Frequently Asked Questions

We are so grateful for our Camp Taum Sauk Team, Reynolds County Emergency Responders, Vandalia Bus Lines, the Arcadia Valley Community, the National Guard, and the many volunteers who made yesterday possible. To see an entire community come together to support us is truly inspiring. We are forever grateful to you. To our parents and camp families, thank you for your support and cooperation over the past couple of days. The responses we have been seeing and receiving from our community have warmed our hearts.

How will I retrieve any items my camper left at camp?

We have started the process of going through each cabin to recover items left behind. Items will be sorted by cabin. Wait to collect any salvageable items until after they have been brought to St. Louis. The roads are currently impassable, we will share more information once the roads open and we are ready to begin this process. 

Update: The road into camp is still impassible and we are currently waiting for more information on a repair timeline from the county. We are hoping to get recovered items back to St. Louis within the next few weeks. Additionally, we are are waiting to hear back from a few locations in St. Louis that we have asked to potentially host us for the collection process. We will share another update when we get more information. Thank you for your patience and all of the support we have received.

How will I retrieve any medication that was left at camp?

All emergency medication was packed with the camper by our nurses during the evacuation. Our nurse is organizing any leftover medication, so that it can be brought to St. Louis when we’re able. Please notify your pharmacy and explain the situation if medication is needed before it is able to be returned. Wait to collect any leftover medication until after they have been brought to St. Louis. The roads are currently impassable, we will share more information once the roads open and we are ready to begin this process. 

How can I best support Camp Taum Sauk?

At this time, the most meaningful ways you can support us from home is by continuing to uplift our camp community while helping ensure that only accurate information is being shared to prevent the spread of rumors and fear-inducing misinformation. We are currently working on establishing a larger scale volunteer cleanup effort, however we are not yet ready to begin that process.

We have a current GoFundMe to support our facility and community. The link is https://gofund.me/86613ff9f

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who has donated, shared kind words, and supported the Camp Taum Sauk community and the Smith Family during this incredibly difficult time. The generosity of people from all over the world has given us hope as we begin the long journey to rebuild. Every contribution is helping us assess the damage, care for our community, and move one step closer to welcoming campers back in the 2027 season. While there is still so much work ahead, we remain committed to restoring the place that has meant so much to generations of campers, staff, and families. Thank you again for believing in our camp, our community, and the future we’re building together.

What if my camper is enrolled in a later session this summer?

We will release more information about this later. Families currently enrolled in Taste of Taum Sauk have been emailed information. Thank you for you patience.

How can I support my camper and/or staff member at home?

We are working with a team to compile several resources for you to help support campers and staff back home.

Hearts Connected for counseling services

https://www.heartsconnected.org/make-a-referral

Hearts Connected for financial assistance in counselor and care

https://www.heartsconnected.org/financial-assistance

Thank you for your support during this time and we will continue to add more information and resources. This information may change as we get more details. We are so proud of our team and we love our camp community.