Thank You DC Family

Thank you all for the kind words, the thoughtful messages and for being part of the Doublecreek family. Aunt Trudy left some mighty big shoes to fill, and a legacy that every child should feel special when they come into the gates of Camp Doublecreek.

Aunt Trudy -- You Have Left Handprints on Our Hearts

We are so blessed to have been a part of the world of Mrs.Trudy Lester. 
She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, motivator, and a legend. But to all of us that knew her, she was simply Aunt Trudy. We will miss her dearly.

Aunt Trudy -- Camp Legend

Saturday, September 12th, our camp legend, Aunt Trudy, joined Uncle Carter in Heaven. Mary Ann (Trudy) Lester was born in Pampa, Texas November 21, 1927 to Dr. D. H. and Clarice (Dodson) Truhitte. Her father was a pastor and the family moved to various churches in Missouri and Texas until 1942 when he was called to pastor Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin. Mary Ann graduated from Austin High School in 1944. She attended Mary Hardin-Baylor after high school where she became "Trudy" which was a shortened version of her maiden name; and "Trudy" she has been ever since. She married Carter Lester on December 22, 1945. They were married 68 years until his death in March 2013.

Trudy graduated from the University of Texas in 1966 with a degree in Elementary Education.  She taught at Dawson and Pillow Elementary Schools in the Austin ISD until 1971 when she and Carter bought a cotton farm southeast of Round Rock. Together they founded Camp Doublecreek.

Once Doublecreek started, they were known as Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy.  The new nicknames suited them.  They were truly an aunt and uncle to all the campers who came to Doublecreek and to all the counselors who worked for them.  Under their guidance, the camp flourished and grew from a camp with 32 campers on the first day to a camp that routinely has over 300 campers each day.

Trudy had a special touch that made the ordinary become unique.  Aunt Trudy made a camper’s day brighter in every way – it didn’t matter if she was greeting campers as they got off the bus or leading Sing-Song.  Aunt Trudy loved the campers and they loved her back.  During the last three or four summers, Aunt Trudy needed assistance moving from her golf cart to her seat at Sing-Song.  There was never a shortage of counselors and campers waiting to help Aunt Trudy.

Aunt Trudy was a wonderful woman who would do everything she could for you.  Her legacy lives on through the lives of thousands of campers and counselors who will remember her fondly with wonderful memories and lots of smiles. Her amazing legacy will live on in the hearts of all of us impacted by her inspirational life.

 Joe Ray

Please watch a video about the impact Aunt Trudy has made on all our lives:

https://youtu.be/_vWABVZ3dZs

Reflections on an Amazing Summer!

Watch our video where Director Dan reflects upon all the great times we had this past summer at Camp Doublecreek.

Best of the Summer!

Watch our video from our final week of camp!!!  We brought back favorite activities, games, and crafts from the summer!  It was a blast!!!  Here's the link:

https://vimeo.com/137046236

DC Challenge

This week’s theme is “DC Challenge.”  Dan and Griffin designed a unique challenge course appropriate for each age group.  This challenge employs skills that are taken for granted until someone has to perform the task in front of their group.

Station 1: A camper sits on a scooterboard and rolls to the designated finish line.  What does the rest of the group do?  They follow behind the scooterboard.  The temptation to run ahead is quelled by the fact that going ahead will not accomplish anything.  The team cannot advance until the task is complete.

Station 2:  The “Spidernet” station is where campers crawl under a series of ropes and bungee cords.  What is their reward?  They get to crawl through a mud pit.

Station 3:  The campers run or slide down a 40-ft. slip-n-slide, then sprint to one of our spray misters.

Station 4: The “Chewing” station sounds easy until you have to do it.  One member of the team has to chew and then swallow one Starburst candy.  First of all, Starbursts are not that easy to chew. Secondly, try chewing when everyone is screaming at you to chew faster.

Station 5:  Campers must ride or push the scooterboards completely around the circle drive.  At the finish of this task, someone has to drink a bottle of Gatorade or Powerade – again, not as easy as it sounds.

Station 6:  The campers head to the pool and one camper swims and dives to retrieve a Powerade bottle and swims back.

Station 7:  The group heads down the road leading to Ag.  They take a right and roll a tire down a dirt road.  This requires patience and persistence which most groups run out of halfway down the road.

Station 8:  The campers run back and go through the slip-n-slide, then through the water mister again.  After everyone in the group is through the mister, the clock is turned off.

The final time for each group can be modified.  Time can be subtracted by a great performance of the group at Sing-Song, or when one of their counselors wins a Counselor Challenge.

What does the DC Challenge instill in campers?  Does it instill a sense of pride or teamwork?  Don’t over-analyze the DC Challenge.  A lot of work went into the design and setting up of the course.  When the lead campers finished the course, they returned to the course to cheer on the rest of the group.   When everyone finished, I saw lots of cheering and smiles.  When you take up a challenge, you are trying to overcome obstacles.  What’s unique about the DC Challenge is that you can have fun while also having a sense of accomplishment!

Here's the link to this week's video:  https://vimeo.com/136375369

Final Fling Week

This is a tough article to write.  I’m writing about Camp Doublecreek and I’m not there.  I wish I was there, but I’m getting ready for the school year.  It’s interesting that we had quite a few teachers working at Doublecreek this year and several of us had something in common:  we worked right up to the last day possible.  I’m writing this article while sitting in an air-conditioned library.  Never mind the heat and humidity -- I’d rather be at Doublecreek! (Now that sounds like a familiar slogan.)  To keep this article relevant to the week, Dan has agreed to send me some daily high points.  Below is the written interaction between us:

Monday:
Dan - "I am so grateful for our terrific counselors.  I can tell each staff is working hard to finish the summer strong for the campers!  Things went very smooth today.  Not to mention we had a great Sing Song with Improv songs, skits and dancing."

Joe Ray - "The staff has worked creatively and tirelessly this summer.  With this group, there is always good news and bad news.  The good news – some will be back next summer; the bad news – some will have to move on."

Tuesday:
Dan - "It was great to see the Junior Counselors (JCs) take so much initiative today.  It gives a great glimpse into next summer. Today started the pick up point singing competition.  The campers and counselors did a great job.  Unfortunately. you have been replaced on your bus and now it is Griffin's White Bus (it does not hurt any that he is judging the contest.)":)

Joe Ray - "We've watched the JCs grow from campers into counselors.  Their evolution from, in some cases, mini-campers into counselors has been a joy to watch.  I often forget they are still in high school.  And, I will be happy to share my bus song with my nephew (Griffin) for a week."

Wednesday:
Dan - "The small group of counselors-in-training (CITs) are really stepping up and helping to cover groups. In addition, they taking out trash and restocking for the whole camp.  Many exciting games took place today in all age groups.  Some I do not remember playing this summer."

Joe Ray - "I have to give a special shout out to Dy’Rius, Eugene, Tommy and Rachel for the splendid job they did with our CITs.  This summer our CITs were awesome.  They were so eager and were a huge help around camp."

Thursday
Dan - "Today we crowned the winner of the pick up point singing competition.  Congrats to Henry for not only winning, but creating a new camp song!"

Joe Ray - "The pick up point counselors have done a great job maintaining our tradition of singing and entertaining on the bus.  One week, a camper asked me mid-morning when we were going home and when I asked, 'why?' he said because he loved play trivia on his bus."

Friday:
Dan - "Today went in true final style.  We had a great Sing Song: where I messed up 'Singing in the Rain' (that is why I let you lead the songs), the campers acted like the counselors as we passed out awards, the pool was drained as everyone swam in it and CvC (camper versus counselor soccer) came down to the wire with the series tied going into today's match.  Ultimately the counselors prevailed, but it fueled the fire for next summer!"

Joe Ray - "There are not enough awards to give for our staff.  Our lead counselors, Amber, Austin, Calvin, Dara, Dayna, Eugene, Gabe, Griffin, Parker, Sarah, Shannon, and Todd, provided incredible leadership and stability to rest of the staff.  Finally, Dan, Kim, Rachel and Susan kept the camp running on an even keel all summer. It is no surprise to me that this week was such a success."

I would like to thank the parents, grandparents, and legal guardians who trusted us with your children.  Without you we would not have a camp. Yes, this was the best summer ever.  Summer #45 is in the books.  I can’t wait for next summer!

 -- Joe Ray