Who We Are
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
We are 36 years old.
The Pines Catholic Camp was established in 1988 by Bonni Castellaw Brophy. The 446 campers of that first summer came from 37 parishes in four dioceses. Today, The Pines serves several thousand campers a year through various programs.
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