Before she was a legendary camp director, Jane Ragsdale was simply my favorite cousin.

She was seven years older than I was, so I inevitably looked up to her. Unlike many teens, she seemed delighted to talk with an awkward eight year old. She would listen deeply to what I said. This gift of deep listening had the dual effect of making me feel worth listening to and inspiring me to be extra thoughtful.

She would sing with me and play with me.

She made me feel seen.

While just 13 or 14, Jane established a pattern that would define her life.

For the next 55 years…

…she would listen deeply and sing joyously,

…she would see what made each person precious,

…she would spur people to believe in themselves,

…she would inspire them to be better.

For over four decades, she was a director at Heart o’ the Hills Camp on the Guadalupe. Both Heart o’ the Hills and Camp Stewart are owned and directed by the Ragsdales, my uncle’s family on my mother’s side.

In fact, I am Steve Ragsdale Baskin. I attended Stewart for over 10 years. I think it is fair to say that my career as a camp professional started with those camps – and with Jane.

If I were to ask anyone in the camp world, “Who is the kindest camp director you know?”, the answer was consistently the same: Jane Ragsdale.

Camp professionals are famously kind people, so this is like being the tallest player in the NBA – she stood out among people who are already extraordinary in this way. She lit up a room, but made you feel like the star.

We lost her in the tragic flood of July 4th.

Following the flood, Heart o’ the Hills has closed for the season, as have all the Hunt area camps.

In the week after the tragedy, Erec, Susie, and I realized that many campers would not get to go to camp this summer as the result of the flood.

We decided to sponsor campers from Heart and Camp Stewart who had lost their sessions at their beloved camps. Erec worked administrative miracles to find space and to also bring on some of the counselors who had worked at those two camps.

Over the weekend, some of the fulltime staff from Heart came to visit. We were delighted to give them a hug and they were thrilled to see the campers and counselors that they adore.

While I am certain that it is challenging to be at a completely new camp with almost no preparation, these campers are doing very well. They are sharing their camp songs with us and making our community richer.

Also, Phyllis Ma’am (our Director of Parent Experience) has checked in on our new campers each day. Like them, none of us have ever dealt with a situation like this.

But we have resolved to approach it as Jane would have – with open arms, deep listening and song.

As I see the campers, the counselors, and the staff from Heart, I realize that Jane is not really gone. She is still with us through the community that she fostered.

We are blessed to be part of that community now.

I know Jane would be happy to know we are all coming together.

Steve Sir