2025 Full-Time Staff Retreat Recap

The two teams faced off on the revered grounds of the Crier Creek pickleball courts, surrounded by 160 of their friends and coworkers. On one side: a family camp director and a vice president. On the other: a family camp director… and a president. How did we get here? We’ll need to rewind about 24 hours to tell you the beginning of the story…

On the Tuesday before Labor Day weekend, Pine Cove’s entire full-time staff descended on the Crier Creek camp property, ready to spend quality time laughing, worshiping, and fellowshiping with one another. Some traveled from nearby College Station, and others from across the state in Tyler. Some even flew in from Georgia, making sure our Southeast region was fully represented.

The multi-day event kicked off in true Pine Cove fashion: with some hilarious (and extremely rowdy) games in Big Horn! The ball pit balls flew high—and so did the marshmallows—and it was all soundtracked by loud laughs and even louder cheers. After introducing our new staffers and announcing some incredible City team-ups, everyone headed to the White Tail Lodge for dinner!

That night we were treated to a pork tenderloin served with chimichurri sauce, and spent the meal talking, laughing, and getting to know the newest PC staffers. Of course, we couldn’t just dismiss dinner and quietly leave the dining hall. Not when there was a new game to learn: Flip 7! Each table battled it out, shouting and exclaiming and having a blast with this quick and clever card game.

From there, everyone headed back to the Big Horn for what was many people’s highlight of the trip: a time to worship and pray together, followed by an opportunity to hear some stories of the amazing things God did at camp this summer. From sweet moments on the road with City to the mentorship of young college students, plus transformation in the hearts of cooks and kids alike, it’s never been more evident that the Lord is using this ministry for His glory!

On Wednesday morning after breakfast, our CEO Reed “S.I.” Livesay gathered everyone together once again to share stats from the summer and offer encouragement to the staff. Then Craig “Dutch” Langemeier, president of Pine Cove, revealed our new theme for the coming year: “Everyday… Dependence.” Pine Cove has always placed a huge emphasis on prayer, but this year we’ll be leaning even harder into approaching God’s throne consistently, both corporately and independently.

After that session ended, it was time for FREE time! Some staffers headed over to the Ridge to try out the Slick Track or the Flow Rider, a few played basketball at the Outback, while the rest stayed at the Creek for some mini golf, mah jong, or to try some tasty Italian ice! The main activity, however, was the start of the first annual “Shrimp ‘n’ Shock Pickleball Tournament!” Reed (aka “Shrimply Irresistable”) and Jared (aka “Shock and Aww”) oversaw the assembly of a men’s bracket and a women’s bracket, and the players were off! Eager spectators watched as teams got knocked out one by one, until there were just two women’s teams and two men’s teams standing!

The afternoon flew by in a series of sessions, games, and meetings broken out into teams and departments before everyone joined up again for dinner: fish ‘n’ chips!

And that brings us back around to that epic moment from the beginning of our story: the pickleball championship finals. The whole staff filled the bleachers, the ball boys (Landon “Rhymes” Fink and Lance “Socks” Gillaland) took their jobs seriously, and the announcers (Chris “Broflex” Boddy and Colin “Sneaky Pete” Post) offered a mix of color commentary and banter over the song choices on Shock’s playlist.

First up: Annelise “Smilin'” Morrison and Tess “Flee” Wilson took on Bright “Baker Slayfield” Qiu and Maura “Draino” Weems. Both teams battled hard, but team “Bright and Maura” proved unbeatable, and they took home the trophy!

The second match-up of the evening featured a showdown between those aforementioned directors, presidents, and VPs: Marshall “Swole City” Wallace and Taylor “Fish Face” Jervis vs. Coleman “Busta” Ross and Craig “Dutch” Langemeier. It was a thrilling series, and many times they were neck and neck! But in the end, just one team could hoist the hardware high overhead, and Coleman and Craig proved victorious!

At that point free time was on the horizon again, and everyone dispersed to play board games, hit up the mini golf course again, or even take their turn on the pickleball courts! We were treated to a gorgeous sunset which was a great reminder of the One who makes it all possible.

After breakfast on the final morning of the retreat, Craig once again charged the staff with the importance of our everyday dependence on prayer. And we put it into practice right then! Everyone headed out onto the grounds of Crier Creek to spend some time reading Psalm 84 and praying one-on-one to the Creator. You alone are worthy, Lord!

With that, the all-staff retreat came to an end. The camp teams stayed on to be trained on interviewing and hiring for the upcoming recruiting season, while the operations and headquarters staffers hit the road back home.

We were so blessed to get to have this time together, and feel refreshed and energized as we head into the work God has for us as we prepare for Summer 2026! Are you ready, campers? May 24th will be here before you know it…