Safety is a Priority at
Texas Elks Camp on Texoma

At the Texas Elks Camp on Texoma (TECOT), guest and camper safety has always been a priority, shaping many of the ways we present programs and activities, house our guests, and offer usage of our beautiful 600 acres of lakefront property. Since its inception, TECOT has maintained rigorous emergency plans, comprehensive staff training, and strong partnerships with governing agencies and emergency first responders.

TECOT prioritizes the safety of all campers, volunteers, staff, and visitors through planning and collaboration. This starts well before arrival as TECOT works with rental groups to ensure multiple emergency and safety needs are addressed before arrival.  This includes recommending our user groups meet specific adult to child ratios, maintaining minimum recommended medical training for adults such as CPR and first aid, obtaining background checks for adult attendees, and policies for accountability and activity area use.  While rental groups are typically tasked with providing certain levels of care and oversight of their groups during their stay, TECOT staff are trained and ready to step in if an emergency arises and the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) needs to be activated. Here at TECOT, emergency preparedness is a year-round effort comprised of ongoing staff training, Emergency Action Plan drills and revisions, changes in facilities and operations to address new hazards, and working closely with any of our inspection, licensing, and accreditation partners.

TECOT maintains accreditation through the American Camp Association (ACA).  This is a rigorous, voluntary accreditation process that sees the camp meet over 200 standards to maintain accreditation in areas such as site and facility safety, risk analysis, emergency preparedness, and staff qualifications.  The camp is visited every 3 years for renewal and requires a signed Annual Accreditation Report in between visits.  ACA Accreditation reveals our commitment to providing an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment to all our guests with our dedicated and trained staff.

As a Texas-licensed youth camp provider, our documentation and facilities are annually reviewed to ensure they are safe, accessible, and well-prepared for any emergency. Our emergency protocols (EAP) are updated annually and approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) where it is then shared with local responders and placed on our website. These practices reflect our deep commitment to transparency and preparedness.

TECOT already meets the majority of the safety and emergency preparedness requirements outlined in Texas House Bill 1 (Youth CAMPER Act) and Senate Bill 1 (Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act), including protocols for emergency planning, weather alert monitoring, and staff training. We are fully engaged in assessing all the requirements in these laws and are committed to meeting the mandated deadlines.

Follow this link to see a map of the TECOT camp overlaid with the FEMA flood plain map.  You will notice the shorelines of the lake are the only areas affected by the flood zone.  Our cabins are well away and above any floodplains or floodways.  Because parts of the camp are located in a flood plain, rental group sessions that meet the DSHS definition of a Youth Camp will need to have parents/guardians of each camper sign an acknowledgement they were provided the flood plain map.

Improvements are happening and TECOT is moving forward in meeting all the required mandates outlined in the new laws.  We will keep all our community informed about the steps we are taking to ensure TECOT continues to provide a safe environment for our guests. In the meantime, should you have any questions or would like additional details about our safety standards and procedures, please don’t hesitate to contact Sandi.