THE PROBLEM

On July 4, 2025, two counselors and 25 campers, now known collectively as “Heaven’s 27,” died due to the lack of an evacuation plan at Camp Mystic following flash flood warnings. No other summer camps in the area lost campers. This preventable loss of life is an unimaginable heartbreak that no family should have to endure. Twenty-seven girls died while under Camp Mystic’s supervision and care, and one child—8-year-old Cile Steward—REMAINS MISSING. However, the Eastland family (owner-operators of the for-profit but unaccredited, Christian, all-girls camp) says, “the heart of Camp Mystic never stopped beating,” as they just announced their plans to reopen and rebuild in mass emails that went out last week. 

That’s right…less than three months after Camp Mystic told 26 families their late daughters were “unaccounted for,” the Eastland family emailed a database on September 22, 2025, about their 2026 reopening and enrollment dates coming soon (in “early October”). They also said they were planning a memorial dedicated to the deceased campers and counselors. Families of the “Heaven’s 27” were told this in a group email without any prior consultation about a memorial for their daughters on the site where they endured fatal horror. Two hours later and with hardly any time for bereaved families to receive, read, process and respond this news, the broader email went out to all camp families.

THE REACTION

Families of the “Heaven’s 27” and their supporters are devastated by this sudden and shocking announcement—one they say arrived without any prior consultation or consent from those who lost their precious daughters mere weeks ago. The Steward family published this open letter about their objections to the reopening and shared disturbing details about how Camp Mystic has treated them (and other “Heaven’s 27” families) in the midst of their raw grief as they continue to search for Cile. The Stewards and other victim families, along with their loved ones and supporters, call on Camp Mystic to halt any reopening and unauthorized memorial talks to prioritize the URGENT and ONGOING search for Cile Steward, Camp Mystic’s still-missing camper!

One dad said, “The thought of her [Cile Steward] not being found, and we’re on to memorializing her, and we’re on to all these different things, is just really bonkers to me. Put yourself in her parents’ shoes. There hasn’t been a memorial service. There hasn’t been a funeral service.”

Each day, recovery teams continue to risk their own safety searching for Cile Steward’s body. That effort is expansive, cost- and labor-intensive—and it must remain Camp Mystic’s sole and constant focus, as Cile was in Camp Mystic’s care when she went missing. Is it not their responsibility to find her? Beginning enrollment for Summer 2026 while you’re still MISSING a camper from Summer 2025 is not only “unthinkable,” it’s completely insensitive, insane, and unethical! The Steward family states they have not gotten a call from Camp Mystic since the brisk phone update in July that Cile was “unaccounted for.” The Eastlands and Camp Mystic have not mentioned any of the “Heaven’s 27” girls’ names or even mentioned the search for Cile in their email distributions to date, not even in this one they sent specifically to victim families.

To promote your camp reopening for its centennial year is not respecting the deceased and the one camper still “unaccounted for” from July 4th. The “Heaven’s 27” families remain trapped in the deepest throes of grief, yet Camp Mystic’s communications treat the most-affected families’ never-ending nightmare as little more than a brief pause before saying they will have a memorial for dead and missing campers—but otherwise plan to resume business as usual (other than some property damage and new state laws they’re now forced to address).

THE ASK

Take action today by signing this petition to join the Stewards and other “Heaven’s 27” families who petition and plead that the Eastland family and Camp Mystic not “open their gates” for the Summer 2026 camp season until ALL campers are recovered from this past Summer 2025 camp season, and leadership owns their mistakes. This petition joins the choir of voices demanding that the focus and prioritization of Camp Mystic’s resources be allocated first and foremost to the recovery of Mystic’s lost camper, Cile Steward! She is a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, a cousin, a cabinmate, a friend, a niece, and a very beloved 8-year-old girl still out there needing to be found and brought home to be laid to rest. You can learn more about how to support the search for Cile here. Supporters of the “Heaven’s 27” may contribute to the girls’ memorial funds and foundations here. #FindCile #BringCileHome #Heavens27

MORE INFORMATION

Heaven’s 27 Parents testifying in support of “The Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act” (SB1)

Commentary on Camp Mystic’s Treatment of Victim Families

Former FBI/CIA Agent Discusses Camp Mystic Safety Concerns

Britt Eastland testifying against camp safety legislation in 2019 (2:50:50)

Quick Guide to new Texas Camp Safety Legislation (2025)