Cabins & Campsite

Campers at Stewart are grouped according to age. Boys aged six through twelve live in cabins with less than a five month age spread. Depending on the age, there are ten to sixteen campers per cabin.

Campers 6 through 11 years old live in "Uncle Bill's Camp", on the west side of the Guadalupe. Campers 12 through 16 live in "Senior Camp" on the east side of the Guadalupe.

cabin

Campers six through eleven attend activities under a 'cabin leader' system, which was created by Si Ragsdale when he was director at Camp Fern. Ragsdale opted for a plan where the campers were under the supervision of their counselor even as they went from activity to activity. This counselor also becomes an assistant instructor in the activities, so he is well qualified to report on the progress, challenges, and successes of the campers under his care.

Although campers six through eleven attend all their major activities together, they have selections to make in various activities, and they choose which activities they want to take during "Selectives". Selective Activity choices range from regular activities to others such as fencing, fishing, chess, sailing, magic, and many more.

Major activities, which campers participate in several times a week, include tennis, horseback (either western or English), archery, camp craft, challenge course and climbing wall, canoeing, crafts, golf, field sports, gym sports, riflery, and swimming.

Campers take part in activities by age and expertise. In swimming, for instance, they are divided into Red Cross beginner, advanced beginner, swimmer, and advanced swimmer.

Campers also participate in either soccer, baseball, or All-Sports league competition three evenings a week.

Twelve year old campers select a daily schedule from the above with the guidance of their cabin leader. While they are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities, a boy who wants to concentrate on tennis, for example, may elect to spend several hours a day getting tennis instruction and playing competitively.

Campers age thirteen through sixteen select a specialization program. Campers who select the same specialty live together, and their counselors are the resident 'experts' in that area. Many of the groups set goals for the term and work individually or as a team towards reaching those goals. Specialties normally include Outdoorsmen, Sportsmen, Ranchmen, Equestrian, or Campmaster. Even though they are specializing, campers in these programs can still choose among the regular camp activities, too

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Additional Campsite Information

"Advancement" --a personal achievement program-- compliments the regular Stewart activities and provides a vehicle for campers to learn to set personal goals and work toward them.

The seven level program reflects a camper's participation in three areas: camp activities, personal skill development, and camp service.

The levels were designed to match each campers age and abilities.

Clinics are an integral part of the Stewart program. Several times a week, specialists in their field are in camp to share their knowledge and talents with campers. These may range from well-known sports figures of the past to current World Champions. Clinics are not only held in sports areas, but Stewart also has vocal clinics, horseback clinics, tennis, arts and crafts, arrowhead flaking, fishing, etc...

The Dining Hall, known as Dolly's Diner, has tables and benches designed by Roger Rasbach of Houston and constructed from old oak wharfing from Galveston. Paintings and murals by visiting artists such as Woody Gwynn and Walter Bower are hung throughout the large room.

Camp Stewart is known for its outstanding food. Fresh vegetables, homemade breads (including hamburger buns), homemade ice cream...the list goes on. Stewart sends menus home to the parents with camper reports every 10 days. Menus are varied and boy-oriented, but designed to build healthy life-time eating habits and increase culinary appreciation.

All meals are served family style. You have to experience Stewart food to believe it! Varied and nourishing "treats" are provided campers each day after rest period.

Health of campers is monitored by a nurse who is in residence in the Camp Infirmary. The camp doctor makes weekly visits to the camp, and is always on call. Much of the time a physician, who is also a camper dad, is in residence at the camp.

 

Camp Activities

Camp Stewart has an abundance of activities that develop confidence and let campers explore new heights in personal development.

Continuity in such activities as riflery (NRA program), swimming (Red Cross program), archery (Camp Archery Association program), Horseback, tennis (United States Tennis Association), etc., not only helps build lifetime skills, but provides a measurable rate of accomplishment outside the camp environment.


Camp is a place to build Self-Confidence

The Archery Range has multi-firing points and a terrazzo firing line. Campers are not limited to target shooting under the Camp Archery Association guidelines, but also may take part in actual archery hunts for small game or fish.

Stewart has had so many campers advance to the American Archer level  (highest rank under the CAA) that several years ago instructor Frank Leon added Stewart Elite Archer, which includes more challenging shooting

Campers may bring their own bows or use the camp's simple re-curved or compound bows. Special lightweight bows are provided for the youngest campers.

Camp Craft is the nature and ecology program and supervises all overnight campouts. Campers learn outdoor cooking, take nature hikes, study freshwater creatures, learn survival techniques, and about about ecology and respect for our planet. 

Agarita Challenge Course Climbing Walls are currently in vogue for large corporations as they work on team building and self-esteem.

Canoeing down the Guadalupe under the overhanging branches of water willows, low bending cypress boughs, and looking up sheer rock faces of bluffs is exciting. Instruction is given at Canoe Beach under Indian HeadRock, and campers learn the proper care for canoes as well as how to launch and beach. Canoe games of water polo, basketball, and races are part of the 'just for fun' activities.

Crafts are headquartered at the Craft's Cabana in the center of camp. A specially designed building with four sides of work area provides equipment for glass etching, ceramics, leatherwork, and other creative projects. Emphasis is placed on creativity.

The Stewart Rifle Range is an official NRA 50-foot range located in a gully on the fringe of camp. Under certified instructors, campers learn the fundamentals of safety and good shooting habits as well as earning NRA rankings. 

All ages take riflery. Stewart furnishes target .22's including lighter weight rifles for the youngest campers. Campers who prefer may bring their own single-shot target .22's, but they must be kept under lock and key at the range.

Since 1978, Stewart campers have won more national awards in the NRA Summer Camp Postal Matches than any other camp.

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Tennis is sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association. There are seven courts, three are lighted for night time play. With some great retired professional players to teach clinics, Stewart offers a great tennis program for the beginners as well as veteran players.

Golf is played on our own par 3 course. Two greens including sand traps and really unusual obstacles provide for interesting and challenging play. Tee boxes at each green allow for continuous play.  Blake Bingham is our local pro, who teaches along with visiting retired professional golfers. You can imagine the level of instruction provided.

Choir & Band are led by talented counselors each year.

Water sports are a major part of the life at Stewart. Provided with one of nature's most beautiful natural aquatic areas, Stewart utilizes the Red Cross swimming program.

At the beginning of each term, swimmers are grouped according to their abilities and progress from that point.
In addition to swimming instruction, inter-camp competition, and recreational swimming, the waterfront includes the fun of the famous orange-and-white blob, the Tarzan rope swing, the water slide, zip line, water weenie, bumper tube and diving.

Water-skiing is done on the Guadalupe between Stewart's senior pool and Senior bridge. Campers enjoy skiing and slaloming “just for fun”.

Horseback continues to be a favorite activity of many campers. Stewart owns its horses, and constantly upgrades them to provide campers with fun and safe mounts. Stewart horses are not "typical” camp horses.

Campers are taught balanced, centered riding. Both Western and English instruction are offered, as well as Polocrosse. More advanced riders can participate in stadium jumping, dressage, cross-country and more levels of Polocrosse.
Campers ride at their own skill level. The instructors cater to the beginner as well as the very advanced rider. Instruction is given both in the ring and on the trail. Outstanding guest clinicians often visit during the summer to add their input and expertise in such diversified areas as Polocrosse, three-day eventing, dressage, polo, pole bending, cutting and barrel racing.

A great deal of pride is taken in the Stewart Horseback Program. Campers who first learned to ride at Stewart are now competing worldwide at the Olympic level.

Campers are required to wear proper boots or shoes with heels for riding. (Tennis shoes are not acceptable). Hard hats are required for all equestrian activities.

Sports have a long tradition at Camp Stewart; part of that has to do with the fact that Stewart was founded by a University of Texas head coach, owned by an Aggie football coach and All-American player, as well as being the birthplace of Little League-type baseball in Texas in the early years. Stewart continues to place emphasis on good sportsmanship and learning the correct techniques of the game.

League competition in kickball, soccer and baseball is held several times a week in addition to the instructional periods and clinics. Older boys enjoy All-Sports League competition.

Stewart's sports facilities are outstanding: hardwood floor gym; Bermuda-turf football field; five baseball diamonds; three soccer fields, two kick-ball fields, two flicker ball fields, volleyball, 400-meter-track, long-jump pit, high jump area, discus area, and two-hole golf course, including a large putting green.

In addition to the above activities, instruction is given in basketball, wrestling, tumbling, boxing, fencing and weights and conditioning.

The playing fields have an underground water system. Stewart was the first camp to put underground sprinkler systems in the playing fields.

There are seven excellent tennis courts at Stewart, and three are lighted for night play.

Instruction is provided for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced players. Campers may earn Camp Tennis Association rankings.

The Tennis Center, built near the lighted senior courts, has a covered center pavilion area for rainy instruction. A smaller covered Tennis Pavilion is located at the four Junior Courts.

Frequent clinics and team competition are part of the tennis program. Campers may work up the Tennis ladder and participate in the Camper-Counselor Curtis Croom Fat Boy Tournament.