Camp Location

Camp Stewart's facilities are spread across over 500 acres of rugged Texas Hill Country, and include both sides of over a mile of the Guadalupe River.

Camp Stewart is 81 miles north and northwest of San Antonio, 16 miles west of Kerrville, and 2.3 miles west of Hunt on Texas FM 1340. San Antonio International Airport is the nearest major airport. Private planes fly into Kerrville. Most Rand- McNally maps list Camp Stewart.



Google map to Camp Stewart

 

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Staff members are selected for their character and suitability to serve as role models for the boys. They must display a sense of responsible understanding and be willing to give of themselves to others. The ability to be fair minded, impartial in decisions and having enough energy to be enthusiastic is also important.

Stewart campers come from all over the world. Many are sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons of former campers. All are being given a special and unique opportunity to experience the 'added boost' to their development and future that well-organized camping provides.

Camp Stewart offers traditional camping activities with knowledgeable and certified instructors. The 'added values' --the intangibles-- are what make Stewart the choice of discriminating parents and campers.

Camp is not a ‘spectator sport’. Campers develop increased self-esteem, independence, leadership skills, friendship skills, social comfort, better peer relationships, greater sense of adventure and willingness to explore, awareness of the environment, stronger value and better decision-making skills and increased spirituality, according to research done through a grant by the Lilly Endowment.

Stewart offers excellent instruction in a spirit of fun as it helps boys develop into outstanding young men.

Camp Introduction

Camp Stewart for Boys is a privately owned, Christian-oriented, non-denominational camp for boys ages six to sixteen. Located in the heart of the famed Texas Hill Country, near headwaters of the Guadalupe River. Campers have been coming to this protected valley of the Guadalupe for over 3,000 years.

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Many summers have passed since first Tonkawa and later Comanche Indians camped here near the headwaters of the North fork of the Guadalupe river. Here campers found abundant game, majestic cypress trees and natural protection from their enemies.

Adventurers and hearty early settlers came after the Indians. Japonica, Texas, was founded here as an early Texas stagecoach stop.

And in 1924, E.J. "Doc" Stewart founded Camp Stewart for Boys, which he owned until his death in 1929. W.N "Bill" James was director and owner from 1929 to 1966, when he sold to former camper, Silas B. "Si" Ragsdale, Jr. and his wife, Kathy Coffey Ragsdale. Silas B. Ragsdale III(Jeepers), part owner and Co-Director, is in charge of the day-to-day operations. Jeepers literally grew up at Stewart, and has worked in every facet of the camp from the kitchen, horses, cabin counselor, etc.

Continuity in such activities as riflery (NRA program), swimming (Red Cross program), archery (Camp Archery Association), Horseback, tennis (United States Tennis Association), etc., not only helps build lifetime skills, but provides a measurable rate of accomplishment outside the camp environment

Agarita Challenge Course boasts a spectacular covered Climbing Wall. Conquering the challenge of obstacles on one’s climb to the top builds self-confidence, personal strength and fosters teamwork. The covered wall has four climbing sides, with varying surfaces and degrees of difficulty, to keep it a challenging activity.

The Stewart Rifle Range is an official 50-foot range located in a gully on the fringe of camp. Under certified instructors, campers learn the fundamentals of safety and good shooting habits as well as earning Camp Rifle Association rankings.

All ages take riflery. Stewart furnishes target .22's including lighter weight rifles for the youngest campers. Campers who prefer may bring their own single-shot target .22's, which are kept under lock and key at the range.

When the NRA sponsored Summer Camp Postal Matches, Stewart campers won more honors than any other participating camp in the nation.

Stewart has a unique and outstanding music program. In addition to the spontaneous and happy songs of the Dining Hall, campers may join the camp chorus and/or band. The choir meets several times a week during the first part of rest period for rehearsals and instruction, as does the band. The groups often perform at local girls’ camps and sometimes are invited to sing at a local church.

To insure qualified instruction for their campers, Camp Stewart and Heart O' the Hills jointly sponsor certification clinics in riflery, archery, lifesaving and water safety, horseback, climbing wall, advanced first aid, etc., for staff and counselors prior to the beginning of regular orientation. Stewart prides itself on having qualified and skilled instructors.

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Today campers live in native rock-and-cedar cabins, with indoor plumbing rather than in tents or caves. They sleep in built-in bunk beds rather than on the ground. Yet the spirit of adventure still lives-- especially on overnight campouts under the vast Texas sky.

Cool river breezes aided by ceiling fans, continue to waft through Texas summers.

Gourmet country cuisine served family style in a comfortable dining hall has replaced venison jerky and hardtack and the campfire for the most part, yet those never-to-be-forgotten meals cooked over a campfire still have a place.

Boys continue to build on the traditions of outstanding camping laid down by previous generations. The program keeps pace with the needs of today's six to sixteen year old male population.

"Don't wait to be a Man to be Great, Be a Great Boy" is Stewart's motto. The Philosophy of the camp and its leadership is to provide a camping experience which focuses on the total development of each boy as well as memorable adventures.

"Building self-confidence, a greater feeling of self-worth, along with learning new skills, making lasting friends, developing independence, experiencing new horizons-- in a spirit of boy-geared FUN" is Stewart's goal.

We hope you join us before a Stewart campfire soon and experience Stewart's magic for yourself.

THE RAGSDALES