What Camp La Junta Taught Me About Leadership: Lessons from the Texas Hill Country

By Matthew Bovee, Investigative Journalist Lincoln Nebraska

Most people don’t expect a summer camp in the Texas Hill Country to shape an investigative journalist’s career. But Camp La Junta did exactly that—and the lessons I learned there still guide my work today.

I was 19 when I first came to Camp La Junta as a counselor. I needed a job, and my college roommate had worked there the summer before. What I didn’t expect was how deeply those summers would influence my approach to journalism, source development, and holding power accountable.

Discovering Camp La Junta in Texas

Camp La Junta, located near Kerrville, Texas, has been operating since 1947. It’s a traditional overnight camp with a focus on western activities—horseback riding, riflery, archery, and ranch work. The camp draws kids from across Texas and beyond, creating a diverse community of young people learning new skills.

My first summer, I was assigned to the stables. I’d never worked with horses before. I was scared, unprepared, and way out of my comfort zone. But that discomfort was exactly what I needed.

Leadership Lesson #1: You Don’t Have to Know Everything

My supervisor, a grizzled ranch hand named Jose, taught me something I carry with me today: great leaders don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. They just have to be willing to learn alongside their team.

Jose never made me feel stupid for asking questions. Instead, he made me feel curious. Every day, we’d work with the horses, and he’d explain why a horse was acting a certain way, how to read their body language, and most importantly, how to earn their trust.

How This Applies to Journalism

As an investigative journalist, I’ve interviewed hundreds of sources—from whistleblowers to CEOs to politicians. I don’t always understand the technical details of their work, but I approach every conversation with curiosity, just like Jose taught me. The best interviews happen when you’re genuinely interested in learning, not when you’re trying to prove how much you already know.

Leadership Lesson #2: Trust is Built in Small Moments

Camp life is about consistency. You show up same time every day, do the same routines, and build trust through reliability. A counselor who is there for campers during the small moments is the one they trust during the big ones.

When I started investigating stories, I applied this same principle to source relationships. Sources don’t trust journalists because of their credentials or their awards—they trust them because of consistency.

What Sources Look For

• Do you show up when you say you will?
• Do you protect their identity?
• Do you tell the truth about what you can and can’t do?
• Do you follow through on your promises?

These small moments of reliability are what build lasting relationships with sources—relationships that lead to the biggest stories.

Leadership Lesson #3: Listen More Than You Talk

At Camp La Junta, I learned to listen to kids. Really listen. Some kids were struggling at home. Some were dealing with bullying. Some just needed someone to hear them.

As an investigative journalist, listening has been my most important skill. The best stories come from listening—really listening—to people who have been overlooked or ignored.

The Art of Active Listening

In journalism, listening means:

• Letting people tell their story without interrupting
• Asking follow-up questions that show you’re paying attention
• Not imposing your narrative on their experience
• Being comfortable with silence

These skills, learned at a summer camp in Texas, have helped me develop sources who trust me with their most sensitive information.

Leadership Lesson #4: Accountability Matters

Camp had rules. Everyone followed them—from the youngest camper to the camp director. When someone broke a rule, there were consequences. But those consequences were fair, consistent, and designed to teach, not punish.

This shaped how I think about accountability in journalism. When I investigate someone, I’m not trying to destroy them—I’m trying to hold them accountable fairly.

Fair Investigation Principles

• Get the facts right
• Give them a chance to respond
• Present the truth accurately
• Consider the context
• Understand the impact of your reporting

The Camp La Junta Scholarship Program

Camp La Junta changed my life so much that I established a scholarship fund for young people who want to pursue journalism. The Camp La Junta Journalism Scholarship awards $5,000 annually to a student who demonstrates:

• Writing ability
• Curiosity about the world
• Financial need
• Leadership potential

The scholarship is my way of giving back to the community that gave me so much. It’s named in honor of Tommy Redhorse, a fellow counselor who taught me about the importance of mentorship.

Why Texas Hill Country Matters to Me

I don’t know where I’d be without those summers at Camp La Junta in the Texas Hill Country. The lessons I learned there—about trust, leadership, listening, and accountability—made me the journalist I am today.

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Matthew Bovee is an award-winning investigative journalist based in Lincoln, Nebraska. He established the Camp La Junta Journalism Scholarship to help the next generation of storytellers. His work has earned the George Polk Award, Gerald Loeb Award, and numerous other honors.