About
Mission & History
Camp Aranzazu (pronounced Ah ran' zah zoo) is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with special needs and chronic illnesses by providing unique camping, environmental education, and retreat experiences.
Since opening our doors in 2006, Camp Aranzazu has served more than 27,000 campers and their support staff. Camping groups come from more than 55 counties in Texas to enjoy our 105-acre, barrier-free facility on Copano Bay, near Rockport, Texas. Regardless of any physical or developmental limitations, everyone can fully participate in and enjoy all the typical camping activities at Camp Aranzazu, such as fishing, swimming, sailing, archery, arts and crafts, and more.
Aranzazu is a Basque term that means “a spiritual place requiring a difficult path to reach.” At Camp Aranzazu, our campers are able to leave behind the stresses of their physical, medical, and emotional challenges, and spend time outdoors, socializing and interacting with others who face similar challenges.
From 1959 to 1996, part of the current property served as the Bishop Elliott Conference Center, an Episcopal Church retreat facility. Houstonians and camp founders Tom and Holly Forney purchased the first 20 acres in 1997. After spending several years enjoying the property, they decided to share the historically and ecologically rich land with others.

Quick Facts
Our Facilities
Camp Aranzazu is located on 105 acres on Copano Bay near Rockport, Texas. On the inland side of camp, we have four guest cabins with a total of 135 beds, a dining hall that accommodates 350 people, an art center, two swimming pools, an archery range, Ropes Challenge Course, sanctuary, and two freshwater ponds. Our 28 acres on Copano Bay are accessible via a 600-foot bridge and feature a fishing pier, floating dock, nature education building, bird blind, boardwalks and firepit. We have a lot to explore!
Board of Directors
- Fields Alexander, Vice-President
- Director
Beck Redden
Houston, Texas - Daryl Allen
- Managing Director
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Houston, Texas - Mary Margaret Ara, M.D.
- CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi
Hospitalist
Corpus Christi, Texas - Traci McLester Arellano
- Executive Director | Government Banking
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Houston, Texas - Sara A. Baldwin, Ph.D., RN, APHN-BC
- Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Emeritus Professor, Retired
Corpus Christi - Casey Cullen
- Partner
Cullen, Carsner, Seerden & Cullen, LLP
Victoria, Texas
- John C. Elkins
- Associate
Ytterberg Deery Knull LLP
Houston, Texas - Kathie Forney
- Forney Search
Founder & Coach
Houston, Texas - Tom Forney, Founder
- Chief Executive Officer
Forney Construction
Houston, Texas - John Guill
- Associate, Private Banking
CADENCE Bank
Houston, Texas - Bobby Hatcher, Treasurer
- Avalon Investment & Advisory
Houston, Texas - Hunter Hawkins
- Hibbs-Hallmark & Company San Antonio
President
San Antonio, Texas
- Denise Hazen
- Creative Director
Aspire Accessories
Houston, Texas - Keith Little, Chair
- Energy Industry Executive
Houston, Texas - Marks Moore
- Marks Moore Photography
Owner
San Antonio, Texas - Bryan Phillips, Secretary
- Partner
Ytterberg Deery Knull LLP
Houston, Texas - Joanne Taylor
- Community Volunteer
Rockport, Texas - Greg Watson
- McNair Interests
Houston, Texas
Advisory Board
- Katie Mattingly Brass
- Community Volunteer
Houston, Texas - Blake Finger
- Hazel Smyth Jewelry
San Antonio, Texas - Tom Flaherty
- Business and Financial Consultant
Houston, Texas - Robin Floyd
- Community Volunteer
Houston, Texas - Shannon Gunn
- Gunn Automotive
San Antonio, Texas - Gloria Hicks
- Partner, Ed Hicks Imports
Corpus Christi, Texas - Mark Kelly
- Chairman
Vinson & Elkins, LLP
Houston, Texas
- Jack Kins
- Senterra
Houston, Texas - Chip Jenkins
- First State Bank
Louise, Texas - Rob McClane
- Luther King Capital Management
San Antonio, Texas - Alison Leland McKinney
- Political Science Instructor
Houston, Texas - Jeff Panknin
- Rock City Church Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas - Katherine Smelko
- Captrust
San Antonio, Texas - Ashley Rhodes Smith
- Navy Army Community Credit Union
Corpus Christi, Texas
- George Strickhausen, IV
- Developer, The Preserve
Rockport, Texas - Linda Strickland
- Community Volunteer
Houston, Texas - Ronarose Train
- Author
Corpus Christi, Texas - Shannon Turner
- Community Leader
San Antonio, Texas - John Watson
- JMI Inc.
Houston, Texas
Camp Staff

Lillian Anfosso
Finance and Administrative Director

Ted Birmingham
Sailing Supervisor

Gillian Hale
Program Supervisor
Hannah Heide
Program Supervisor

Bianca Hernandez
Development and Communications Project Manager

Mandy Hood
Facilities Director

Carleigh Mitchell
Program Manager

Kate Plouvier
Development Director

Kurt R. Podeszwa
President/CEO

Amelia Smith, CTRS
Camp Director

Carson White
Facilities Manager

Paige White
Administrative Assistant
Foundation Staff

Virginia Calton Ballard
Executive Director of the Camp Aranzazu Foundation
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