Author: Pine Cove
by Pine Cove
Parenting is an ever-evolving journey filled with challenges, joys, and countless decisions. One of the most significant milestones for both parents and children is learning how to navigate time away from home safely. Whether it’s a school or church trip, a sleepover, or a summer camp, teaching our children about personal safety, boundaries, and self-advocacy […]
Tags: safety, summer, worry free
Inside the Cove | Stories | Summer Staff
by Pine Cove
Believe it or not, it’s time for us to sing the Birthday Rap to the Ranch—our East Texas junior high camp just turned 50 (let’s count ’em!) years old! The Lord has used the Ranch to transform the lives of thousands of campers and staffers since its very first summer back in 1974. Buildings have […]
Inside the Cove | Spiritual | Stories
by Pine Cove
Editor’s Note: The following story was shared by Kyndra “Crusty” Samaniego, a current student of Pine Cove’s Forge program. The Forge Class of 2025 is back from Turkey! A once-in-a-lifetime trip like this is not easy to put into words, but we’re going to try our best to recap all the incredible experiences we had […]
Tags: faith, forge, lessons, life transformation
by Pine Cove
As our niece’s stuffed corgi’s grandpa’s dogwalker’s roommate always said: not every day is your birthday. (So true.) But one day a year, it IS your birthday, and that often ends up being a pretty memorable event! We asked our staffers to tell us about some of their favorite birthday memories, and got some pretty […]
Tags: birthday, staff favorites
Camp Culture | Inside the Cove
by Pine Cove
We asked our staffers what their most hilarious skit moments were. From raw fish to broken doors, you don’t want to miss this! Skippy the Fish “Way back in the day—when the Ranch dining hall was still down by the pool (and had a fireplace with vent holes near the stage, which becomes important later)—we […]
Tags: bloopers, funny, skit stories, staff favorites
by Pine Cove
At Pine Cove, we strive to follow the example Jesus set of hospitality throughout His earthly ministry. There are many great books on the topic that have helped us focus on creating a welcoming and others-focused environment, several of which have been encouraging and engaging reminders of how we can strive for hospitality both on […]
Tags: book recommendations, hospitality reads, recommendations, resources
by Pine Cove
At each region, our summer staffers gathered to kick the year off together. Hear from our program teams on how it went and take a look at some highlights of the first annual Pine Cove staff conference! “It was so encouraging for staff to be together as the new year started! Just the concept of […]
Tags: conference, renew, summer staff
Camp Kit | Inside the Cove | Parenting
by Pine Cove
Welcome to your family’s guide to winter fun at home! Inspired by the serious fun of camp, we’re here to bring laughter, creativity, and meaningful moments to even the chilliest of days. Think dance parties in the living room, skit nights with unexpected plot twists, and purpose-filled projects that make everyone feel connected. These ideas […]
Tags: activities, family fun, winter days
by Pine Cove
The holidays are full of surprises, and so are the boxes wrapped under the tree! This month, our staff is sharing their most hilariously silly Christmas gifts. Whether it’s a gerbil in a wheel or a VHS tape with a twist, these stories are sure to bring a little holiday cheer (and maybe a few […]
Tags: christmas, gifts, silly, staff favorites
by Pine Cove
Editor’s Note: The following story was shared by Sami Grace “Scoob” Donnelly, a summer staffer at the Pine Cove Woods. I was a Crew counselor for Week 5 in 2022, so I was super excited when I found out my assignment for Week 5 of 2023 was Crew again. My old cabin and my new […]
Tags: prayer, story, summer staff, woods, zipline
