Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act Impacts Daniel Springs

By WHITNEY SPARKS
​Baptist Progress Writer

​Late-night talks, swimming, devotions, and life-changing moments all happen at church camp. These powerful experiences are at the heart of why church camp matters.
 
Church camp is more than just fun and games. For many, it can mean the difference between everlasting life and eternal separation from Christ. During a worship service at camp, a child might hear the gospel for the first time. My husband and I witnessed our two boys walk the aisle to profess their salvation while attending church camp.
 
This year, youth camps across the state will face new challenges.
 
After the heart-wrenching tragedies that took place in Kerr County in July of 2025, Governor Abbott signed the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act (SB1) and House Bill 1 for Youth Camps. These new laws will enforce several changes to the way youth camps function.
 
The following mandates will affect youth camps across the state, including Daniel Springs Camp in Gary. Daniel Springs Camp is the national encampment and a department of the BMA. According to www.dshs.texas.gov, camps will be required to:

• Submit a renewal application with an increased license fee when any modifications are made to the camp.
• Create and implement an Emergency Plan that includes an evacuation plan, shelter-in-place procedures, procedures for identifying and accounting for each camper, procedures for notifying parents or guardians, and the installation and maintenance of a camp-wide warning system.
• Resubmit emergency plans annually to renew the camp license and share with parents or legal guardians.
• Notify parents or guardians if a camp is located within a floodplain.
• Conduct safety orientations for campers within 48 hours.
• Install fiber-based broadband internet, along with a secondary internet connection.

Bible study groups meet under the famed DSBC Tabernacles

Green Team showing spirit at REC Time

​Youth camp licenses can be revoked if cabins are located within a 100-year floodplain, as identified by FEMA, unless the cabin is located near a lake, pond, or still body of water that is not connected to a stream, river, or other watercourse. DSHS may suspend or deny a camp license if emergency plans and internet connectivity requirements are not met. Camps are facing an increase of 2900 percent in licensing fees, with fees increasing from $450 to $13,500 annually. The fees are based on the number of campers, not the yearly budget, which places Daniel Springs Camp in the same category as camps with multi-million-dollar budgets.
 
Jason Prewitt, Executive Director of Daniel Springs Camp, is asking BMA churches to consider supporting the camp through prayer, manpower, or financial giving this new year to help with the state requirements listed above.
 
“All the safety changes align with the shared goal of every camp and camp director: to make a safe environment for all attendees. That commitment has never been in question among the directors I’ve had the pleasure of meeting,” Prewitt explains.
 
One of the primary challenges for the camp is the timeline they’ve been given to complete all required updates so they can submit their application for a 2026 license. This is especially difficult for camps like Daniel Springs, which operate with a small year-round staff and rely heavily on volunteer groups and contractors.
 
Another challenge has been waiting for interpretation of the law’s requirements; a reason the camp has not been able to communicate their needs more widely. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has been tasked with inspecting all camps and enforcing the new regulations. 

Executive Director Jason Prewitt delivers a lost Bible to its owner

Campers making friends at the lake

​“The truth is, they are just as overwhelmed as the camps themselves. They have been great to work with, but responses can take time due to the sheer number of camps seeking clarification,” Prewitt believes.
 
At the same time, Daniel Springs has been blessed since some of the new requirements were already completed before these changes took effect.
 
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who has helped Daniel Springs Camp reach this point in the process. As the Lord often works in ways we do not immediately see, He had already begun setting us on a path several years ago that included some of these improvements. There is still a lot on our list to be done, and we are actively developing plans to continue checking items off the list as we move forward,” says Prewitt.
 
Donations can be sent to Daniel Springs Camp, PO Box 310, Gary, TX 75643. If your church or youth group would like to volunteer at Daniel Springs, reach out to Jason Prewitt directly or email the camp at [email protected].

When you support Daniel Springs Camp, you are choosing to change a child’s life spiritually. Whether through salvation or growing in their spiritual walk with Jesus, a child’s life will be forever changed.

Attendees gather for evening worship

Campers making memories between sessions

Campers compete in weekly basketball tournament

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