Owners & Directors
KICKAPOO KAMP, founded in 1925 by Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Ford, has been in continuous operation since that time by second and third generations of the Ford Family. The Fords were both Dallas teachers until retirement and were involved with children all their lives. Today Kickapoo is one of the oldest private camps for girls in the Southwest.
The camp is currently owned by the Ford’s daughter, Bimmie Findlay, and her daughter, Laura Hodges. Bimmie has been closely associated with the operation and management of Kickapoo all her life, and through all the stages - from camper, counselor, and program director, to owner.
Laura Findlay Hodges, the third generation director of Kickapoo Kamp, is in charge of operations for Kickapoo Kamp. Laura is proud to carry on the vision and tradition in camping that was nurtured by her parents and grandparents. She is truly committed to creating a quality camp experience in which girls can make lifetime friendships, learn new skills, and develop an appreciation of nature. Laura graduated from LSU with a degree in Education. She has been active in camping all her life from kamper, to kounselor, to program director, to director. Laura lives in San Antonio during the off season. She is a licensed CPA and completed her Master of Taxation in 1999. Laura has been the treasurer of our state camping association, Camping Association for Mutual Progress (C.A.M.P.) since 1984. Laura is very proud of her three sons: Brian, Chris, and Greg; as well as her three daughters-in-law: Angie, Jessica, and Brandi. She is a huge fan of her grandchildren: Sydney and Kylie (future 5th generation campers), and Kaden, who is a future 3rd generation work boy.
Larry Findlay, Bimmie’s son, is Kickapoo’s facility director. Larry has grown up in the camp industry, attending Camp La Junta and working at Kickapoo as a “work boy” in his younger days. His position requires a great deal of flexibility and talent. Not only does he keep the grounds looking beautiful by planting and maintaining all of the grass and plants, but he also makes repairs around camp and takes care of any cabin maintenance. Larry is indispensable in setting the stage for night programs during each term and is well known for his active participation in BINGO and the awarding of the blanket. Additionally, Larry trains and supervises the “work boys,” oversees the care of the horses, and supervises the Kickapoo Retreat Center during the off-season. Larry attended Del Mar College and worked with his father, Gordon, in the restaurant business for 25 years before devoting his talents to Kickapoo full-time. Larry lives on camp property and is proud of his two sons, T.C. and Ford.
Carolyn Shean aka “Myrtle” is one of Kickapoo’s Assistant Directors. “Myrtle” actually got her nickname at age 9, while she was a Kickapoo Kamper. Myrtle always looked forward to returning to Kickapoo each summer and still treasures the years she spent as a camper and a counselor where she adopted Kickapoo as her second family. Kickapoo had such an important impact on Myrtle’s life that she returned to kamp in 1994 when her daughter, K.C., started attending Kickapoo as a camper. Myrtle enjoys training the counseling staff in hopes of building an environment where girls can feel at home at Kickapoo and develop knowledge of self as well as an appreciation of the great outdoors. “Myrtle” graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in elementary education, and when she is not working at Kickapoo, she works as a literacy coach in Round Rock ISD where she has enjoyed a career in education since 1979. “Myrtle” is proud of her wonderful husband, Bill; her son, Tyler – a former workboy; her daughter, K.C. – a former camper and counselor, and her son-in-law, Sterling.
Aimee Sparrow Bailey is one of the Assistant Directors at Kickapoo Kamp. She has spent more than half of her life at Kickapoo. She spent 5 years as a kamper and when she was old enough, she began to work at kamp as a kounselor. She spent 4 years as the equestrian director at kamp before working as program director. Aimee has worked in her current position since 2000 and enjoys watching kampers develop their skills each summer at Kickapoo. Her outgoing personality and fun-loving spirit make her an asset to the Kickapoo team. Aimee graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. When not having fun at kamp, Aimee lives in San Antonio where she has enjoyed teaching elementary school in the Judson Independent School District since 1998. Aimee is very active in the San Antonio Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae Association and volunteers her time to work with the Junior League of San Antonio. She loves spending time with her two Westie children, Missy and Lilly, reading, and shopping, and listening to live music.