Camp Mystic, the summer haven torn apart by a deadly flood, has been a getaway for girls to make lifelong friends and find “ways to grow spiritually.”

Catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River over the weekend devastated several popular summer camps, claiming the lives of at least 27 young girls and leaving families from

With more than 170 still missing, communities must reconcile how to pick up the pieces around a waterway that remains both a wellspring and a looming menace.

The serene banks of the Guadalupe River, usually a place of joy and laughter for young campers, turned into a scene of heartbreak on July 4, 2025. A sudden and catastrophic flood swept through central Texas,

Since Friday, Joynton has been reflecting on her time at Camp Mystic, connecting with other former staff and alumni, and grieving for the losses there. Joynton, who moved to Philly in 2017, suspected there were only a handful of alumni in the Philadelphia area.

Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River. Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.

Scott Ruskan, a Coast Guard swimmer, is credited with saving 165 people at the all-girls’ camp from deadly floods in Central Texas.