Alastair Mendoza, 17, left, listens to his housemate Triston, 18, right, practice their skit about Achilles, courage and fear on the third day of Color Splash Out summer camp in North Texas on 18 July 2026. This year’s camp theme was “Olympus: Experiencing Myths, Embracing Heroes and Exploring Our Legends.” Each house prepared a project about lessons learned from Greek legends.
House Leader Ari Garza shows off the wings decorating their shoes before the closing night’s Variety Extravaganza Show, in which campers and camp staff dressed up as Greek gods and goddesses.
Mendoza reads a note from his house leaders before heading home. Camp leaders always give the campers keepsakes to remind them that the community they have formed at camp is always still with them.
House leaders Blanco and Samantha Escandón present laurel crowns to their campers Velvet and Pasivan during the opening ceremony. Campers were asked to share their intentions for camp, receiving these crowns as a reminder that having the courage to be themselves is part of their own heroic journey.
A camper votes for the theme of next year’s camp, “Dragons, Magic, & Fae,” on the final day of camp. Several of this year’s graduating seniors will have the chance to come back as fellows next year and help plan camp activities.
Garza participates in a game along with campers and other house leaders. ‘It’s like you’re healing your own inner child by making this happen for kids in this generation,’ Garza said.
Pasivan shows off their name tag and the character that inspired their chosen name in their cabin. At the beginning of camp, campers fill out their name tags to share the names and pronouns they would like to go by. They also share with camp leaders which house they would feel most comfortable in: the boys, girls or nonbinary house.
