The last week of camp means lots of “raids” and “pranks” have been taking place at camp!
At Camp Balcones Springs, each cabin has the opportunity to conduct a prank or raid every term, with most opting to do so in the last few days before their session ends (usually in an attempt to limit the opportunity for retaliation pranks!). Camp pranks first began in 1993 when CBS opened its gates, and they have only gotten better and more innovative since! All pranks must be approved by our full-time team and must be creative. A member of our leadership staff, alongside the cabin’s counselors, always accompany campers during the enactment of their prank. It is pretty notorious for girls and boys to prank each other during a term and begin what is known as a “prank war” – a series of back-and-forth retaliations. We have had shoes taped to ceilings, trunks taken to the beach with epic cross-camp scavenger hunts for keys, and even “surprise” raves at 1:00 AM! Nothing says a great summer like a prank.
If cabins prefer, they can forgo the mischief and opt instead for what we call a “raid.” Raids are staff-approved “excursions” into the camp kitchen, during which campers are given a limited amount of time to scan the shelves for any snacks and treats they want to take back to their cabin to enjoy! Camp staff often stock the shelves intentionally with hidden treats and desirable items for the campers to find. After the “raid” is complete, boys and girls get to enjoy their spoils with their counselors and relish in a successful “mission.”
On Monday night, Beticheck Cabin pranked Jordan Cabin by taking their trunks and hiding them at the Barn, providing the girls with a scavenger hunt and clues to lead them there. Then, the Beticheck boys carried and placed the girls’ mattresses in the trees around C Compound!
On Thursday, we saw one of the most epic pranks of all-time when all of the girls’ camp decided to play a prank on the boys! Our Girls Camp Director, Maggie Pickett, made an announcement that we would be taking girls and boys camp pictures at the flagpole. When the girls’ camp went first to prepare for their “picture,” they actually split up into groups with water balloons, water guns, and shaving cream to prepare for an ambush on the boys when they arrived to “take their picture” a few minutes later. It was so fun!
This week we also wrapped up our term-long Team Competition activities, beginning with Team Spirit Comp on Thursday. For Team Spirit Comp, boys and girls split up into their respective teams and perform creative routines and cheers for our judges in order to earn points for the term-long sport competition. This term, the Lone Stars and Texas Rangers took the win with a few never-before-included cheers like “Little Froggy,” one of our miniature horses painted up and incorporated into the routine, and lots of props like glitter, confetti, streamers!
On Friday, everyone gathered for the camp-wide Amazing Race, a multi-event competition in which every camper participates in an effort to win the entire Team Comp term award for their team (Rough Riders & Silver Spurs or Texas Rangers & Lone Stars). The race was tight until the very end, but this year, the Silver Spurs and Rough Riders were victorious, the first time this summer those teams have secured their win!
Later that night, all of camp joined together to celebrate Rodeo Round Up on our final eve of camp. Each term, there are whispers about who is going to take who to Rodeo Round Up. Some campers ask for a date, and some choose to go stag with their fellow cabin mates. Either way, this evening of line dancing under the stars at our central barn has the most lovely, wholesome vibe to it. The night feels a little bittersweet – one moment a country ballad like “Heroes & Friends” has you feeling teary about camp ending, and the next moment Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” comes on and you find yourself joyfully screaming the lyrics at the top of your lungs! The night ends with a ceremonious walk back to the cabin with fireworks to light the way, allowing campers to reflect on all of their special memories from the past three weeks.
We have had the most special term and fitting conclusion to what has been a wonderful summer. We are so grateful, as always, for all of our camp families, counselors, and campers and for the safety, adventure, and friendship we have been blessed with this summer. We can’t wait to see you next year!