Pine Cove’s In-Depth Guide to Closing Celebration and Pre-Registration at Youth Camp

We hope you had a great week and we are excited to see you back for Closing Celebration tomorrow! Upon arrival, we know you will be looking forward to seeing your camper and hearing about their experience. Amidst the excitement, you may have a few questions throughout the pick-up process.

Where do I go when I get there?

When you pull in the front gates, you will be greeted by our friendly summer staff who will direct you where to park. You can find your camper hanging outside with their friends and counselor or you might meet them inside once Closing Celebration starts.

How long does closing celebration last?

Plan on being there around an hour. You might be there a little less if you’ve got to get on the road or a little more if your campers just can’t part with their new camp friends! The actual ceremony lasts around 45 minutes.

What’s this clipboard? Should I pre-register for next year? What are the benefits?

As you gather by cabin, your camper’s counselor will hand you a clipboard with information to pre-register for next year. If you know your camper is absolutely going to return, we recommend pre-registering. The majority of our weeks fill up quickly and this is the only way you are guaranteed a spot for the following year! Pre-registration also allows you to get on a payment plan earlier which helps a lot of our families spread out the cost throughout the year. Final bonus: they get a cool pre-reg gift just for signing up onsite!

That sounds good, but what if my summer plans change?

We know summers change from year to year. Pre-registration locks your camper in for the week they attended in the region they attended, but you can switch to another available week between August 21st and August 22nd at no additional cost before the general public can register. Plans change after those dates? No problem! You can still switch anytime during the year as long as there is an available spot. You can do this by going online to your account or by calling our registration department at (877) 474-6326.

Can I cancel after pre-registering?

Let’s be clear: if you are not sure that pre-registration is right for your family, don’t feel pressured to pre-register. However, if you do pre-register and change your mind, you can cancel before August 14th and receive a refund for anything paid thus far. After August 14th, the $200 deposit is non-refundable.

I’m just not sure!

It’s okay! You have until August 14th to decide if you want to pre-register. It’s convenient to do it on property but you can go online or call to get pre-registered anytime before August 14th.

What if we have a friend who wants to be in the same cabin as my camper next year?

Sounds fun! If your camper’s friend has never come to camp before, make sure they go online and registered on our open registration day, August 23rd. Once they are registered you can go through the cabin mate request process and get in the same cabin. Is the friend already pre-registered? Great! Exchange contact info with the mom and on August 23rd you can go in and do cabin mate requests to get your campers into the same cabin.

What’s a CQ? Is it important?

At the end of Closing Celebration, your counselor will gather the cabin and encourage each camper by pointing out strengths they saw in them throughout the week. We call these “CQs” or “Character Qualities.” It’s pretty special for a lot of our families and is something campers look forward to from year to year. You’ll receive a digital copy via the CampLife app!

What if I have multiple children at camps with the same Closing Celebration time?

We have a lot of families in this situation. Our advice is to divide and conquer. If you’re unable to do so, no worries! Communicate with your child beforehand and tell them what to expect. Our counselors will take good care of your camper from drop off to pick up, so they’ll stick with them until you arrive!

What do we need to make sure we do before we leave?

After CQs, pre-registration, and goodbyes, you will want to make sure you do a few things before you leave. The biggest ones are picking up your camper’s meds, checking lost and found, and picking up their luggage. We don’t need your camper’s stuff anymore! The camp store is open with drinks, snacks, and Pine Cove merch if you want to pick something up. If you have any other questions or need anything before you head out, find someone in a Pine Cove Closing Day shirt or a Pine Cove polo – they’ll be happy to help!