Save the Date
To Celebrate 40 Years of Impact at Peaceable Kingdom
Event Details
Join us in celebrating 40 years of impact at Peaceable Kingdom by Variety! This community event honors four decades of partnership and impact with children with disabilities and complex medical needs in Texas. The event is appropriate for Texas children, families, and supporters with and without disabilities, and alcoholic beverages will be served after 6 pm. We will be open to the public from 11 am – 9 pm on Friday, December 5th, 2025.
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Location: Peaceable Kingdom by Variety
Hosted by: Variety of Texas
Address:
19051 FM 2484
Killeen, TX 76542
Please RSVP by Monday, December 1st
Event Schedule
Doors Open: 11:00 a.m.
Lunch at the Lodge: 12:30–2:30 p.m.
Dinner at the Lodge: 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Campfire Celebration: 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Theater in the Woods (Looping Slideshow): 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Event Ends: 9:00 p.m.
🌟 Special Features
Heart of Variety Tree Display
Experience a stunning tree adorned with 900 handmade ornaments, each symbolizing the 3,000 Texas children and families currently awaiting support through our Heart of Variety Grant Program. Every ornament tells a story of resilience, hope, and the power of community.
One Last Zipline
Take part in a beloved Peaceable Kingdom tradition as we offer one final zipline ride across the treetops.
Who can participate: Former staff (by request, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.) and community members, as space allows.
Accessibility: Adaptive harnesses and staff support are available upon request.
Donations: Suggested contribution of $35 per person (pay what you wish; free for former staff).
Join us for this joyful celebration of connection, adventure, and shared memories.
🌟 Join Our Volunteer Team
Help bring the magic of this celebration to life! Whether you love decorating, serving guests, or crafting from home, there’s a way for everyone to get involved.
🎄 December 1–4: Create the Magic
Join us at Peaceable Kingdom to decorate the lodge and our beautiful Heart of Hope tree display. Bring your holiday spirit — we’ll provide the supplies!
✨ December 5–6: Celebration Days
Be part of the action as we welcome guests and celebrate together. Volunteer roles include:
Event setup and cleanup
Food service and TABC-certified bartenders
Campfire hosts and theater support
Parking and wayfinding assistance
First aid and hospitality teams
💻 From Home Opportunities
Can’t join us in person? You can still make an impact!
Create handmade ornaments using our provided template and drop them off by December 4. Each ornament will represent a Texas child or family seeking support through our Heart of Variety program.
Accessibility: We offer both on-site and from-home volunteer options, and all event spaces are accessible.
Ready to help?
Sign up by Sunday, November 30th and be part of something joyful, meaningful, and uniquely Variety of Texas.
Overnight Accommodations
Overnight Guest Eligibility: Former staff and special guests (by request and donation, respectively)
Current Staff: The Banowsky Bunkhouse is reserved for current staff plus 1 guest each
Capacity: Up to 90 guests
Suggested Donation: $100/person; Pay-what-you-wish to cover cleaning fees
Requirements: Bring your own linens and pillows; sign an insurance waiver
Checkout: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 6 (breakfast on your own)
Please RSVP to Attend or Register for your Overnight Stay
by Monday, December 1st
Peaceable Kingdom began in Central Texas in 1984 as a small fishing camp created to honor Charles Schreiner V, an infant who passed away from congenital heart disease. With leadership and generosity from the Bowmer, Mayborn, Custer, and Schreiner families and generous community members from around the state of Texas, the camp grew into a welcoming place where children and families could enjoy nature together.
Over time, the camp grew and became known as an inclusive space for children with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities, as well as children with special healthcare needs. Hospital and community partners, like Baylor, Scott, and White and Texas Scottish Rite for Children, helped expand the programs offered to families, an Texas donors including the Mitchells, Holmes, Mayborns, Custers, Connells, and Cinemark built new facilities including an accessible clinic, challenge course, adaptive archery range, adaptive swimming pool, lodge, and magical movie theater in the woods.
In 2012, Peaceable Kingdom joined with Variety – the Children’s Charity of Texas, marking the start of a new chapter. For the past 13 years, Variety of Texas has cared for the property with strong support from the Mayborn family, the Custer family, the Mitchell family, the Holmes family, Keurig Dr Pepper, Carl C. Anderson Sr. And Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation, Moody Foundation, and Cinemark, who helped sustain camp programs, accessibility improvements, and family services. Together, we expanded Peaceable Kingdom to include a sensory friendly barn, adaptive playground, Ft. Walter treehouse, Banowsky bunkhouse for children and summer staff, and renovated the roll-in pool to serve thousands of children annually.
As we close 2025, we honor three important milestones:
13 years since Peaceable Kingdom and Variety of Texas came together,
40 years of impact at Peaceable Kingdom in Central Texas, and
90 years of Variety of Texas serving children and families across the state.
Thanks to decades of dedication from founding families, community partners, and supporters, Peaceable Kingdom has been a place where children of all abilities could explore the outdoors, try new activities, build confidence, and create lasting memories.
We hope you will join us this December to celebrate 40-years of life-changing impact for Texas children with disabilities and complex medical needs.
“Peaceable Kingdom has been so much more than a camp—it has been a community where children and families feel seen, included, and celebrated.”
— Tony Adamson, Board Chairman of Variety of Texas
If you would like to volunteer, please let us know by Sunday, November 30th
Accessibility & Accommodation Requests
Peaceable Kingdom by Variety is designed with accessibility in mind. Accessible parking is available at both the Lodge and the Theater in the Woods. Please note that there is a hill between the parking field and the Lodge, and from the Lodge to the Theater. If you would like any accommodations or assistance to participate comfortably, please let us know when you RSVP.
Alcohol will be served after 6 p.m. Guests who may need personal or mobility assistance are welcome to attend with a community attendant, family member, or support person.
Hosted by Variety – the Children’s Charity of Texas
Variety – the Children’s Charity of Texas is a 90-year-old nonprofit organization that partners with children with disabilities and their families to expand access, inclusion, and opportunities across the state. We support children with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities year-round by strengthening the resources and environments that help them thrive. Our mission is to provide equipment, services, and experiences that enhance autonomy, belonging, and joyful participation in all areas of life.
Since 1936, Variety of Texas has connected families with thousands of pieces of essential equipment—such as electric wheelchairs, adaptive bikes, communication devices, and mobility aids—that increase access and support each child’s preferred ways of moving, communicating, and engaging. Over the last 20 years, we have invested more than $3.5 million in medical and therapeutic resources for families who encounter gaps in traditional coverage. Our programs foster inclusive environments that honor each child’s strengths and support meaningful participation, confidence, and joy.