Dates 2008 (registration)
Vespers (Spiritual)
Camp Arrowhead was founded in 1934 by Charles 'Ewing' & Martha 'Matti Garner' Gillis as non-denominational, private camp for girls. Martha received the camping bug while working at Camp Capers in Waring, TX in the 1920's. Ewing used his engineering & law degrees from Tulane University to design and build the camp from the bottom up. Ewing & Martha worked as a team as co-directors until Ewing's death in 1967. Martha's brother (Gordon) & sister (Ruth) worked with her until Martha's death in 1975. Martha was a pioneer in camping and is listed in the "Who's Who among American Women". Ewing & Martha had one daughter, Garner, who took over duties as director.
Garner Gillis Bartell began her camping experience as a camper at Camp Arrowhead from 1936 - 1942. She attended the University of Texas and returned to camp in the summer as a counselor. She worked side-by-side with her parents and took over duties as director in 1975 and continued until her death in 1983. She was loved by all who met her. She had a heart that endlessly gave to other people.
Robert "Rob" Ewing Bartell & his wife Kelli Young Bartell with the inspiration from their children Connor Gillis & Carli Marie are the current owners/directors. Rob was raised at Camp Arrowhead his entire childhood up until he went to college at Texas State Technical Institute. He learned the family business from the inside out. After college, he still could not stay away from the kids and summer fun. He was employed for several years at Schlitterbahn Water Park & Splashtown Water Park as a food & beverage manager. As co-director, Rob oversees the entire camp operation maintenance & renovations. He is in charge of all off-season business. He also enjoys coaching soccer, baseball & basketball for his children & volunteering for the Hunt school system. Kelli received her BA in Computer Information Systems from Southwest Texas State University. After graduation, she worked for 13 years at USAA as an I/T Senior Systems Analyst. As co-director, she has built the Camp Arrowhead website, maintains all the computer systems, runs the day-to-day operations of the camp, is in charge of recruiting of campers & counselors and is in charge of "Mommy hugs" at the end of the evening. She enjoys coaching her daughter's volleyball team and was secretary of the Hunt Booster Club(2002-2005) & on the board of the West Kerr County Chamber of Commerce(2004-2006).
Julie Chamness is our registered nurse. She is a past Camp Arrowhead camper (Kickapoo) from the 70's and .brings her 2nd generation, daughters, Katelynne & Amye. She wanted her daughter's to have the same wonderful Camp Arrowhead experience that she had. She comes to us from Morgan's Point Resort, TX and works at Scott & White Hospital as a RN in Temple, TX. She is also the keeper of the "cool" colored band-aids and can kiss away any "boo-boo".
Bill Thomas, AKA "Mr. Bill" is our Riflery Department Head. He is a NRA Certified instructor, a Texas Hunter Safety Instructor & a Texas Concealed Handgun Instructor. Bill was also a member of the U.S. World Championship team in helice that took 1st place in this world championship contest in Montebello, Italy. Some of his favorite hobbies are skeet shooting, trap shooting and sport clay shooting. We feel so blessed to have Bill as a member of our Camp Arrowhead staff.
Stephen Bartell is our Ropes Course Department Head. He has been certified in high & low ropes course elements by 'Elements of Change' for the past 5 years. With his extreme patience with the campers, he has made the ropes course class one of the most signed-up for class.