Latest news with #counselors
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Humor: The 5 levels of kid summer awesomeness
If life were like a video game. School's out!! Nearly three months of no classes, no homework, and no reason that failure to repeatedly get up in the morning will result in truancy charges and a possible civil court appearance for parents. Woo-hoo! The world is every kid's oyster. Or at least like a real-life video game until Labor Day. Level 1: Freedom! The summer game's default mode and the first level played by any kid or teen when school gets out. Master this level by: Opening the refrigerator at least 17 times a day for any reason at all Having a sleepover, but not sleeping Offering, or attempting, to wrestle someone or braid their hair Maximizing screen time use on all available devices Obstacles to avoid: Invitations to go to the library or a bookstore, which may result in accidental possession of books or, worse, math workbooks Mentioning the word 'bored,' which may result in the assignment of chores Level 2: Camp Adventures Getting up and leaving the house before 9 a.m. looks a lot like going to school, but don't be fooled! Instead of teachers, on this level, teenage counselors impart questionable wisdom and introduce new vocabulary instead. Master this level by: Coming home covered in mud, tempura paint, glitter, and/or soaking wet Surviving an itchy bug bite, a splinter, and/or an encounter with a tick Burning a marshmallow to a blackened crisp, but still eating it Alternatively, simply by attending a week or more of sleepaway camp Obstacles to avoid: Spraying bug spray or sunscreen in their mouth (Yuck!!) Learning the hard way what poison ivy looks like (Ouch!!) BONUS: Pick up an Honorary Theological Degree Badge by attending a free local Vacation Bible School. Comes with a t-shirt and rubber wristband saying God loves annoying people too. Level 3: Possibly Feral This level is often reached after aging out of summer camp but before legal employability. Master this level by: Successfully chasing an ice cream truck in time to buy a treat with sweat-drenched dollars Spying on unsuspecting neighbors or trying to build a treehouse out of particle board found in their garbage Drinking from the hose and/or eating only popsicles for lunch Rinsing off with water from a creek, pond, ocean, lake, fireplug, sprinkler, or swimming pool for an entire week instead of showering Obstacles to avoid: Petty theft, even if it's an item badly needed Trying to start a fire, even if it's really, really tempting BONUS: Pick up an Arts & Crafts Badge by making string bracelets with embroidery thread, tie-dying a shirt, constructing something out of popsicle sticks, or painting rocks. Level 4*: Retro Vision This secret summer level can only be accessed by getting a perfect score on Level 3, staying home all week while parents go on vacation, or teleporting to the 20th Century. Master this level by: Carrying a watermelon to gain access to a party Getting life advice from a Chevy Chase look-alike while working as a caddy Falling in love with the girl or boy who just moved in next door Helping solve a crime or uncovering a conspiracy while becoming friends with a septuagenarian Obstacles to avoid: Swimming somewhere posted 'no swimming' if the sign is there for a good reason Getting caught trespassing at a shuttered and/or condemned former factory/electrical plant now housing a booming underground illegal business Level 5: Vampire It takes many years of summer practice to make it here! The obstacles to achievement require stamina, an allergy to adult opinion, and a seriously disrupted circadian rhythm. Master this level by: Sleeping more than 15 hours straight and/or going an entire day without seeing the sun or sky Doordashing a Frappuccino (just a Frappuccino) for $15.27 Complaining about having a full-time job while working fewer than 15 hours a week Somehow getting incredibly sunburned Obstacles to avoid: Being in the room any time a parent or other adult mentions the words 'college applications' Getting caught doing the 'reverse Jesus' in the liquor cabinet with a bottle of vodkaBut it will always be remembered fondly! Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
3 people are still missing from deadly July 4 floods in Texas county, down from nearly 100
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Officials in a Texas hill country community pummeled by deadly flooding on July 4 said Saturday that just three people remain missing, down from nearly 100, after people who had previously been reported missing have since been accounted for. The reduction in the number of people on the missing list came as the search for victims entered its third week. It is a significant drop from the more than 160 people officials previously said were unaccounted for in Kerr County alone. Flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with most deaths along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio. The floods laid waste to the Hill Country, which is naturally prone to flash flooding because its dry, dirt-packed soil cannot soak up heavy rain. Vacation cabins, youth camps campgrounds fill the riverbanks and hills of Kerr County, and Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian summer camp for girls in a low-lying area along the Guadalupe. At least 27 of its campers and counselors died. In Kerrville, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Austin, local officials have come under scrutiny over whether residents were adequately warned about the rising water July 4. 'This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time,' Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice in a statement Saturday night.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
3 people are still missing from deadly July 4 floods in Texas county, down from nearly 100
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Officials in a Texas hill country community pummeled by deadly flooding on July 4 said Saturday that just three people remain missing, down from nearly 100, after people who had previously been reported missing have since been accounted for. The reduction in the number of people on the missing list came as the search for victims entered its third week. It is a significant drop from the more than 160 people officials previously said were unaccounted for in Kerr County alone. Flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with most deaths along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio. The floods laid waste to the Hill Country, which is naturally prone to flash flooding because its dry, dirt-packed soil cannot soak up heavy rain. Vacation cabins, youth camps campgrounds fill the riverbanks and hills of Kerr County, and Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian summer camp for girls in a low-lying area along the Guadalupe. At least 27 of its campers and counselors died. In Kerrville, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Austin, local officials have come under scrutiny over whether residents were adequately warned about the rising water July 4. 'This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time,' Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice in a statement Saturday night.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Deadly Texas Flood Destroys Historic Camp Mystic: Photos Reveal What Was Lost
For nearly a century, Texas's Camp Mystic has been a beloved summertime hub of joy for generations of girls across the state. Located along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, the all-girls Christian camp is famous for hosting presidents' daughters and for its years-long waitlist. Now, a year shy of celebrating their centennial, the institution is at the center of tragedy. On July 4, flooding across Texas Hill Country destroyed more than half of the campgrounds that span over 700 acres, claiming the lives of at least 27 campers and counselors. Across six counties, the death toll has reached 120, with at least another 160 missing as of publication. While the camp had passed all recent safety inspections, questions remain about whether more could have been done to protect campers and staff ahead of the tragedy. The collection of images below offers a glimpse into the devastation at Camp Mystic, the heroic rescue efforts of the community and the legacy of the camp.
Wall Street Journal
11-07-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
The Tragedy in Texas Broke the Implicit Promise of Summer Camp
As I scrolled Instagram on an exceptionally brilliant Fourth of July, I had a horrifying realization: The usual stream of colorful camp pictures of children I know, including my own, was mixed with photos of the missing or deceased girls of Camp Mystic, who had been smiling and playing only a day earlier, before flash floods overwhelmed the banks of the Guadalupe River and killed over 120 people, 27 of them campers and counselors. The images were almost indistinguishable. As one of the parents of the 26 million American children who attend sleep-away camp, I feel this loss acutely. With reports still rolling in, the climbing casualty count and the images of splintered wooden bunks and sodden stuffed animals have driven home the intense emotional stakes of sending your kids to sleep-away camp.
