Camp Pinewood (NC)

If you ask anyone who knows me, they'll tell you I'm completely camp obsessed and Camp Pinewood is the reason why. I spent nearly 10 summers there, and it shaped so much of who I am today. My very best friends are my Camp Pinewood friends, and decades later, those friendships are still some of the strongest in my life. Now, watching my daughter enjoy her third summer there, and knowing our son will begin his Pinewood journey next summer, has been one of the greatest joys. Pinewood isn't the fanciest camp, and that's never been what makes it special. The cabins are nice and well kept, the directors are wonderful, and the staff truly care about the campers. It also isn't a tremendously large camp, which gives it such a personal feel. The campers aren't just numbers. Each child is known, valued, and made to feel like an important part of the Pinewood family. What truly sets Pinewood apart is its culture. It's the traditions, the sense of belonging, and the feeling that everyone is part of something special. One thing that has always been a huge plus for us as a Florida family is that Pinewood's schedule works with the Florida public school calendar, making it much easier than many Northeast camps. What I love most is that our kids are getting the kind of summer so many of us were lucky enough to have growing up. They're outside all day, trying new things, laughing with friends, becoming more independent, and making memories that don't revolve around screens. It feels like a true '90s summer in the very best way. The friendships are real, the traditions run deep, and the international counselors bring so much fun and perspective to camp life. My daughter has made the most incredible friends, friends who cheer each other on all year long and pick up right where they left off every summer. Watching her build those lifelong friendships has been one of my favorite parts of this experience because I know exactly how meaningful they can become. Every time old Pinewood photos pop up in my memories, I'm instantly transported back. I remember exactly how that place made me feel, and now I get to watch my own children create those same lifelong memories. For our family, Camp Pinewood has never just been a place to spend the summer. It's part of our story, and I hope it continues to be for many years to come.

An alum camp parent · Jul 19, 2026

As the years go by and those camp pictures pop up in my FB memories, my heart still swells. They instantly take me back to eight incredible summers that shaped both of my children’s lives. Camp Pinewood wasn’t just a camp—it was their happy place. They counted down the days until they could go back each summer, and they came home with huge smiles, endless stories, and a little more confidence and independence than when they left. Both of my children completed the CIT program, and my daughter was lucky enough to continue on as a counselor. My son had planned to do the same, but COVID unfortunately changed those plans. Some of their favorite memories were spent down at the waterfront, during campfires, color-war and the daily trips, laughing with friends and making the kind of memories that stay with you forever. The friendships they made are still part of their lives today. And Im so grateful for that! Pinewood isn’t fancy, and that’s never been what makes it special. What makes it special are the people, the traditions, the sense of belonging, and the way it helps kids grow into kind, confident, independent young adults. Spending their summers in the North Carolina mountains were magical. The food is good. Tons of options. The bunks are not air conditioned but the bathrooms are in the bunk. Camp is divided into girls Hill and boys Hill. They hire a bunch of international counselors, which my kids loved and my children have kept in touch with some of their counselors for many years after camp. My daughter became such close friends with one of her counselors that she was in her wedding party last year. As a parent, there is nothing more meaningful than knowing your children spent so many summers feeling loved, accepted, and truly happy. We will always be grateful to Camp Pinewood for giving our family memories we’ll treasure forever. It will always hold a very special place in our hearts. My younger nephews are continuing in tradition and attending Camp Pinewood now!

Lee · Jul 12, 2026

If you ask anyone who knows me, they'll tell you I'm completely camp obsessed and Camp Pinewood is the reason why. I spent nearly 10 summers there, and it shaped so much of who I am today. My very best friends are my Camp Pinewood friends, and decades later, those friendships are still some of the strongest in my life. Now, watching my daughter enjoy her third summer there, and knowing our son will begin his Pinewood journey next summer, has been one of the greatest joys. Pinewood isn't the fanciest camp, and that's never been what makes it special. The cabins are nice and well kept, the directors are wonderful, and the staff truly care about the campers. It also isn't a tremendously large camp, which gives it such a personal feel. The campers aren't just numbers. Each child is known, valued, and made to feel like an important part of the Pinewood family. What truly sets Pinewood apart is its culture. It's the traditions, the sense of belonging, and the feeling that everyone is part of something special. One thing that has always been a huge plus for us as a Florida family is that Pinewood's schedule works with the Florida public school calendar, making it much easier than many Northeast camps. What I love most is that our kids are getting the kind of summer so many of us were lucky enough to have growing up. They're outside all day, trying new things, laughing with friends, becoming more independent, and making memories that don't revolve around screens. It feels like a true '90s summer in the very best way. The friendships are real, the traditions run deep, and the international counselors bring so much fun and perspective to camp life. My daughter has made the most incredible friends, friends who cheer each other on all year long and pick up right where they left off every summer. Watching her build those lifelong friendships has been one of my favorite parts of this experience because I know exactly how meaningful they can become. Every time old Pinewood photos pop up in my memories, I'm instantly transported back. I remember exactly how that place made me feel, and now I get to watch my own children create those same lifelong memories. For our family, Camp Pinewood has never just been a place to spend the summer. It's part of our story, and I hope it continues to be for many years to come.

An alum camp parent · Jul 19, 2026