Scenic view of trees at camp

Category: Camp Culture


25 Core Values for Your Family

by Pine Cove

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Christ-centered. Others-focused. Seriously fun. These are Pine Cove’s core values. From crazy skits to deep conversations to high energy times of worship, everything we do gets filtered through those three principles. They help to ensure that Pine Cove stays true to who God has created us to be, so that no matter the changes we […]

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“Fall”-Themed Camp Names

by Anna Birch

Towers Name Game

Camp names are supposed to embody the staffer’s personality while typically putting a smile on the face of anyone who hears it. Some names are just so memorable, we can’t stop talking about them!  We thought since the weather is getting cooler, leaves are on the ground, and pumpkin spice everything is in the air, […]

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Our Favorite Camp Names From 2018 (So Far!)

by Chelsea Connor

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For anyone who has ever been on Pine Cove staff, even thinking about the classic “Name Game Song” will bring up a familiar feeling of excitement, anticipation, and creative juices flowing. It’s a feeling that never quite goes away. We like to call it serious fun. The Name Game started this week at Training Week, […]

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The Gospel Cheer

by Kathryn Shoaf

Worship at Camp in the City

At Pine Cove, we have a cheer for nearly everything: Bible study, lunch, free time, sitting down, club, soup, cleaning, and competition represent only a handful of our chants. We cheer because we are excited about every aspect of camp. But the most important thing that we do at Pine Cove is share God’s story […]

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Staff Profile: Jenny “Whistle Toe” Sowers

by Pine Cove

Jenny Sowers

Jenny “Whistle Toe” Sowers graduated from the University of Oklahoma (OU) in 2008 with a degree in language arts education. She served as a summer staffer at the Ranch, and then transitioned into working in registration, and finally came to the Woods in 2012 as the Women’s Director. Whistle Toe guides the girls staff at […]

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Blessing Our Military Families

by Susan Andreone

Military camper

When Darlene, a military wife and mom from Fort Hood, Texas, learned that her husband was going to be deployed this summer, she knew it was going to be hard. It was always a challenge to parent five little ones, but when her husband was away, it was especially difficult. She longed to plan a […]

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My Child’s First Time At Overnight Youth Camp

by Valerie Morby

Youth campers in the pool

Editor’s Note: The following post was written by Michelle Tanzola, a mom who sent her daughter to the overnight youth camp at Pine Cove for the first time this summer! Last year her daughter experienced Camp in the City for the first time. Read about that experience here. If the Olympics gave medals for summer camps, Pine […]

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Camp in the City: Day Camp in Your Neighborhood!

by Hannah Carter

Camp in the city camper on bungee trampoline

Seven years ago when we started Camp in the City, we never would have imagined taking camp to 100 different locations all over the South. We have the coolest jobs ever! We get to partner with the best churches while providing an awesome camp experience for them and the people in their communities. Nearly 450 […]

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How Pine Cove Came to Be

by Bill Hendricks

Pine Cove Founder Bill McKenzie

What should I do with my life? Sooner or later, everyone asks that question. Many never come up with an answer, and far too many come up with the wrong answer. Some pursue things that don’t fit them. Some chase money instead of what matters. Some just settle for any old job that pays. Worst […]

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Winter Nights: Pine Cove Christmas Album

by Valerie Morby

Winter Nights artwork

Winter Nights is Pine Cove’s first-ever Christmas album! Our desire is that this album would invite our campers, friends, and other listeners in to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ with us in a fresh, authentic, and fun way. Come sing along with us as we proclaim the arrival of our King with […]

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