Some things never go out of style, like the perseverance displayed by Mattie Wilson Landry when she founded Camp Founder Girls in 1924 after facing racial exclusion, a powerful moment in San Antonio's history that's still inspiring today, 100 years later. As San Antonio Report details, this significant anniversary marks a century of what's fondly been dubbed 'Black girl magic,' a term that encapsulates the successes and the vibrant spirit of Black women and girls who have been part of the camp's legacy.
Despite shutting its doors in 1964, the spirit of the camp was reignited by Alex Bailey and his nonprofit Black Outside, under the nostalgic recollections of former campers like Gaynell Sylvia Sapenter Gainer who holds on to those tree-shaded memories fondly told San Antonio Report of her time there, the creek wadings, the wildfire collections, the close-knit atmosphere that has been a cornerstone of the experience. Fast-forward, and the camp is not only resurrected, but also thriving, with attendance numbers swarming like bees around a rich honeypot, the waiting list growing faster than a wildfire in peak drought season.
Seriously, if you’re looking for a testament to Bailey's vision and the resurgence of Landry’s pioneering efforts, look no further than the 70-family waiting list snaking its way around the camp’s metaphorical entrance. As portrayed in the Centennial Special documentary, this outdoor experience has become an everyday stage for Black girls to perform feats of bravery and creativity, according to Contessa Gayles, who directed a documentary that zeroes in on the life-altering magic happening amidst the trees and campfires.
Bailey's got his sights set on grander vistas, having recently launched a Juneteenth-centric fundraising campaign for a new plot of land since the original Camp Elvira was sold long ago, Bailey isn't one to sit still when there’s work to be done, he envisions a future where girls like Kaitlyn Williams, who told San Antonio Report that the camp taught her self-love, become the architects of tomorrow's outdoor spaces, the camp is now housed at Morgan's Wonderland but the demand is so high, we might just see expansions eastward and westward.
And so, the camp's four pillars: Confident, Creative, Brave, Strong remain the load-bearing walls of a sanctuary where girls like Williams learn and grow. Their future contributions to the world, much like the steadfast land upon which they camp, stand poised to be a lasting tribute to a campfire’s glow that refuses to dim — a sentiment echoed by Bailey, while planning for a Camp 619 to honor Texas' role in Black history, sees past, present, and future campers as the torchbearers of a legacy that Mattie Wilson Landry sparked many moons ago.
