Category: Stories
by Lizzie Klein
Every week at Pine Cove, hundreds of counselors pray for God to move in mighty ways in their cabins. Of course, God hears every single one of those prayers and answers them all in different ways! Often that looks like the Lord intentionally putting a counselor in a camper’s life who understands exactly what they […]
Tags: life change, story
“It truly is my dream job and I was able to get this position way ahead of the game. It was the complete opening of a door that didn’t make sense,” Kayla shares as she reflects on her experience of getting hired as a practicum student at the HOPE Child and Family Center of Texas. […]
Homecoming in Texas is no joke. We bring out the Texas-sized mums, roll out the bands, decorate the halls, and all gather around with excitement for those Friday night lights. You know the feeling (or can remember it with some nostalgia). The people you know and love all in one place, the eager anticipation, the […]
Tags: alumni, life change, stories
There are Pine Cove families, and then there are PINE COVE families. If you were born into the latter, you’ll undoubtedly relate to the Ummels: Shannon and her husband David met while working at Pine Cove in the 1980s. Their children have grown up attending summer camp at Pine Cove. Their oldest daughter, Lauren, just […]
Tags: life change
Starting in the summer of 1971, Teresa “Chigger” Roberson spent many summers and weekends at Pine Cove. As a close friend of the McKenzie family and a Tyler native, Teresa and her group of friends went to church together and worked at camp together. Before developing into twelve camps in three regions, Pine Cove consisted […]
Tags: life change
At the start of 2014, David and Misti Maddron’s family had recently doubled in size. Adam and Autumn, both adopted like the oldest, Andrew, had just joined their family, and Misti was about to give birth to their first biological child, Asher. In the midst of this rapid family growth, Andrew, a third grader, heard […]
Tags: life change
by Emily Harmon
Scaling your way to the top of a huge climbing wall. Trying out a daring flip on the bungee trampoline. Making your way up, around, and over an inflatable obstacle course. Each of these Pine Cove City activities may seem challenging at first, but every year campers and counselors face them head on, breaking down […]
Tags: life change
Just like the rest of the world, Mindy Van Andel watched the pandemic news closely this past spring. Early on, she had an idea that the coronavirus would somehow impact camp. Her kids weren’t scheduled to attend youth camp for four more months, but the Lord was already stirring something inside her, whispering for her […]
Tags: life change
The summer of 2018 was a season of grief and hope for Caitlin Keeney, but she was reminded of the Lord’s promises through a hang time with her counselor, Anna Joy, or “Oovoo Javier.” Caitlin grew up in Tyler, Texas, spending many of her summers as a Pine Cove camper. Camp became a refuge for […]
Tags: life change
As Caleb Kirk navigated the twists and turns of his freshman year at Auburn University, he slowly began to realize that he was craving something. He did not know what this yearning was for, but he knew there was something missing, a void to be filled. The following summer, he watched in awe as the […]