The Pines Catholic Camp

Bringing campers closer to Christ through the joy of our Catholic faith!

Priest celebrating Mass outside

Our Mission

Our mission at The Pines is to empower every camper and staff member to encounter God and to live their faith with joy and confidence through distinctly Catholic camp ministry built on faith formation and fellowship and set within the beauty of God’s creation.

We are Catholic.

At The Pines, our identity as a Catholic camp is central. Our goal is to give youth the confidence and strength they need to continue their faith journey and to help them foster healthy vocations.  As a result of an experience at The Pines, our campers return home with a desire to live joyfully and to confidently build the Kingdom of God.

Throughout the year, we provide retreat ministry and hospitality to guests who rent our facilities. Our Missionary Program allows us to walk with future ministry leaders as they grow in their abilities to lead and facilitate retreats, give talks, and do incredible relational ministry.

We are accredited.

As a leader in outdoor ministry and education, we take our accreditations and certifications seriously. We are proud to be affiliated with and supported by the following organizations:

  • American Camp Association member

  • Christian Camp & Conference Association member

  • National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) member

  • American Red Cross: Lifeguard and First Aid training

  • Adventure Experiences: Ropes Course training

  • Freedom Defense Training: Riflery Sports training

  • Dr. Bradley Robertson: Health Center Policies and Consultations

  • Virtus - Protecting God’s Children: Safe Environment training
Founding directors in front of camp office

We are 36 years old.

The Pines Catholic Camp was established in November of 1988 by Bonni Castellaw and Judy Brophy. The 446 campers of the first summer in 1989 came from 37 parishes in four dioceses. Today, The Pines serves several thousand campers a year through various programs over the entire year!

Located in Northeast Texas

Our campsite is nestled in the Piney Woods of East Texas, just two hours east of the DFW metroplex.

300 White Pine Road
Big Sandy, Texas 75755