Camp Taum Sauk

kinda chic to call this place home ❤

Check the link in our bio or on our website (www.taumsauk.com) for more pics/info!🏞️

Thank you for an amazing weekend of our camper item pick up. We are beyond grateful for the support of the Ladue School District by allowing our community to use Old Bonhomme Elementary School’s facilities. We also want to thank our campers and families for the kind words and support that they shared with our team throughout this weekend. Finally, thank you to the many staff and volunteers (both in the photo and many others who are not) who helped ensure this weekend went smoothly for families. We hope everyone has a wonderful rest of their summer and we will continue to send out more information about the camp’s next steps in the recovery process.

Even with everything happening, we can’t help but remember how amazing this summer was. Here are some pictures from different moments throughout the season ❤️

Check the link in our bio or on our website (www.taumsauk.com) for more pics/info!🏞️

Not all hero’s wear capes. Our camp family is incredibly strong, and we’re so grateful and proud of everyone coming together to bring the camp magic back to life.

Words cannot describe how we are feeling after checking our GoFundMe campaign this morning. In less than 24 hours we have reached our initial goal. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who has donated, shared kind words, and supported the Camp Taum Sauk community and the Smith Family during this incredibly difficult time. The generosity of people from all over the world has given us hope as we begin the long journey to rebuild. Every contribution is helping us assess the damage, care for our community, and move one step closer to welcoming campers back in the 2027 season. While there is still so much work ahead, we remain committed to restoring the place that has meant so much to generations of campers, staff, and families. Thank you again for believing in our camp, our community, and the future we’re building together.

As we get a better estimate of the damages camp sustained, we will continue to make adjustments to our goal to best meet the needs of our staff, community, and barn.

Many of our staff and volunteers have arrived over the past few days to aid in our recovery process. We want to thank each of you for not only helping to begin the process of cleaning up camp, but for the love and support you have shown each other during this unprecedented event. It warms our heart to see the magic you are creating for one another while you are here. We also want to thank the Midwest Children’s Burn Camp community for coordinating volunteers, delivering supplies, and providing resources for our team. We are forever grateful for you.

Camp Taum Sauk Flood Relief, Help Us Continue the Magic Link: https://gofund.me/9e6b4075b

We are incredibly thankful that all of our campers and staff were accounted for and safely evacuated. We are also grateful for our Camp Taum Sauk staff and parents, Reynolds County Emergency Responders, Vandalia Bus Lines, the Arcadia Valley Community, the National Guard, and the many volunteers who made this all possible. To see an entire community come together to support us is truly inspiring. The magnitude of love, prayers, and offers of support from people all over the world have meant more to our family than we can ever express. We are forever grateful for you and we know everything else can be rebuilt.

After much thought and many families reaching out, we have decided to create a GoFundMe to support the restoration of Camp Taum Sauk. The devastating flood left extensive damage to parts of our property, its buildings, furniture, and infrastructure. Many of our camper’s and staff’s belongings were damaged or are missing. Help us support our staff after the abrupt end to the summer season. We can’t even begin to quantify the emotional and physical damage our camp community has experienced, but we plan to support them in any way we can and continue to find new ways to uplift each other. We are so thankful that our staff and campers are safe, however we are devastated that many of our horses whom we consider family are either still missing or have passed away.

For many of us, this camp isn’t just a place we go each summer. It’s a second family, a home where friendships and memories are made to last a lifetime. Many people talk about how Camp Taum Sauk is magic. However, we believe that the true “magic” comes from the campers and staff that come together each year, to make a totally unique experience that empowers all members of this community. Camp is a place where its members get to unplug from social media, discover themselves, build self-confidence, and foster friendships. There are hundreds of thousands of summer camps all over the country, but there is only one Camp Taum Sauk. Lining the ceiling of our dining hall are the boards commemorating the names of over 60 years of campers and staff who have dedicated their summers to creating this “magic” and making camp the amazing place that it is. Whether you are an active member, alumni, or this is your first time hearing about our camp, you are now part of our story and can help ensure future generations of campers will have the opportunity to experience this same sense of belonging, growth, and wonder that has made this place feel like home to so many people for more than eighty years.

We are determined to hear those first few crunches of gravel under our feet, to feel the energy of a Color Wars morning, and to watch the fireworks on the tennis courts after a Friday night dance again in the 2027 summer season. With your support, whether that is a donation, sharing this post, or simply sending love, we are confident that together our community can rebuild. We cannot wait to welcome new and returning faces back to the place that so many hold close to their heart.

Thank you for all of the love and support you have shared with us over these past few days.

GoFundMe Link: https://gofund.me/dc0e7e31b

The Smith Family and the Camp Taum Sauk Team

We are so unbelievably proud of our staff this summer. It feels like it was just yesterday when staff training started and we all got to hear the crunch of gravel under our feet for the first time this year. We are so thankful to you for working tirelessly all summer to provide campers (and staff) an incredible summer camp experience. Even before the last 48 hours, we received so many compliments from parents about our staff team this summer. Despite everything that has happened, we still have parents reaching out to tell us that their campers are already trying to make plans with them to come back next year. We have talked a lot about “Camp Magic” this summer and how the real magic comes from the staff, not the place itself. Let us tell you that you brought the magic this year and that is something no circumstance can take away. We are honored to consider you part of the Camp Taum Sauk community and we consider you family. We are so grateful for our staff who made the last 48 hours possible. Together, we ensured that every camper and staff member was accounted for and together we safely facilitated the evacuation of camp. Many heroes wear masks and capes. Ours were dressed as counselors and performed an excessive number of head counts. Thank you for being patient with our leadership team, communicating your needs, advocating for the needs of your campers, and being flexible as we faced each new challenge that arose.

Looking for a unique summer experience in southern Missouri? We are currently looking to hire a Summer Camp Cook and Camp Office Receptionist for this upcoming summer. Camp Taum Sauk is a traditional, co-ed, overnight summer camp, situated along the beautiful Black River just outside of Lesterville, Missouri. Our summer season runs from June 1st to July 25th.

Program benefits include highly competitive seasonal camp salary. It also includes the option of on-site housing, in private, air-conditioned rooms. Tuition credit is available for camp aged children.

If you are interested, go to our website (www.taumsauk.com) and select "Apply Now" under the "Work" dropdown menu. You can also scan the QR code on the flyers.