Several summer camps await approval

TYLER — As the heat starts to settle in and children’s schedules free up for the summer, several youth camps are opening up their doors and stretching out their hammocks in the Piney Wood’s forests for the upcoming season. For 14 camps in East Texas, however, state approval hasn’t come through yet, leaving cabins empty and lake fun at a standstill.

According to our news partner KETK, as of May 22, 16 of 30 East Texas summer camps that have applied for licensing have been approved by the state, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The new licensing regulations result from Gov. Greg Abbott’s signing of several bills, including Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, which enhances safety measures for summer camps after the tragic floods at Camp Mystic last summer. Under the bills, state officials require camps to comply with new safety measures, such as installing and maintaining emergency systems, to be eligible for licensing and operation.

In East Texas, only the following 16 camps have their licensing approved so far, even as summer begins:

Bette Perot: Palestine, Anderson County
Camp Fern Legacy, Inc.: Marshall, Harrison County
Circle Ten Council Trevor Rees Jones Resident Camp: Athens, Henderson County
Frontier Camp: Grapeland, Houston County
Daniel Spring Baptist Camp: Gary City, Panola County
Cho-Yeh Camp & Conference Center Inc: (Lazy Lane) Livingston, Polk County
Cho-Yeh Camp & Conference Center Inc: (South Washington Ave) Livingston, Polk County
Camp Akiva: Point, Rains County
Pine Springs Baptist Camp: Laneville, Rusk County
Camp Gilmont: Gilmer, Upshur County
Pine Cove East Texas: Tyler, Smith County
Camp Olympia: Trinity, Trinity County
YMCA Camp Cullen: Trinity, Trinity County
Allaso Ranch: Hawkins, Wood County
Salesmanship Club Youth Camp: Hawkins, Wood County
Camp Deer Run: Winnsboro, Wood County

The following 14 camps in East Texas have applied for licensing renewal and are still pending approval:

Lakeview Methodist Conference Center: Palestine, Anderson County
Camp Shiloh Lutheran Retreat: Pittsburg, Camp County
Disciples Crossing: Athens, Henderson County
Waters Edge Encampment: Crockett, Houston County
Lakeview Baptist Assembly: Lone Star, Morris County
Camp Ta Ku La: Chester, Polk County
Lake Tomahawk Christian Retreat Center: Livingston, Polk County
Camp Huawni: Timpson, Shelby County
Timberline Baptist Camp: Lindale, Smith County
Trinity Pines Conference Center: Trinity, Smith County
Sky Ranch Camp: Van, Smith County
The Pines Catholic Camp: Big Sandy, Upshur County
International Alert Academy: Big Sandy, Upshur County
Pineywoods Baptist Encampment: Woodlake, Trinity County