The 15th annual Brister Cousin Camp was held at Rough Creek Ranch between San Saba and Bend from July 1-7, 2012. The cousins and friends, ranging in age from 3 weeks to 64 years, spent the week on Rough Creek swimming in their spring-fed swimming hole, hiking the pasture and bluff, playing games and visiting. They made bows and arrows, fished, played with clay from the clay mine, fed orphaned baby kittens, and ate all kinds of food. Danny, Cindy’s dog, got kicked out of cousin camp for refusing to obey the rules (he kept eating the little kids’ food); this was a behavioral lesson for the campers. They learned about purple fence posts and their significance in announcing, “no trespassing”. They painted fence posts, cooked in solar ovens, planted burr oak seeds, and had a field trip to Brownwood to see a movie and eat at CiCi’s Pizza. The group celebrated the 4th of July by watching the fireworks at the park in San Saba. Baths and bedtime were optional for the campers but everyone had to be up for breakfast and to participate in the day’s activities. The beautiful full moon shone down while they told stories at night and built memories. With no cell service, TV, or Internet, it was a real learning experience for the younger kids. The older ones went to the top of the bluff where they could get a cell signal! Those attending part or all of the week were Barbara Gorter, Hannah and Emily Ghim from Portland, Oregon; Clifton, Tammy, Zachary, Ian, and Paige Brister from Mission, TX; Kristi, A. J., and Veronica Rodriguez of Dublin, TX; Jace Carr of Temple, TX; Olivia Martinez of Sonora, TX; Victoria Richter of Corpus Christi, TX; Jeff and Vernon Brister and Madison Dixon of Hewitt, TX; Braelyn Lewis of Stephenville, TX; Brandy, Byron, Logan, and Parker Grimm of Marion, TX; Casey, Bion, Blake, and Brett Coleman of Water Valley, TX; Savannah and Ethan Sanders of Austin, TX; Joey Christopher of San Antonio; Cindy Prater of San Saba (“Aunt Cindy” - the ring leader); and Marilyn Brister of Dublin. Others who came to visit were Vernon and Judy Brister of near Cherokee, Jackie and Charlene Brister of Bend, Ken Prater of San Saba, Carl Adams of Dublin, and Heather Sanders and Bryan Short of San Saba and Austin. The cousin campers already have a list of activities they want to do next year and are looking forward to Cousin Camp 2013!