Health | Dining | Housing | Program

About Camp Mitre Peak

Camp Mitre Peak is nestled on hillsides and along beautiful plateaus of its 114 acres. The spectacular view of Mitre Peak can be viewed from every area of camp. The camp is located between Alpine and Fort Davis, Texas. Take Highway 118 from either town and turn on Ranch Road 1837. Drive along the paved Ranch Road 1837 toward the towering Mitre Peak for three miles and around the bend to the camp gate. Welcome to Camp Mitre Peak!

Once through the camp gate the Site Manager’s Residence is just to the left. Behind the residence is Miss Effie’s, a staff house where staff can go to relax on their time off. Directly behind Miss Effie’s is the Camp Warehouse, which houses the site manager’s office, camp storage and workshop. Just down the road and across from the Health Center is the Well House and the Camp Development Specialist’s office. The above facilities are part of camp administration.

There are three bridges in camp to ease navigation. The Kiva and Apache Bridges cross the creekbed that runs through Fern Canyon. Kiva Bridge crosses between the Kiva to Winnie Hall, and the crooked Apache Bridge crosses between the Kickapoo and Apache housing units. In walking to the primitive Comanche Unit, a deep narrow arroyo is spanned by the single file Comanche Bridge.

Health

The air-conditioned Health Center houses the camp nurse, and includes a reception area, an isolation ward, and meds/clinic room. Campers’ medications are properly stored and administered by the camp nurse. In case of illness or injury, campers are treated at the camp unless the nurse determines that further care is needed. When necessary, campers are taken to Big Bend Medical Hospital, ten minutes from the camp in Alpine. In addition to the nurse, camp staff are also trained in first aid and CPR.

Dining

Winnie Hall houses the dining hall, commercial kitchen, and Camp Director’s office. The dining room seats 170 to 200 at round tables with benches. Meals are served family style morning and evening, and buffet style for lunch. Two counselors sit at each table along with 6 to 8 campers of varying ages. Meals are a time for meeting girls from other units on camp. This setting allows counselors the opportunity to supervise food distribution, intake and offer helpful tips on table manners. The hearty meals served each day are well balanced, dietitian approved, and girl friendly. A variety of fresh fruit is always available. Campers enjoy afternoon TeaTime snacks in their units. Cookouts can also be part of a camper’s experience.

Housing

The three cabin units, Kickapoo, Apache, and Seminole are located in the beautiful setting of Fern Canyon. At the end of the road into Fern Canyon is the Kickapoo Unit. The two duplex cabins in Kickapoo house six campers in each side for a total of 24 campers. Beds are bunked for dormitory style living. The cabins surround an activity building, the Kickapoo Lodge. The cabins and lodge have electricity and are geared for the youngest campers.

The Kickapoo Unit has a bathhouse that is called The Rock. The Rock has all the conveniences of home in a rustic setting. Electric lights, heat, and indoor plumbing make this ideal for younger campers.

The Apache and Seminole Units are across the bridge from the Kickapoo Unit. Cabins are scattered on the hillside of the canyon and provide unique living quarters for campers. Each cabin has four beds, four storage shelves, electricity, and ceiling fan. The cabins have windows on all sides to catch the breeze from any direction. Porches stretch the length of the cabins and afford beautiful views of Mitre Peak and Fern Canyon.

The Apache and Seminole Units share The Oaks bathhouse. This bathhouse is heated with modern conveniences and is located between the housing units.

The tent units, Mescalero, Tonkawa, and Chippewa, lie below magnificent plateaus with spectacular views of Mitre Peak. Each tent is mounted on a permanent structure, and houses four campers. Units have covered shelters, campfire areas and latrines. Girls shower at the Pool Bathhouse after swimming each day.

Program

The Laura Van Pelt Complex just to the east of Winnie Hall consists of an Education Building and a large covered Pavilion. The Education Building houses five activity rooms including a dark room, kitchen, and restrooms. They are used for arts, crafts, music, photography, meetings, receptions, woodworking, and cooking programs in the fully furnished kitchen. The Pavilion is large, well-lit, and covered. It provides protection and space for all-camp events, program activities, and games of all kinds.

The Pamela Catherine Haas Horseback Riding Arena, known to most as Rebel Arena, includes a barn, large working arena, small paddocks and pens, and a sixty-foot round pen. The facility supports our popular western riding and trail programs.

The Kiva, located in central camp, houses a large activity room, small kitchen, camp library, staff quarters, and the popular camp store, the Trading Post. The large wrap-around porch is a great place to rest, talk with friends, read or enjoy the beautiful view of the mountain.

The large camp Pool and Bathhouse are used daily by all camp participants. The pool is a main attraction on a hot summer day. The programming includes swimming lessons, water safety instruction, water games and aerobics, and the campers’ favorite, free swims at night.

The Archery Range is the first program area you see as you arrive at camp. The range was recently completed to meet all standards of the National Archery Association and shades the girls from the summer sun. The girls learn new skills and the certified instructors help campers continually challenge their skill levels.

The Janice Hill Mathews Amphitheater is located on a hillside overlooking the Kiva. Seating over 200, the stone theater is home to opening and closing campfires, dramatic performances, singing, skits, and the weekly camp photo of all campers.