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Your A-List: Best Summer Camp
I remember as a kid seeing friends (and strangers) wearing their crisp white T-shirts with a cartoonish orange longhorn logo and the words ‘Camp Longhorn’ printed across the front and thinking, ‘Man, that place looks cool.’ Something about the retro-looking logo or color scheme just made it seem like a sweet place to spend your summer. Apparently it is, as, with 20 percent of the vote, it is the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Summer Camp.
The co-ed camp (maybe that also was part of what made it seem cool, in contrast to my all-boys summer camp, Stewart) was founded by Tex and Pat Robertson. It sits about an hour northwest of Austin on Inks Lake, with summer activities ranging from archery to a host of water sports for kids 8-16.
Of course, considering the amenities and the camp’s clientele, you would probably assume that sending your kiddo to Camp Longhorn doesn’t come cheap. And you’d be right. Camp runs around $3,000 for three weeks. That’s a spicy meatball.
Honorable mention goes out to write-in candidate Vista Camps, which staged a nice campaign, coming up just a few percentage points shy of the venerable Longhorn.
Others receiving votes
- Vista Camps (write-in), 16 percent
- The Art School at Laguna Gloria, 15 percent
- Austin YMCA Summer Day Camps, 11 percent
- Camp Mystic, 6 percent
- Mo-Ranch, 6 percent
- Camp Champions, 5 percent
- Paul Green School of Rock Music, 4 percent
- T Bar M Camps, 4 percent
- Austin Children’s Theatre Camp, 2 percent
- Austin School of Film, 2 percent
- Aquatic Sciences Adventure Camp, 1 percent
- Heart O’ the Hills, 1 percent
- Camp Arrowhead, 1 percent
- Camp Stewart, 1 percent
- First Tee of Greater Austin, 1 percent
- Camp Bluebonnet, < 1 percent
- Lonestar Premier Soccer Camp, < 1 percent
- Outdoor Texas Camp, < 1 percent
- Camp Texas Ski, < 1 percent
- Camp Lonehollow, < 1 percent
Write-ins: Austin Nature Center summer camp, Austin School of Music’s Rock Camp, Boy Scout summer camp at Lost Pines, Camp Buckner, Camp Doublecreek, Champions Academy Gymnastics Camp, Cub Scout day camp, Echo Hill Ranch, GameCamp, MasterSchool, Natural Ear Music Rock Camp, Sports Country, Wet and Wild Adventure Camp
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By Michelle
June 13, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
My daughter has been going to Sierra Vista Camp for 5 years this year! She loves it and loves the staff! I cannot say enough great things about this camp and the counselors. My best friends husband and his dad went to this camp years ago and introduced us and we have never thought of going anyplace else!
Our daughter is a better person because of the friends, love and lessons she has learned by attending Sierra Vista! If you have any questions please email me! I would be happy to answer any questions I can or find the answers!
By Donna Rogers
June 28, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
I first worked as a counselor at Rio Vista back in 1978 - 1981 when it was a boys camp. I returned in 1990 thru 1995, to work as director for Sierra Vista and the off season programs. My daughter was a camper at Sierra Vista for 10 years and my son has been a counselor for 6 years. The Hawkins Families who own Vista Camps, are wonderful people who have dedicated themselves and their programs for the benefit of the campers who attend. While I’ve since moved - I continue to visit the camps each summer and see the same sense of unity, fun-filled atmosphere that a camp should possess! The trained staff guarantees daily doses of cleanliness, food, social experiences and of course - FUN!!!