KERRVILLE, Texas — A national nonprofit founded in the aftermath of the deadly July 4, 2025, floods has received a $287,500 grant to develop new safety resources for youth camps in the Texas Hill Country.
The Safety Navigator announced Friday that the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country awarded the grant through its Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to support the nonprofit’s Camp Safety programs.
The organization was created following the catastrophic flooding that struck the Hill Country on July 4, 2025, killing people across the region, including children and staff at camps along the Guadalupe River.
The Safety Navigator said it was established to help youth camps translate new safety requirements into practical measures that can be implemented by camp operators and staff.
The new grant will fund a locally led Hill Country camp safety program aimed at developing and testing resources with camps in the region before making them available at no cost to camps across the country.
Among the initiatives funded by the grant are after-action reviews with Hill Country camp leaders to identify lessons from the summer season and areas where safety practices could be strengthened.
The funding will also support a comprehensive training program for camp directors, leadership and seasonal staff focused on risks including aquatics, transportation and emergency response.
Other planned resources include a Transportation Safety Toolkit covering vehicle use, staff driving rules and the vetting of bus and charter companies.
The nonprofit also plans to develop a Hill Country-specific version of its AI-assisted risk assessment tool, incorporating risks and safety measures specific to the region.
The grant will fund a Hill Country Drill Package with new emergency drills and tabletop exercises centered on regional hazards, as well as an AI-powered Emergency Action Plan builder designed to help camps develop customized emergency response plans.
The Safety Navigator also plans to produce a summer content series highlighting safety work at Hill Country camps and hire a local Hill Country program coordinator to serve as a point of contact for camps throughout the region.
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country established the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund following the July 2025 disaster to support recovery and rebuilding efforts in affected communities.
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