Worry Free FAQs

Pine Cove is a non-denominational, Gospel-based Christian ministry. We welcome campers from a wide variety of faith backgrounds. Our statement of faith summarizes what we believe. 

Summer camp is the perfect opportunity for kids to take a break from technology! With this in mind, we ask that campers not bring their devices to Pine Cove. This gives them a chance to focus on building relationships with their counselors and fellow campers, enjoy time spent outside doing seriously fun activities, and experience a totally phone-free week! (But don’t worry—our full-time camp staffers are equipped with phones, so no need to worry about us being totally out of touch!)

We believe summer camp helps every child thrive! If you’re unsure if your child is ready, though, check out this resource or call us at 877-474-6326.

We don’t have an online schedule for you to see, as different camps (and even different days) have a tendency to vary a bit. But here’s an idea of the flow of a typical day at youth camp: Flag and quiet time before breakfast, followed by Bible study and a few activities. Then it’s time for lunch, FOB (rest time), and more activities! After some free time, it’s dinner, that evening’s theme night, a snack, Club, and then bedtime. We make sure campers get about 7-8 hours of sleep each night so they’re ready for another full day of camp in the morning!

Our staff are very well trained to care for campers that are homesick! If the camper is having a rough first night at camp and staffers have done what they can, our staff will call you for some helpful tips. If the homesickness continues, we will call a camper’s parent or guardian so they can speak with them directly.

Reed “S.I.” Livesay is the CEO of Pine Cove. Craig “Dutch” Langemeier is the President. See all of our leadership here. 

No camper will go hungry while they’re at Pine Cove! Every day we serve delicious, kid-friendly food (and offer seconds), provide extra options at each meal, and offer a post-dinner snack every night. In addition, campers can visit the camp store to purchase a mid-day snack!

Yes, campers can bring their own snacks! Any food must be stored in resealable containers (to help keep the ants at bay!) and is available during daily rest time. 

Pine Cove summer staffers undergo extensive training in the areas of activity safety, abuse prevention, and more for 1-2 weeks before the start of summer.

The entire Pine Cove staff must undergo extensive training in the area of abuse prevention and the specific rules and procedures we have in place. All told, the Pine Cove staff undergoes training that is twice as long as what is mandated by the state. 

One of our required practices is the Rule of Three. Trips to secluded areas such as bathrooms should involve three people so that no two individuals are alone in private at any given time. Monitoring is also an important abuse prevention tool because it decreases the opportunity for abuse to happen. The staff all monitor one another, and camp leadership is also constantly monitoring staff and campers.

It is important to have multiple ways to report abuse. If a camper is in a situation where they felt threatened, abused, or unsafe, we encourage them to either talk with a staff member, or to use the anonymous reporting system known as the “Talk Box.” Every camp has a Talk Box available to collect anonymous or signed notes at any point in the week.

Pine Cove has been awarded Praesidium Accreditation by Praesidium Inc., an industry leader in abuse risk management.

While we do have peanut free kitchens, we are not a fully nut-free camp. Campers are able to bring their own snacks from home, which may include items containing peanuts or other tree nuts. There are also a few items containing peanuts that are available for purchase in the camp store.

However, Pine Cove is prepared to accommodate food allergies in our kitchens! Before each week of camp, the Director of Food Services in each of our regions receives a report detailing the names and requirements for every camper with a food allergy. Then our cooks take great care preparing meals for those with allergies in a separate section of the kitchen with clean utensils in an effort to prevent cross-contamination. 

Additionally, we also make food alternatives available at every meal, from yogurt and oatmeal at breakfast to salad bars and “build your own sandwich” stations–featuring sun butter (made from sunflower seeds), honey, and jam, plus pre-made gluten-free sandwiches made with Nutella (hazelnut butter) or sun butter—at lunch and dinner!

We plan the menu for each meal with the age of our youth campers in mind, offering delicious food like beef tacos and honey butter chicken biscuits. However, there are always other alternatives available at mealtimes, like yogurt and oatmeal at breakfast, an extensive salad bar at lunch and dinner, and fruit at every meal. Additionally, there is a “build your own sandwich” station at every lunch and dinner featuring sun butter (made from sunflower seeds), honey, and jam, plus pre-made gluten-free sandwiches made with Nutella (hazelnut butter) or sun butter.

No camper will go hungry while they’re at Pine Cove! Every day we serve delicious, kid-friendly food (and offer seconds) and provide extra options at each meal, like yogurt and oatmeal at breakfast and salad bars, fruit, and “build your own sandwich” stations—featuring sun butter (made from sunflower seeds), honey, and jam, honey, and jam, plus pre-made gluten-free sandwiches made with Nutella (hazelnut butter) or sun butter—at lunch and dinner! We also offer a post-dinner snack every night. In addition, campers can visit the camp store to purchase a mid-day snack!