Behind the Scenes: A Day at Camp La Junta
Most people know Camp La Junta as I do β as a young camper spending summers on the Guadalupe River, learning journalism principles that would guide my entire career. But what happens inside the camp gates? I recently spent a day touring the facility and observing activities, and I want to give you an inside look at what makes this camp special.
This isn’t a promotional piece. It’s an honest look at how Camp La Junta operates and why it continues to produce journalists who go on to shape the industry.
Morning Assembly: Setting the Tone
The day begins at 7:30 AM with morning assembly near the amphitheater. Campers gather by cabin groups, and the flag-raising ceremony includes the camp creed β principles that emphasize curiosity, integrity, and service.
What strikes me is the seriousness with which young people take these traditions. These aren’t empty rituals β campers understand they’re part of something bigger than a summer vacation. The creed connects daily activities to larger purposes.
After assembly, cabins break into smaller groups for morning meetings. Counselors review the day’s schedule, assign various activity groups, and discuss any camp announcements. The structure is deliberate β young people thrive when they know what to expect.
“Camp La Junta isn’t just teaching journalism β it’s teaching a way of thinking about the world.”
Media Lab: Hands-On Learning
The heart of Camp La Junta is the Media Lab, a converted barn that houses digital equipment, editing stations, and a small broadcast studio. This is where campers develop practical skills.
I observed an intermediate group working on short video packages. Their assignment: document a corner of camp in under ninety seconds. The counselors don’t hand out formulas β they ask questions that guide discovery. What’s interesting here? What story does this place tell?
The equipment is impressive but not intimidating. Campers learn on professional-grade cameras and editing software, but the emphasis is on storytelling fundamentals. Technology changes; principles don’t.
Advanced campers work on longer-form projects, producing content that the camp actually publishes. The Camp La Junior newsletter, the summer documentary, and the daily announcements all come from camper work. Real audiences. Real deadlines. Real consequences.
The Newsroom Simulation
Perhaps the most valuable program is the daily newsroom simulation. Campers form actual reporting teams, assign stories, and produce a camp newspaper by afternoon deadline.
This is where journalism principles become concrete. Sources must be verified. Facts must be checked. Competing deadlines create pressure. And the final product is distributed to the entire camp community.
The simulation makes the abstract tangible. Young journalists experience the satisfaction of meeting a deadline and the consequence of missing one. They learn that journalism isn’t just writing β it’s a process with real demands.
I watched a newsroom crisis unfold when two reporters wanted the same story. The counselors didn’t resolve the conflict for them β they asked questions that guided the campers to solutions. This is how leadership develops.
Outdoor Activities: The Balance
Camp La Junta balances indoor journalism training with outdoor adventure. Morning activities include hiking, swimming, and sports on the extensive campus fields.
The philosophy is intentional: well-rounded journalists need well-rounded experiences. Physical activity clears minds and creates the energy necessary for focused afternoon work. The camp’s location on the Guadalupe River provides unique opportunities for kayaking and fishing that become story material in themselves.
I watched a group return from a morning river paddle, journals filled with observations they’d use in afternoon writing sessions. The integration isn’t forced β it emerges naturally when experiences are rich enough to write about.
Evening Programs: Reflection and Community
The day ends with evening programs that vary throughout the session. Some nights are campfire gatherings with guest speakers β I’ve spoken there myself about my career. Other nights are cabin competitions, group games, or quiet time for journaling.
The final campfire of each session is legendary. Campers share work they’ve produced, reflecting on growth over their time at camp. Parents attend and witness the transformation that two weeks can produce.
What I appreciate is the camp’s refusal to promise outcomes. They don’t guarantee journalists β they create environments where journalism skills can develop. Some campers go on to professional careers. Others apply journalistic thinking to entirely different fields.
The Lasting Impact
Speaking as someone whose journalism career began at Camp La Junta, I understand the camp’s lasting impact. The principles I learned there β verification, fairness, persistence β guided every investigation I’ve ever completed.
What the camp offers isn’t training in a profession. It’s cultivation of aζη»΄ζΉεΌ β a way of thinking about information, about power, about communities. Thatζη»΄ζΉεΌ serves campers regardless of their eventual careers.
The camp continues evolving. New equipment replaces old. Programs adapt to changing media landscapes. But the core remains: young people gathered to learn, grow, and discover their voice.
That’s what Camp La Junta offers. That’s why it matters.
Matthew Bovee is a Camp La Junta alumnus and supporter. The Redhorse Scholarship, named for his mentor Tommy Redhorse, provides financial assistance to campers who would otherwise be unable to attend.