: School friends are great, and so are those on your soccer, swim, and dance teams, but there is truly nothing like a camp friend. The friends you make at camp will know you like no one else – and you’ll share some of the most exciting and unique memories together. The continued pandemic has also made childhood socialization and new friendship-making more difficult than it has ever been before. Camp provides a respite for that and a fertile ground for developing new friendships and cultivating old ones. And trust us – based on our own summer camp experiences (and the guest lists at many weddings and baby showers we have attended in recent years), camp friends are likely to be friends for life.

2) Adventure: Camp is one of the few environments where campers are able to try new and sometimes risky things, like climbing on our rock wall or performing a skit in front of all of camp, in a low-stakes, supportive, and rewarding atmosphere. Campers are encouraged to push their limits and step outside of their comfort zones, and the friendships and relationships created amongst campers, counselors, and staff help campers feel supported and able to take those risks, helping them further build confidence for life outside of camp where stakes may be higher or support system less present. Regardless of what adventure a camper may seek, camp gives them a chance to find it.

3) So Many Activities: At camp, campers have the chance to play almost any sport, make (and take home!) an assortment of art projects, rock-climb, ride the zip-line, tube and wakeboard, jump off the infamous Lake Ted Blob, canoe and kayak, dance, act, play music, cook and harvest food, ride horses, hike, fish, and so much more! The list is truly endless and caters to all types of campers – those who want to keep up their sports and athletic training during the summer and those that may be focused on becoming the next great playwright or award-winning musician, as well as campers who may identify as both!

4) Food: Yes, it’s true – it may sound strange, but CBS food is definitely one of the most highly touted aspects of camp. CBS chefs cook up some of the best food in the camping world, making sure to account for dietary restrictions, allergies, and preferences so campers and families won’t ever have to worry about having their needs met. Campers also get special snacks and treats on top of the regular, health-conscious fare at our daily snack time, during some evening programs, and in our Sugar Shack when redeeming fun passes. We strive to create nourishing and delicious food that keeps campers energized and able to put their best foot forward each day of camp, while also being sure to offer some of the tasty and fun treats that make summer camp the special place it is.

5) Phenomenal Counselors: CBS counselors will be some of the coolest, most loving, and admirable people campers will ever know. We recruit our camp counselors and summer staff from colleges all over the United States as well as outside of the country, seeking out the most talented, humble, and empathetic role models to teach, coach, and care for campers. Camp counselors and staff will be friends and mentors to campers throughout their time at camp and long after they’ve left the gates, often developing life-long friendships and mentorships that positively impact campers’ lives for years to come.

6) Animals: People aren’t the only new friends campers will make at camp! Everyone who comes through the CBS gates will also get a chance to interact with a Noah’s Ark of creatures – from our well-loved camp dogs and horses to a menagerie of lamas, goats, donkeys, sheep, chickens, and even camp’s famous parrot Susana! Campers will also get the chance to learn about wild animals – like fish, birds, and insects – in our nature curriculum and outdoors classes.

7) Tradition: At Camp Balcones Springs, campers get to be a part of decades-old traditions, like camp songs, team initiations and cheers, flag pole ceremonies, historic pranks, and annual dances. Campers may even get the chance to create their own traditions during their time at camp, painting buses, building new elements on the property, or introducing new songs or special events that will be treasured for years to come. Returning campers also have the unique opportunity to teach and impart our traditions to new faces in their cabin, providing an environment for campers to take on responsibility and leadership as they bring new campers under their wings. We deeply value our camp lore and love nothing more than sharing those stories and pastimes with new faces each year.

8) Nature: What better way to spend part of your summer than in the Texas Hill Country, immersed in woods, lakes, and fields of green? This summer especially, after two+ years of continued quarantines, closures, and disruptions to daily life that have kept us, in many cases, inside and in front of screens more than we have ever been before, the wide-open wilderness beckons for us all. Whether on foot, horseback, boat, or high-in-the-sky on our zipline, campers will have plentiful opportunities to enjoy daily encounters with our beautiful 250-acre campgrounds.

9) Get Unplugged: At camp, there is no need to waste hours scrolling through TikTok or playing video games – you’ll be hanging out with friends in person and experiencing life beyond the screen. After more than two years of remote schooling, intermittent pauses, closures, and cancellations, Facetime hangouts, and Zoom graduations, in-person contact can’t be beat.

10) Independence: Camp gives young people one of the best opportunities to learn how to make their own decisions and become their own persons while surrounded by great friends and role models. Everyone at camp has campers’ best interests in mind and works to encourage and support campers in taking risks, trying new things, and stepping outside of their comfort zones. Since March of 2020, camp has offered a unique retreat from the prolonged period of difficulty, loss, and grief all of us have been experiencing. While CBS promises to continue practicing safety and caution above all else, we are also committed to creating an environment that allows campers to experience fun, friendship, recreation, and adventure – things most of us have missed out on during the last two+ years. We hope you will join us.