Weekend Report: Camp Talent Show + Balcones City Limits (BCL) Camp Music Festival + The Ted 10,000 Swim Race!

Friday and Saturday was a one-two punch of brilliant performances both put on and enjoyed by the kids at Camp Balcones Springs

On Friday, after our full day of major and minor activities, including tubing on Central Texas lakes, canoeing down our spring-fed swimming hole, and taking the zipline across camp, boys and girls gathered together for our Camp Balcones Springs Talent Show! The contestants did not disappoint, as girls and boys of all ages offered up a variety of skills and performances. Highlights from the evening included handstands, interpretive dancing, several vocal performances, a magic show with card tricks, weight lifting, and a beautiful piano piece. The most unusual act featured a camper that jumped onto a tall stool over 30 times!

Continuing with the artistic and performance-based theme, Saturday evening held one of the most exciting and unique events at our Austin summer camp – the Balcones City Limits music festival (BCL)! Modeled after the ever-popular Austin City Limits (ACL) music festival that takes place in Austin’s Zilker Park every fall, “BCL” is one of the newest – yet most popular – traditions at Camp Balcones Springs. We recreate the famous food stands from Austin City Limits, this year offering donut holes dipped in nutella and sprinkles and gourmet snow cones. Girls and boys make and wear flower crowns, fly kites, throw darts, and can get their faces painted by our talented staff members. Everyone then gathers to watch the music event of the evening. This year, we were treated to the angelic voice of former camper, counselor, and leadership member, Jillie Kerwin! Jillie is a talented singer-songwriter who released an EP in 2021. She was supported by the talented backing band Grouchy Like Riley.

On Sunday, the annual Ted 10,000 events took place at Balcones Beach. These events are annual camp traditions, held every term, and consist of three swim races of various lengths: the Ted 10,000, 5,000 and 2,000. The day also includes a Phun Run road race and a Splash ‘N Dash swim/run relay event. Girls and boys of all ages and cabins are permitted to enter, and the entire event is monitored by lifeguards and coaches to ensure camper safety throughout. After the races conclude, all campers enjoy ice cream sundaes on Balcones Beach.

This term, William Murchison of Rayburn cabin took home first place in the Phun Run race, running in a time of 13:33. Madelyn Argote from Babez cabin and Charlotte Ewart of Long came in second and third, respectively. Walker Evans of Fannin cabin took first place in the Splash ‘N Dash relay with a time of 14:41. Allison Davis and Evie Stubbs, both of Driscoll cabin, came in second and third, separated by just one-second at 17:48 and 17:49.

For the swim-only events, Wren Offutt of Johnson cabin took first in the Ted 2,000 with a time of 2:19. Tessa Conyers of Driscoll and Violet Van Delden of Johnson took second and third. In the Ted 5,000, Fiona Kleeman of San Jacinto snagged first with a time of 4:23, while Knox Richard of Scurry cabin and Riley Furlong of Babez followed in second and third place. Finally, Abigail Woodruff of San Jacinto blew everyone out of the water, quite literally, taking home a solid first place finish in the Ted 10,000 with a time of 5:06. Following behind her in second place was Tristan Richard of Fannin cabin and Quincy Salinas from Gonzales cabin in third.