Barbara typing:
 Continuation of Camp activities.  These activities occurred between August 7th and 11th (along with repeats of activities) from previous days:

 Carnival

Among all the various activities at Camp, one night seems to be the adventure of the

term. On this special evening, Camp royalty are crowned, counselors perform skits, 

campers are playfully “married” to each other, and cotton candy flows like water. 

It’s Carnival, all right! At afternoon refreshments, a carnival prince and princess 

are announced from Divisions I, II, and III. These lucky campers have been selected 

by their peers as shining examples of honor, enthusiasm, and friendship, and one

prince and princess will be elected king and queen of the carnival. Throughout the

afternoon, cabins set up a specific carnival booth and announce the activity of

their booth over the Camp intercom. Carnival booths often include food treats, 

games, and secret messages. During campfire in the early evening, the king and 

queen of the carnival are crowned and counselors provide the entertainment. After 

these skits, campers line up outside the entrance to the carnival to pay playful 

honor to the new royalty. Once the king and queen have entered, the carnival begins, 

and campers can go visit each cabin's booth. 

Mile Swim

The Mile Swim is one of the athletic highlights of every term, allowing each camper 

the opportunity to prove to themselves that the daily swimming activities have 

given them strength, stamina, and self-worth. As each camper dives into beautiful 

lake water to begin their swimming extravaganza, a long train of floating 

counselors is continuously alongside for support, encouragement, and a brief rest. The Mile

 Swim is an important part of Camp Longhorn tradition, as it encourages physical 

activity, personal achievement, and great satisfaction. All hearty swimmers are 

rewarded at the end of their exercise with an orange slice, a Mile Swim patch, 

eardrops,and a merit. 

Hoss Show

The Hoss Show is a delightful event that occurs every term to showcase horseback riding and Texas tradition. Several “vaqueros” are appointed to perform in the show with a series of walking or trotting routines. The show encourages equine respect and horsemanship knowledge. Of course, several events in this evening show are sillier than others: the traditional Rattlesnake and Pony Goat Chase allows the youngest campers to win prizes as they safely remove a ribbon from a moving goat. Prizes are awarded to the best dressed campers and counselors, and the evening closes with a joyful hoedown in the corral arena. This is a night of true Texas tradition, allowing campers to be cowgirls and cowboys all evening long.

Dance Nights

Dance night, which replaces campfire for the evening, is a themed evening which 

campers look forward because of the fun music, silly dancing, and crazy costumes. 

Campers are awarded merits for dancing in couples or groups, but all are encouraged

to have as much fun as they can. While most dance nights occur on the tennis 

courts near Girls Camp, the final dance night of the term is held for Divisions 

I and II on the tennis courts, and for Divisions III and IV in the Chow Hall, 

complete with a professional disc jockey. All term long, campers look forward to 

dance night to show off their boot-scootin,’ slow-dancin,’ and giggling skills! 

Awards Night

On the final Thursday of each term, campers are rewarded for their efforts in 

daily activities. These awards are given to specific persons who have shown effort,

 enthusiasm, and encouragement to other campers. This camper may not have bounced 

the highest on the blob, nor done the most flips on the trampoline, but they were 

certainly proud examples of exceptional spirit in a certain activity. This is a 

night of great pride and joy for all campers, as each camper and counselor 

celebrates good character and positive achievement. 

Plaque Night

This final evening of the Camp Longhorn term celebrates the joys of the past few weeks and the memories that will last forever. In this special Campfire, campers and counselors are entertained by the Chiefs (the oldest girls’ cabin), who sing their wishes and praises. To commemorate the accomplishments of cabins throughout the term, plaques have been painted by Wrangler Girls (the second-oldest cabin in Girls’ Camp) to mark each camper and counselor who inhabited each cabin over the term. These plaques are attached to the walls of each cabin later in the evening to fully commemorate each camper’s contribution to the cabin over the term. Following the presentation of plaques is the slide show, which is compiled by the talented photographers who have been eagerly awaiting smiles and perfect shots all term long. These wonderfully silly and sweet photographs inspire warm memories and joy from an enthusiastic term, and further signify the importance of every camper. Following this fabulous display, each cabin plans a slumber party on the floor of their cabin to celebrate the term. The Chiefs sing final lullabies to each cabin to signal the end of the revelry, and Camp sleeps with thoughts of V-Day in their dreams.

H2O Show

The H2O Show (known to the common ear as “The Water Show”) takes place on the 

final afternoon of Camp. The water-based activity award winners from Awards’ 

Night the previous evening practice their best moves in lifesaving, water gym, 

canoe, blob, and others as the rest of camp watches in awe. Often, there are one 

or two dazzling adventures performed by counselors, including a “Banana Man” leap 

from the third tier of the Eyeful Tower that one brave soul will make wearing 

numerous bananas (yellow lifebelts) as protection. The Annual Water Polo Game is 

also a highlight, as several campers and counselors will show off their skills in 

a friendly game of competition. The H2O Show is an afternoon of enthusiastic 

revelry and a wonderful time to remember highlights from personal lake experiences,

 including Swim Bay laps in preparation for the Mile Swim, blob adventures with 

cabin mates, and free swims with silly counselors. 

V-Day

As campers awake to a final morning of intercom music and outdoor living, they are struck with the happy realization that this is the final day of the term. All the relatives and friends from which they have received letters and packages are waiting patiently outside the Camp gates in a line that stretches around the countryside. A light breakfast is enjoyed in the Chow Hall, final goodbyes are said to old friends, one last sweep awaits the broom, and campers are lined up to greet their visitors. Over the intercom, a countdown slowly begins and the enthusiastic campers cheer on the announcement of Visitors Day. Parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends crowd the Camp grounds with tearful hugs and smiles. As campers expertly show their guests around their former activities and adventures, the spirit of Camp rages fully for one final morning. Visitors are invited to the Merit Store to purchase Camp Longhorn paraphernalia and to enjoy the former uniforms and old photographs that remind all of the wonderful history of camp. Each camper has now become a part of the collective energy of the term and this is a shining day to perform his or her newfound skills and talents in three cabin activities. Following these activities, campers report to their cabin’s booth to retrieve any mail, morning refreshments, or eardrops they may have forgotten. While this draws the energy of the term to a quiet murmur, there will always be a place among the hills and dales for every member of the vast Camp Longhorn family. So longhorn and see you next summer!