Why Camp Fern Legacy?

Choosing an overnight camp is a big decision. You want a place where your child will be safe, where they’ll be seen for who they are, and where they’ll be confident in their renewed sense of self. Nestled along Fern Lake in the piney woods of East Texas, this special place has been that welcoming camp for generations of campers since 1934. Here’s what sets us apart.

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The Camp Fern Legacy Difference

A Tight-Knit Community

With around 150 campers each session, Camp Fern Legacy is intentionally small. Counselors know every camper’s name. Directors know families personally. Most importantly, no one gets lost in the crowd.

Our team of alumni campers

Your Child's Safety, Our Priority

Every decision we make starts with camper safety. Thorough background checks, licensed facilities, practiced emergency protocols, and intentional staff-to-camper ratios we create an environment where kids can explore with confidence.

Learn about our safety practices

Lasting Traditions & Lifelong Skills

Your child will come home with more than memories. Campers leave Fern with new skills, stronger confidence, and a deeper sense of self built through shared traditions and community. The kind of growth that lasts long after summer ends.

Explore our traditions

Experienced Leadership

Camp Fern Legacy is led by a team of experienced professionals who understand what it takes to create a safe and meaningful summer experience. Our directors and department heads bring decades of combined camp experience, and many were campers themselves.

Mary Shannon Guttry

Girl’s Program Director

Mary Shannon Guttry first arrived at Camp Fern in 2011—and within five minutes in Hickory Hut, she knew she’d found a place she would return to summer after summer. Ever since, the school year has been one big countdown to camp.

These days, Mary Shannon is counting down from Baylor University School of Law, where she is working toward her 2028 graduation with plans to pursue a career in children’s rights and advocacy. Her commitment to helping children find their voice carries into her work at Fern, where she wants every camper to feel known, supported, and confident enough to try something new.

The friendships and independence Mary Shannon built at camp continue to shape who she is today. As Girls’ Camp Director, she’s excited to help campers and staff build those same lasting connections, discover their strengths, and make Fern part of their own story. And yes—she’s still counting down to another summer on Fern Lake!

William “Squid” Harrell

Boy’s Program Director

William “Squid” Harrell has been coming back to Fern since 2008—and wherever he goes around camp, there’s usually a speaker and a good playlist close behind. Whether he’s getting campers excited for an activity or adding a soundtrack to an ordinary afternoon, Squid loves bringing music and energy to the day.

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, William earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and Master’s in Business Administration from Louisiana State University. He has also coached youth basketball teams through successful seasons, helping young athletes build skills, confidence, and teamwork.

At Camp Fern Legacy, William brings that same team spirit to recruitment and camp planning. He’s excited to help campers try new things, build lasting friendships, and find their place in the Fern family—with plenty of good music along the way!

"We looked at a lot of camps before choosing Camp Fern Legacy. What sold us was the sense of community—you could feel it immediately. Three years later, our kids count down the days until they can go back."