Each camper has their own camp store account that parents can fund before they arrive at camp! To fund your camper’s account, log in to your account and proceed to the section titled “View Camp Store Account” to add funds.

While at camp, campers may use their Camp Store account, cash, or cards.

Check out our Parent Prep page for packing information!

Campers are grouped by the grade they will be entering in the fall.

• Water Village: 2nd-5th grade

• Branch Village: 6th- 8th grade

• Fire Village: 9th-12th grade

In general, cabin assignments are grouped by Village first and then by age. For example, Branch Village cabins might have one cabin with rising 6th grade, one with 7th, and one with 8th.

We make every effort to honor the first 3 cabinmate requests that each camper makes, but they are not guaranteed. You can make requests by completing the Cabinmate Request Form in your account's Forms & Documents section. All requests must be submitted by May 1.

For a request to be honored, campers must be within one school grade of each other, the same gender, and in the same Village (age group).

Cabins:

• Water Village (rising 2nd-5th grade): 1 counselor for every 6 campers

• Branch Village (rising 6th-8th grade): 1 counselor for every 8 campers

• Fire Village (rising 9th-12th grade): 1 counselor for every 8 campers

There is a minimum of two counselors assigned to every cabin.

In general, our overall staff to camper ratio is roughly 1 staff member for every 2-3 campers.

Activities:

• We have 1 counselor for every 6-8 campers in all of our activities.

• For specialized activities (water, ropes, target sports activities, etc.), we abide by supervision rules regulated by the relevant accredited organization.

Campers from different Villages will see each other at the flagpole, during meals, and at Night Game but will be with their own Villages for activities and spiritual programming. They’re sure to run into each other during transitions and different parts of the day, too!

Absolutely. Campers who cannot swim can still fully participate in camp. We conduct a swim test on Monday morning of camp, and every camper is given a colored wristband determined by their swimming abilities. This wristband designates what section of the pool they are allowed to use, if they need a life jacket for the pool, and if a counselor must be in close proximity to ensure their safety.

The swim test consists of swimming the width of the pool (25 ft) without touching the bottom and treading water for 30 seconds.

All campers, regardless of swim ability, wear a life jacket during all activities on the lake.

We know it can be a challenge for some campers to be away from home for a week. Every summer, we help coach campers of all ages to grow through this experience, refocus on the fun to be had at camp, and finish out the week with confidence.

The American Camp Association has a helpful article to read about homesickness and how to prevent it, as well as some of the strategies that we use at camp!

For more in-depth information about our specific procedures, please see this overview of Homesickness at Camp.

See our Parent Prep 101 page for information on how to send mail and email to your camper.

We would love for your camper to get a package, but please do not mail it! Please drop it off when you drop off your camper (at camp or at the bus)!

Care packages are a fun way of surprising your camper and sending some extra fun for their week. Be as creative as you want!

Please include fun items but keep them non-perishable, as in, no food items. We love animals and critters, but we like to keep them outside the cabins!

The best care packages are the camper packs available in our Camp Store! When you pre-order them, they are delivered to your camper on the first day of camp.

Yes. You may find that we do better than most camps at accommodating campers with food allergies and restrictions! We are able to safely host campers with concerns from severe peanut allergies to gluten-free diets.

Please designate your camper’s allergies and dietary restrictions on their Health History form. If your camper has a life-threatening allergy or if you have other questions, please email Katie, who will be able to explain our dietary accommodations and answer any questions. Her email is katie@thepines.org.

Please visit the Health and Safety page for more information on medication management at camp.

Our counselors are trained to treat any accidents with the utmost discretion.

If this is a concern for your camper, we recommend that 2 sets of twin sheets should be packed for them. If needed, the counselor will have the camper shower and change clothes while the bedding is changed. The camper bedding and clothes will be washed and dried the following day and returned to the camper.