G’day from Pine Cove Outback—where there are no dingoes or boxing kangaroos. Whew! This awesome camp for 6th – 8th graders is located right outside of Columbus, Texas between Austin, Houston and San Antonio. The Outback is filled with fun, excitement, and most importantly, an environment with Christ-centered counselors that promotes life transformation. Serious fun? You bet!
An accredited organization with more than five decades of experience, Pine Cove offers adventurous activities, solid Christian role models, and a safe, Gospel-focused environment that’s perfect for first-time (or eleventh-time!) campers. From activities like swimming pools and zip lines to seriously fun theme nights and high-energy worship sessions, a week of Christian sleepaway camp at the Pine Cove Outback is packed full of meaningful experiences that campers will remember forever!
At Pine Cove, excellence in high-energy activities and memorable camp moments is only the beginning—our ultimate goal is to inspire every camper to walk more intimately with their Savior, Jesus Christ. Through intentional gospel discipleship with Christ-centered counselors and character-building adventures, kids experience more than a week of summer-time fun—they learn how much God loves them and wants to know them forever.
The Outback youth camp is located just 70 miles from Houston, 80 miles from Austin, and 120 miles from San Antonio. Our spot just north of I-10 on Highway 70 in Central Texas is easy to get to from wherever you are!
From skits to activities to Bible study, each day is unique – but equally seriously fun!
Choosing an overnight camp is a big decision! Let's talk about how camp can help support your parenting goals by reinforcing the spiritual lessons and biblical truths you're already instilling in your child. Our camp experts would love to connect with you to learn more about your camper and help you decide if Pine Cove is the right fit for your family this summer!
Looking for an excuse for your child to have some time away from phones, tablets, and other distractions? Pine Cove is a “phone-free” camp–including our staff! So instead of turning to social media, text messages, or other outside voices, they’ll be able to focus on building connections with new friends, learning about the truth of the Gospel, and being mentored by our Jesus-loving college staffers. Don’t worry–the CampLife App will keep you in touch! As campers step away from their phones and tablets, they’ll get more undistracted moments to focus on faith, friends, and fun.
“Pine Cove is INCREDIBLE!!! It’s not only a week of fun, but a week of growth and maturity in the Lord. I can’t thank the counselors and all the staff enough for what they poured into my son in a week. Pine Cove is truly a place to send your children to, they will learn so much, and make forever memories.”
Middle School Camper Parent
Dexter "Pikapoo!" Carter graduated from Dallas Baptist University before completing Pine Cove's Forge leadership training program in 2015. He served as a Pine Cove City Site Director for three years before taking on the role of Forge Men's Director in 2018. After more than four years with the Forge, Dexter transitioned to his current role as Outback Director.
Seth “Alabamer Charmander” Tunstall served on summer staff for three years at the Ridge before graduating from Auburn University with a degree in Business Administration. He joined the full-time team at the Outback in 2024 as the Men’s Director. Seth and his wife Julie, have a daughter who was born in 2025.
Kate “Bones” Swanner served on summer staff for five summers at the Towers before graduating from Baylor University with a degree in Child and Family Studies. She is originally from Plano, TX and joined the full-time team in 2024.
Christina “Speast” Hartmann serves as Women's Director at the Outback. Originally from Spring, Texas, she graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She served five summers with City Team Alpine before completing Pine Cove's leadership program, the Forge, and joining the full-time Outback staff in 2026.
Seven signs that your child would thrive at summer camp
Looking for even more camp? Our two-week programs don’t just extend the fun of a week of camp—they’re full of unique and exclusive experiences, from guest speakers to serving alongside staff to intentionally moments designed to fuel their faith. Don’t miss your chance for MORE!
“Camp continues to give our daughter the comfort to grow and speak confidently about her faith! Counselors like “Chex” keep her focused and wanting to live life like Christ!”
Middle School Camper Parent
Such a great—and tough—question! As you know, kids grow and mature at different rates, hitting various milestones at different times. With that in mind, we put together a guide to help you navigate this question! From whether your child can handle large groups and loud noises to their ability to follow instructions, there are a lot of markers to look for as you determine if your child is ready for camp. Check out 7 Signs Your Child is Ready to Thrive at Camp for more information.
Yes! All new-to-overnight youth campers can get $250 off a week of camp by using the code on our discounts page. That page includes other ways to save on camp!
We don’t have an online schedule for you to see, as different camps (and even different days) have a tendency to vary a bit. But here’s an idea of the flow of a typical day at youth camp: Flag and quiet time before breakfast, followed by Bible study and a few activities. Then it’s time for lunch, FOB (rest time), and more activities! After some free time, it’s dinner, that evening’s theme night, a snack, Club, and then bedtime. We make sure campers get about 7-8 hours of sleep each night so they’re ready for another full day of camp in the morning!
Check out our blog post for more details on a day that’s anything but typical.
The biggest difference is the gift of extra time with their counselor and cabin mates to create a deeper community and friendship. Additionally, two-week campers get to attend exclusive speakers and worship sessions. Plus, with unique activities, theme nights, and bible studies, campers will get a new experience each day! Learn more about two-week programs here.
It’s possible, since we do have a few cancellations during the spring, but we encourage you to also find an available week so you make sure you have a spot. You can be registered for a session and on a waitlist at the same time, and if you get off the waitlist, you have the option to switch over!
First of all, we are so excited you will be joining us for the first time this summer. Here is a link to our Coming to Camp pages which will include all of the helpful information you need to know when getting ready for camp for the first time!
