Parent Prep 101
Your quick stop for information about packing for camp, check in and out procedures, the Camp Store, camper mail, and our camp app!
Summer Camp Packing List
Rest easy knowing you haven’t forgotten anything! Check out our suggested packing list and mark off each item with your camper.
Packing Tips
Label your clothing and items with your camper’s name or family's last name. It will help your camper return home with all of their belongings.
Consider sending a printed checklist with your camper (along with pictures for young campers). This will help them double-check to make sure they have everything as they pack up.
Some families choose to pack their camper’s outfits individually in ziplock bags so that they have each day’s clothes organized and ready to go.
Having two pillowcases on your camper’s pillow makes for a great late-night pillowcase replacement as well as a sack for dirty sheets.
High school campers participate in Java Jam (a camper-favorite talent show). Campers are allowed to bring an item (e.g. a guitar) for the show, but The Pines will not be responsible for any items lost, damaged, broken or stolen.
Check-In
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Check-in begins: 3:00 PM
300 White Pine Road
Big Sandy, TX 75755For safety and scheduling reasons, there will be no one to assist you or care for campers before 3:00 PM on Sunday. Upon your arrival, we ask you to remain in your vehicles until our staff greets you and gives you directions for dropping off luggage and where to park.
We also ask that cars do not block the entrance to camp, as there may be service vehicles and charter bus arrivals prior to 3:00 PM.
All campers must be signed in and out by a parent or guardian over 21 years of age.
If you know in advance that you need to arrive after our scheduled check-in time, please contact the Dallas Office at 214-522-6533 for assistance. If last-minute arrival issues arise, please contact the Camp Office at 903-845-5834.
Check-in Procedure
Pick up your check-in procedures postcard at the front gate.
Park where directed and have your camper’s luggage tagged to be taken to their cabin.
Follow the road down to the Pavilion with your camper, where you will complete a health screening.
If applicable, you will check in all prescription and over-the-counter medications at the Pavilion. All medication must be in original containers. Send only the amount your camper will need to last through their session. Place medication in a well-marked, re-sealable plastic bag.
Continue on to your camper’s cabin. Meet and greet your camper’s counselors.
Help your camper settle into their cabin.
Say goodbye to your camper with big hugs!
On your way out, stop by the Camp Store to check your camper’s account balance, add funds, or purchase a Camper Pack.
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Please see our Bus Transportation page for more information about bus check-in.
Check-Out
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Saturday closing prayer service: 9:00 AM
*Teen Week Friday closing prayer service: 4:00 PM
All campers must be signed in & out by a parent or guardian over 21 years of age.
Families are invited to meet us in the Center Lodge at 9:00 am (or 4:00 pm for Teen Week). If you prefer to hear our staff reveal their real names, you can join campers in The Cathedral for all of Closing Ceremonies.
Meet your camper’s friends and take final camp pictures.
When Closing Ceremonies are concluded, campers will be dismissed to walk to the Pavilion with their cabin to reunite with parents.
Collect all your camper’s luggage and remaining medication.
Check the lost and found for any missing items. The Pines is not responsible for items left at the campsite. Unclaimed lost and found items will be donated to charity at the close of camp.
Check out your camper with her/his counselor.
Drive home safely and have a wonderful summer!
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Please see our Bus Transportation page for more information about bus check-in.
Dining at The Pines
Curious about the food at camp? We love breaking bread together in the Dining Hall!
Camp Store
Campers have time each day during Paradise where they can visit the Camp Store. You can add money to a camper’s account or send them with the means to make purchases at camp.
* please note that it may take up to 24 hours for a camp store credit made in CampInTouch to be available in the Camp Store
Camper Mail
Campers love to receive messages from home! Letters and packages are delivered to campers after lunch during Rest Hour. Here are a few ways to ensure your camper has the fun of receiving mail at camp:
Through the App
You can write letters — and request responses — from our new app to keep in touch with your camper while they are at camp!
Go to the Letterssection.
Click on the pencil in the top right corner to start a letter.
If you would like to request a reply from your camper,* check the box that reads, "I want a handwritten reply." This will generate a printed page for your camper to write back to you! This page will be provided to your camper to reply. When your camper has completed their letter, we will scan and upload it. You will receive their response through the app!
*Please note that we cannot guarantee that your camper will take the time to reply, but we will encourage them to do so!
IMPORTANT INFO:
Letters received by 8 am will be delivered to cabins for Rest Hour (after lunch) that day.
Delivery Schedule:
Monday delivery: anything sent Sunday 3 pm – Monday 8 am
Tuesday delivery: Monday 8 am – Tuesday 8 am
Wednesday delivery: Tuesday 8 am – Wednesday 8 am
Thursday delivery: Wednesday 8 am – Thursday 8 am
Friday delivery: Thursday 8 am – Friday 8 am
Mail sent after 8 am on Friday will not be delivered at all. Please do not send email after 8 am on Friday.
Camper response emails will be uploaded only on Wednesday.
We encourage you to only request two response letters during the week.
Sending Letters Without the App
You can send letters to your camper using your CampinTouch dashboard.
Guest Accounts
Will Grandma and Grandpa want to send them letters, too? To allow permission for others to write your camper digital letters and see photos during the week, create a guest account for them through your CampinTouch account dashboard. This will provide them access to a CampinTouch dashboard. (Guest Accounts do not have access to the Campanion App at this time. We have relayed the request to Campanion!)
Click on Guest Accounts near the bottom of the page and fill in the information for them.
Pre-Packaged Mail
Drop off your notes or care packages at check-in! Please CLEARLY label each piece of mail with your camper’s name AND the day you would like it delivered. When you arrive for check-in (bus or campsite), you will need to add your camper’s cabin number to each piece of mail before dropping it in the mail bag (bus) or bins (camp).
Please do not pack perishable goods — we don’t want to give critters any extra temptation to make themselves at home in the cabins.
Snail Mail
It’s always nice to receive a handwritten letter, but it’s not uncommon for the small post office in Big Sandy to be overwhelmed during the summer. If you want to be sure that your camper receives a handwritten letter, please consider the Pre-Packaged Mail option listed above.
If you do choose to send a letter through the mail, please use the following address:
The Pines Catholic Camp
[Camper Name], Cabin [Number]
300 White Pine Rd.
Big Sandy, TX 75755
Campanion App
Read more here about our main hub for communication while your camper is having the best week of their summer!
Camper Photos
What you can expect regarding camper photos and communication:
MEDIA TEAM:
We have a team of 2-3 staff members on Media Team this summer. They are not professional photographers and are learning to shoot camp photography this summer. Please be patient with this team as we try to capture memories for you to keep after the week is over.
POSTING PHOTOS:
We try to have a photo album posted every day for the previous day’s activities. Due to the pace of camp life and circumstances that may arise, we cannot guarantee an upload date. New photo albums will show up on your Campanion Stream tab.
Our goal is to capture the moments, memories, and friendships that make camp special. There may be days when you do not see a photo of your camper. We have 3-4 photographers trying to cover 140 acres and capture photos for 300+ campers. If your camper hides from the camera or chooses not to be photographed, we will respect that.
Photos shared through the app should not be considered “proof of life” pictures. If you are worried about your camper, please contact the registrar — and remember that no news is good news. We will always contact you if there are ever any concerns about your camper.
Viewing photos
Camper photos are posted through the Campanion app and the CampInTouch dashboard.
Campanion app: Click the icon in the top left corner. Click on the Photos tab to view albums.
Albums will also appear in the Stream tab of your app.
Desktop/laptop: Go to your CampInTouch dashboard and click on the Photos link on the home page.
Photos and CampStamps Payments
You will see links on the CampInTouch dashboard for Cart and Photos and CampStamps Payment.
Please read for more information:
“Add to Cart” Options
Photos through Campanion and CampInTouch are FREE for you to download and use however you want. You will see an option to order products through the CampInTouch dashboard (not available on Campanion). These products are produced and shipped by a third party, and we do not receive any information about or revenue from these products.
CampStamps
Please disregard anything that has to do with CampStamps or purchasing postcards. We do not use this feature.