Texas Lions Camp – Update February 2026
Lion Sharon Kemp, club member who is TLC Elected Director South, has provided the following update about planning for this summer session of activities at Texas Lions Camp.
Details about our planned workdays March 6, 7 at TLC are posted at the following page
Texas Lions Camp – Our Workdays 2026
Summary:
– Camp registrations going strong! Recruit campers!
– Texas Camp Act of 2025 and changes required at TLC.
– Sponsor a bunk for $125 to have the amount matched by LCI!
– Golf Tournament needs golfers, hole sponsors, corporate sponsors & Stemmons dinner sponsors & tickets.
If you or your clubs have any questions, one of us will be able to assist. As always, we are available to attend your zone meetings or club meeting to provide updates, you can schedule with:
Lion Sharon Kemp Lion Dennis Kemp
TLC Elected Director South TLC Elected Director North
Sakemp88@gmail.com Chelaine1972@yahoo.com
512-507-3596 915-471-1104
Summer Camp
Registration
Registration is going strong! Within the first 24 hours of registration opening 125 applications were received. Everyone needs to do what they can to recruit campers for this summer’s sessions. There are spaces available! As of 2/7:
– Physical Disabilities sessions have 340 camping slots and 80 campers have applied.
– Down syndrome session has 40 camper slots and only 23 campers have applied so far.
– Type 1 Diabetic camp has 240 camper slots and 130 have applied.
Please continue recruiting campers! All sponsors need to do is sign the form when the camper’s family sends it to you for sponsorship.
Treasure Hunt
A Treasure Hunt is held at each camp and TLC is looking for international coins, Mardi Gras coins, or similar coins TLC can use as “treasure” for the campers to find. TLC is also looking for old Lions pins you may no longer need. In the treasure hunt, the campers find the coins and can trade them in on Lions pins (6 coins for 1 pin). The campers then display their pins on their camp shirts proudly during the week. Please bring any coins or pins that you collect from your club(s) to the district meetings and give them to the TLC table. We’ll get them to camp for you along with a list of the clubs that donated.
Picnics and Special Events
The link for your club to sign up for Picnics and Special Events is open and ready for sign up. If your club would like to participate in any of these special events during camp, please register here. If you need additional information on these events, click here.
Workdays Scheduled
Workdays are scheduled for 3/7, 3/28 (due to Easter falling on the first weekend in April) and 5/2. Come and be a part of helping get camp ready for this summer’s sessions!
TLC News Texas Camp Act of 2025 and changes required at TLC
This was taken from TLC’s Facebook post on February 4, 2026:
UPDATE #7: THE STORM AFTER THE STORM
While the July 4, 2025 Flood left Texas Lions Camp (TLC) untouched by physical damage and our campers entirely out of harm’s way, the camp now faces a different kind of tempest — namely, the Storm After the Storm: the Cost of Compliance.
A New Law, A New Challenge
The passage of the “Camp Safety Act of 2025”, enacted by the Texas Legislature, and signed into law by Governor Abbott in September 2025 seeks to address certain safety concerns while introducing significant new operational and compliance considerations. The law’s intent, to increase safety and oversight of youth camps, is laudable. However, its broad mandates and overarching compliance mechanisms present complex challenges for camps statewide, and to be fair, for government agencies as well.
Stephen Mabry, President & CEO related that US Representative Chip Roy’s office personally reached out to Texas Lions Camp in an effort to understand the real-world implications of the new legislation and its likely fallout for both TLC and the broader Texas camp industry.
“I shared with Congressman Roy through his office that it will likely be 16-24 months before the total cost of compliance is fully understood,” Stephen said. “That’s because the Administrative Rules to administer the law have only recently been released (January 30, 2026). My early sense is that the cost of compliance will exceed seven figures for many, if not all camps in the state — whether they sit in a floodplain or not.”
TLC serves as a prime example. As the camp modernizes its facilities for compliance, the costs have already surpassed the seven-figure mark — even before factoring in the additional requirements for redundant power systems, upgraded communications and utilities, and expanded public and private communications requirements.
Steadfast in Mission
Though the financial and operational burden is real, TLC remains resolute in its mission and opportunity to “Next-Level” our facility and procedures.
“As we have surpassed our 75th anniversary, this moment reminds us that the services offered by TLC are neither free nor inexpensive” Stephen reflected. “The buildings we have removed have served well and long — but stewardship means ensuring that the next 75 years are built on strength, compliance, and care.”
And as for what’s next? Stephen teased that those plans — “and they’re gonna be a doozy” — will be revealed during this weekend’s Board Meeting and included in his State of the Camp Address.
Until then, Stephen offers a closing thought:
“If you hear a rumble over the hills of TLC, don’t mistake it for thunder. That’s the sound of progress — the storm after the storm — as we take our next bold step forward in service to the children of Texas.”
The Board Brief explains additional information about this campaign. It will help get the camp up and running after the demolition of the older bunk houses which were out of compliance for the new legislative changes from the Texas Camp Act of 2025.
Individuals or clubs can sponsor a bunk for $125. TLC has received a grant from LCI that will match the amount.
Harry Wickersham Golf Tournament
The 33rd Annual Harry Wickersham Golf Tournament is scheduled for Thursday, July 30th. Golfers need to sign up now! If you have a team of 4 or if you have golfers but need more members, please coordinate with nearby clubs to see if you can get a team together! The tournament fills up fast! Act now!
This link will get you to the tournament information for Golf Tournament Team Registration, Hole Sponsorships, Corporate Sponsorship information, and tickets and table reservations for the Stebbins Dinner.
Club TLC Contacts
The Board has asked for all clubs to provide a TLC Contact person to receive information about camp. This will be the individual that is contacted by the TLC Director or Board when there is:
– Emergency information about camp. This will assist in emergency contact information to get the word out about camp and camper safety.
– Updated information about camp activities
– A need to provide information and updates on camp improvements