Frequently Asked Questions

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  An overnight camp experience can prove to be one of the most significant growth experiences for a child. Living with cabin mates and counselors, participating in a wide range of activities outdoors gives kids a chance to learn things like teamwork, self-confidence, self-reliance, and new skills.  The best part is they have fun while learning! We always strive to send your son/daughter back to you a little better than they came to us.  

 The health of our campers and staff is always an important part of a successful summer camp.  We had very few cases of Covid 19 in the Summer of 2022 and we are hoping for even fewer in 2023. As always, we thoroughly clean cabins between sessions and encourage the practice of good hygiene in our campers.  

   No! All children are welcome to experience Camp RIO. We are open to all children ages 5-14 from any school district.  We want all kids to come have fun at camp!  

 Universities all over the Southwest-primarily Texas and Arkansas. Each year, we’ll recruit actively on multiple college campuses. 

We aggressively try to hire an ethnically diverse group of counselors. We believe it’s great for kids to experience teamwork with people from various backgrounds who care about each other, live by a high set of standards and values, and give their all for our campers. It’s a powerful statement to our campers.
We strive to also reach within our local community. We are very proud of our community and will strive to hire the best staff from the RGV. As we continue to grow over the coming years, we will create summer jobs for our own former campers.

We also proudly hire camp staff from overseas. We believe that the unique skills and culture they bring to our camp makes the rigorous recruitment process worthwhile!

In addition to the rigorous application and interview process, all counselors commit to a strict “no alcohol” policy during the summer, even on their time off. It’s part of our counselors’ demonstrated commitment to our camp and kids, first and foremost!

Camper Drop-off will be on Sunday between 3-5 pm and Pick up will be Saturday at 10 am. If you need to request a different drop-off time, please contact our Summer Programs Manager, Anali Lewis. 

Campers riding a bus from out of the area will arrive Sunday evening and will return Saturday evening. CLICK HERE to see Opening and Closing Schedule.

 While many times campers come to our infirmary feeling ill because they are overtired or a little homesick, some campers do actually have an illness that must be cared for.  Our nursing staff will treat their symptoms and call you only if your camper spends the night in the infirmary, visits repeatedly with the same medical concern, has to visit our local doctor or hospital or if the nurse has a question about your camper’s medical form.  

  Security is extremely important at camp. Our staff is in constant contact with one another, and the camp office, via hand-held radio. Our gate is locked and equipped with video surveillance 24/7, and we employ a night watch person during the summer to ensure that no unauthorized people are at camp outside of normal business hours. All visitors must stop by our office and be checked in. Anyone visiting camp during the summer also must go through a security check and are given an identifying name tag. Visitors must also be accompanied by camp staff at all times. Any persons not cleared to be at camp are immediately identified, approached, and asked to leave camp.  

  Safety is always our top priority at camp. We received accreditation from the American Camp Association in October 2021- meaning that we are meeting or exceeding more than 300 standards of health, safety, and program excellence. Our staff goes through a minimum of one week of staff training and are certified in First Aid and CPR. All of our staff have to pass strict background checks as well as finger-printing prior to working at camp.  

  We have a health aide on duty at camp every session. Our health aide distributes all medication to campers (over-the-counter or prescription), cares for illness, and responds to any emergency situations. Our medical facility has isolation rooms with beds so campers who need a quiet place to recover may do so. In addition, our staff is trained in First Aid and CPR. The closest hospital to camp is less than 5 minutes away as is our camp doctor.  We are also subscribed to a tele-med service that allows us to have virtual doctor consults as needed.

   Don't worry, we are happy to help you. Simply contact us and we will get you all the information you need.