In Texas Hill Country, weather doesn’t give much warning. Storms can roll in quickly and disappear just as fast.
For Camp Longhorn— one of Texas’ most beloved youth camps with roots dating back to 1939 and nearly 7,000 campers each season—that unpredictability is a serious operational challenge.
As General Manager of Camp Longhorn, Bill Robertson oversees three locations that together host nearly 7,000 campers each summer. Sailboats on the water, kids scattered across fields and courts, and staff coordinating dozens of activities—all of it hinges on staying one step ahead of sudden storms.
“When we get that eight-mile strike, it’s everybody indoors. Clear the boats, clear the fields. And then our announcement goes out—Eya! Eya! Eya!—that’s our Indian call for when the rain’s coming,” Robertson says. “Everybody knows what that means and moves.”
That’s why Camp Longhorn turned to Perry Weather.
A Past of Guesswork and Confusion
Before Perry Weather, Camp Longhorn relied on the Burnet Weather Station, 15 miles away. That distance may not sound like much, but in Hill Country it was everything.
“You could be one mile away and get two inches of rain, and at our specific location get zero,” Robertson says.
The inconsistency only deepened because each director used their own tools.
“We were all using basically different weather mechanisms,” he recalls. “I was looking at one. Someone else was looking at another. One app said we were clear, another said we weren’t. And when you’re dealing with kids in open fields or on the lake, you can’t afford that kind of uncertainty.”
The result: wasted time, mixed signals, and safety calls that weren’t always aligned.
The Turning Point: One App, One Standard
That changed when Camp Longhorn adopted Perry Weather.
“It’s been a jewel to have,” Robertson says. “The 15 users we have on the app all get the information at the same time. So if one camp has sailboats out, we’re all getting the same messaging—lightning, wind, rain coming our way. We’re not second-guessing it.”
Every staff member now runs the same playbook.
“All of our users are on that countdown timer,” Robertson explains. “Inside the 10-mile zone, we get a warning. At eight miles, it’s everybody take cover. And then we have a 30-minute all clear. Everybody knows the rules.”
How Perry Weather Keeps Everyone in Sync
What changed for Camp Longhorn wasn’t just the quality of data—it was how accessible and customizable Perry Weather’s platform is for every type of user.
“Every staff member has the app on their phone. The interface is intuitive, and the side menu lets you choose exactly what you need to see,” Robertson explains.
Some features that stand out:
- Lightning countdown timer: Staff are immediately alerted when lightning strikes within 10 miles. At 8 miles, the directive is clear—everyone indoors. The app begins a 30-minute countdown until it’s safe to resume outdoor activities.
- Customizable alerts: Staff can toggle National Weather Service alerts on or off, depending on their role. Some need full alert coverage, while others only need key triggers like lightning or high winds.
- Layered functionality: From road conditions to active radar and forecast overlays, every camp director can tailor the experience to their responsibilities.
This level of control helps teams make decisions faster and with more confidence, eliminating the internal friction caused by conflicting sources.
Peace of Mind That Extends Beyond the Day
For Robertson, Perry Weather doesn’t just make storm response smoother—it changes how staff feel when the sun goes down.
“It helps everyone—directors, staff—know that we’re watching, that we’re on alert.”
That assurance ripples out to the people who matter most: the families.
“Parents’ most prized possession is their kids,” Robertson reflects. “They want them to be safe and happy and want to come back to camp. That’s our goal—to make sure every camper and staff member is safe while they’re here.”
“We Can Sleep At Night Knowing Perry Weather is Watching”
At Camp Longhorn, storms may be sudden, but the response no longer is. Where there used to be a patchwork of apps and uncertain calls, there’s now one clear standard. Staff move in unison.
Campers are protected without panic. And the camp’s long-standing traditions—the shouts of “Eya! Eya! Eya!,” the joy of sailing on a calm lake, the trust parents place in this decades-old institution—continue without interruption.
“Yeah, the Perry Weather app—it’s all about safety,” Robertson says simply. “We can sleep at night knowing Perry Weather is watching, and alerting us the second something changes.”
For a camp that has been creating memories since 1939, safety isn’t just a policy—it’s the foundation that allows those memories to happen.
Try Perry Weather for free with a 14-day trial of Perry Weather—and see how it helps you protect your camp, streamline decisions, and spend less time worrying about the weather.
