Specialties
Programming is designed to emphasize character building and intangibles - self confidence, teamwork, leadership, individual identity, grit and determination.
Our 2-and 4-week overnight camp sessions offer more than 50 instruction oriented activities- traditional, plus unusual-including English and western horseback riding, Red Cross swimming instruction, team and individual sports, archery, riflery, tennis, cooking, fencing, climbing, video, and wilderness survival. "The Heart" has friendly, competitive tribes and a tradition of etiquette.
History
Established in 1953.
Kenneth and Velma wanted to memorialize their outstanding daughter. Jo had attended Camp Mystic, and loved camp, and her parents believed that The Heart would be the perfect setting for a camp for girls, and began making plans to do so. That dream came true in 1953.
Kitty Magee had worlds of camping experience, so Mama and Papa Jones called upon her to serve as their first camp director. But Kitty was married and had a five-year-old daughter. Kitty felt like she couldn't let them down.
Many things have changed since the early days, but The Heart's most important summer camp traditions look about the same, 65 summers later. Tribes and their infectious and friendly competition, fun, skill-oriented activities, unmatched facilities, friendly atmosphere, and yes, even table manners!
Meet the Business Owner: Jane R.
Jane Ragsdale (Mrs. Dick Howell) is the director of
Heart O' the Hills. She was a Heart camper and counselor,
and served as program director from 1978-87.
She has been one of the owners since 1976, and
director since 1987. She grew up at Camp Stewart and
it was always her dream to become a camp director.
As a camper and counselor at Mystic, Fern and The
Heart, Jane excelled in riflery, canoeing and swimming,
and she plays an active role in training waterfront staff
for The Heart and other Hill Country camps. She is
past president of the Camping Association for Mutual
Progress.
Jane received her master's in business administration
from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio,
and her undergraduate degrees are in journalism and
Spanish from the Texas Woman's University in Denton.
Jane also did graduate work in Spanish at the University
of Buenos Aires while working at La Nación on an
Inter-American Press Association fellowship.