Camp Doublecreek’s first summer session delivered exactly what generations of campers have come to expect: nonstop energy, muddy shoes, loud songs, and memories that stick long after the buses head home.
For counselor Lucy Zanker, the opening session captured the spirit that has made the longtime Texas camp a summer tradition for so many families. While she joked that she “lost my voice completely” during the week, she said the experience highlighted the teamwork and enthusiasm shared among the staff.
“This first session” showed “how supportive and helpful my fellow co-counselors were,” Zanker said.
Working with second-grade girls, Zanker said campers especially loved swimming, learning “Cotton Eyed Joe,” and participating in Sing Song, where they performed routines taught by counselors throughout the week.
Beyond the activities themselves, she said Camp Doublecreek focuses on helping campers feel welcomed from the moment they step onto the bus. Counselors teach camp songs, explain traditions, and make an effort to learn every camper’s name — small gestures that help first-time campers quickly feel included.
While summer camp is packed with fun, Zanker believes the experience also gives children opportunities to grow socially and emotionally outside a traditional classroom setting. Campers develop confidence through activities like rock climbing, archery, and horseback riding, while also learning independence, friendship, and resilience.
One unexpected highlight of the week came during a massive afternoon rainstorm. Instead of letting the weather dampen spirits, camp director Dan Neal led games and songs that kept both campers and counselors engaged.
“He definitely gave me a great example of how to create your own pockets of sunshine into even the cloudiest, rainiest days,” Zanker said.
Even as Camp Doublecreek evolves over the years, many traditions remain the same. Camp songs still echo across buses, returning campers reunite with friends each summer, and staff members continue creating the kind of unplugged outdoor experiences that encourage imagination, movement, and connection.
If Zanker had to describe the first session in three words?
“Extra, magic and merriment.”