Today we packed and watch the video yearbook, tonight we do awards and candlelighting, and tomorrow morning we’re off. Just like that, summer 2026 will be a distant memory.
Of all the gifts you can give your children, we truly believe that camp is the greatest gift of all. You can’t give your kids independence, resilience, grit, lifelong friendships, a sense of belonging, adventure, but you can give them camp. Thank you for entrusting us with *your* most precious gift. We have loved having your camper up where the sky begins with us this summer for what we think was our best season yet.
Your camper has heard us say it before, but it’s worth repeating now: camp isn’t just a place on a map, it’s a place in your heart. We hope that memories of Pine Forest Camp give your camper happiness and confidence in every season, through every stage of her life.
What was the surprise, or “break,” that started it all?
As Survivor Day came to a close and the excitement of the rope burn settled, a new sound drifted across camp. In the distance came the gallop of horses, the twang of a banjo, and the unmistakable beep, beep of an antique car horn.
Then, over the hill and onto Mitchell Field, came a parade unlike any other.
Campers rushed to join the spectacle as a hayride wound its way into camp and down a secret trail behind Girls’ Loop. Waiting there was an incredible surprise: the ropes course had been transformed into a full-fledged rock ‘n’ roll stage.
The excitement only grew from there. Hal Schwartz soared across the sky on the zip line as a Pine Forest Color Days anthem filled the air. Pyrotechnics exploded, the crowd erupted, and the spirit of competition officially came to life.
Color Days lasts for 3 full days of competition with games, skits and songs all culminating in “The Sing.” To follow every score, game, and exciting moment, we have a special page designed just for PFC’s Color Days. Keep checking it for the latest news!
Reminder: Please no visitors at camp for any reason.
Our Hi-Senior 10s had the adventure of a lifetime to upstate New York. Starting on day one, our campers got to spend all day at Six Flags Darien Lake, where they braved some intense roller coasters, indulged in some excellent theme park classics like funnel cake, and won great carnival prizes – including a life-size dog stuffed animal! After an action-packed day, they headed back to their hotel in Niagara Falls, NY.
On Day 2, the 10s got to experience one of North America’s natural wonders by riding the Maid of the Mist and going into the heart of Niagara Falls! Campers looked on in awe in their ponchos as the mist poured down on us. After that, they headed to Church Street for a nice lunch and some Niagara souvenirs. In the evening, campers got to explore Walden Galleria and got to have a nice dinner with friends (with some shopping thrown in as well)!
Day 3 was a wet one – while the Rochester Redwings game got rained out, we pivoted to a movie, and then headed off to Ithaca Commons. We rounded out the trip with a nice dinner with friends, reminiscing on the memories we made the past three days and looking forward to the rest of what awaits us back in Greeley!
9s:
We started out swinging with an awesome tour of Fenway Baseball stadium in Boston. The campers were bewildered by all of the history of the ballpark and stoked to get to sit in the seats in left field on top of the Green Monster. Next up we explored downtown Boston by doing some shopping on Newbury St and stuffing our faces at the shops in Quincy Market. It was a short ride to our hotel where campers got to live it up in the lap of luxury.
Day 2 started off with a beach trip to Old Orchard Beach in Maine. Campers braved the cold water, body surfed, and then shopped and had a great lunch. A quick trip back to the hotel to shower up and head to the Old Port section of Portland, Maine for shopping and dinner. Seafood was devoured at restaurants like J’s Oyster and the Portland Lobster Company. With exhaustion setting in and an early morning departure, it was back to the hotel for some much needed r and r.
With rain in the forecast for Day 3 we made the best of Lake Compounce being closed and headed to Spare Time in Bristol, CT. Campers ate delicious pizza, played laser tag and tried their best at scoring a 300 in bowling. After quick ride west on Rt 84 we arrived at Danbury Fair mall for some end of trip shopping and dining. It was Chipotle, Cava, and Chick Fil A for most of the campers.
All in all it was an incredible time had by all in New England!
8s:
Rain, rain, and more rain haha. But the kids did a great job of making the best of it. Persevered and swam in the lake as well as hiked to the waterfall without complaining despite the weather. Bonded over some touch football and a great breakfast at Monroe CC. We had the waterpark to ourselves so the kids enjoyed all the slides as many times as they wanted. The waterpark served us delicious burgers and chips. The Seneca Zoo was amazing with an impressive variety of animals including Giraffes, Lions, and a wolf. Walked around Ithaca Commons and found some great restaurants and local merch.
The seniors had a blast (even in the rain) while riding the water slides at Rose Land Water Park. There were not many people so they were able ride all the water slides! They LOVED stopping for dinner and shopping which included Five Below and Chick Fil A among other places. They hiked to waterfalls and had fun eating dinner and walking around Ithaca Commons. They returned to camp with matching Ithaca is Gorges t shirts.
7s:
Despite the rain the 7’s trip was a great success! After years of watching upper campers head out on trips it was finally their turn. No amount of rain was going to stop this group from enjoying their first PFC trip.
36 campers (15 girls and 21 boys), 7 counselors, and 3 trip leaders pulled out of camp Tuesday morning and headed for our first stop on the Adirondacks trip, The Zume Flume Waterpark in New Durham NY. The weather held off and the kids and counselors enjoyed a line and rain free morning on the slides.
At about 2:00 the slides closed due to lightning in the area so we hopped back on the bus and headed for SUNY Albany. We quickly unloaded our things into the dorms and by 5:00 we were back on the bus for our next stop, Lake George. At Lake George, between the rain drops, we shopped and had dinner and walked around the lake. Then we headed back to the SUNY Albany dorms for the night.
On Wednesday we grabbed breakfast at the dining hall, and then made our way to Howe Caverns for a subterranean tour and boat ride through the water carved limestone caverns. Very cool! The final stop on our trip at the Baseball Hall of Fame included the museum, dinner and shopping in Cooperstown NY.
Time on the bus was spent watching movies, singing songs, playing two truths and a lie over the intercom, and enjoying each other’s company. Although it was a lot of driving, the campers were never bored and laughed their way through the rain soaked mountains of NY. We returned to camp at 9:30 pm on Wednesday night, with giant smiles, deeper bonds and a greater appreciation for our “home away from home” here in Greeley PA.
Excitement was in the air today as we welcomed family and friends for Visiting Day 2026! What an amazing day all-around! Parents gushed over all of the amazing artwork campers have been working on all summer, families swam in the pools, tackled the Wibits at the lake, and even enjoyed a snippet of this year’s production of Legally Blonde at Netsy Playhouse! It was quite a day!
The warmth we felt wasn’t even weather-related (although we couldn’t have asked for a better day!), it was the warmth from our camp families joining us “Up Where the Sky Begins!” And you know what makes the day even more special? So many parents who were once campers and counselors, reconnecting with old camp friends. Former campers and counselors who made the trip to Greeley to spend a few hours in their favorite place with their favorite people. Our special 10-Year Tree Ceremony, where we celebrate those who have officially spent 10 summers here at camp. Noticing a trend? PFC is simply irresistible!
We already can’t wait for Visiting Day 2027! We hope to see you there! Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming. Campers all had time to cool off in the pool when Visiting Day ended, and tonight boys’ camp will be busy making s’mores around the campfire while girls’ camp will participate in the much anticipated annual MTV Night! We have a few more precious weeks to soak up all this fun!
Our Summer 2026⚡️ COLLEGE DAY ⚡️ opening ceremonies were as exciting as could be! The crowd went wild as this year’s teams took over Chadwin Court! 🥁….
🇦🇷 BLUE ARGENTINA 🇯🇵 WHITE JAPAN 🇸🇳 YELLOW SENEGAL 🇳🇴 RED NORWAY
record scratch
We interrupt this College Day announcement with record-breaking news! 🏀
Our Hi-Senior boys’ basketball team rolled in as the entire camp pivoted to cheering for their huge win as “We are the Champions” played: #1 at the Miller Cup tournament against several other camps! 🏆 🗞️
⚠️ We’re hitting pause on College Day activities to prioritize our health and safety. It’ll be a late sleep-fueled “rainy day” schedule up here until the skies clear. Stay cool! 😎
1. What is your favorite canteen snack? M&M, Skittles, Sour Patch
2. What is one thing you have noticed since being without technology this summer? Reading more, more times with friends, playing games
3. What is the most adventurous thing you have tried at camp? Ropes, lake, zipline
Inter Girls
1. What is your favorite canteen snack? crunch, rolo, twix
2. What is one thing you have noticed since being without technology this summer? reading more, more active, trying more things and socializing more
3. What is the most adventurous thing you have tried at camp? ropes, mountain biking, fishing competition
Senior Girls
1. What is your favorite canteen snack? Crunch bar
2. What is one thing you have noticed since being without technology this summer? We have bonded with our friends more and it has brought us closer together, also it has made us more creative
3. What is the most adventurous thing you have tried at camp? Big swing at ropes
Hi-Senior Girls
1. What is your favorite canteen snack? Crunch
2. What is one thing you have noticed since being without technology this summer? Living more in the moment
3. What is the most adventurous thing you have tried at camp? Fishing trip, and bootcamp class in fitness
Junior Boys
1. What is your favorite canteen snack? Tie between Kit Kat and Crunch
2. What is one thing you have noticed since being without technology this summer? My eyes feel much better. Not waking up and grabbing my iPad.
3. What is the most adventurous thing you have tried at camp? Ropes. The Big Swing. Zipline
Inter Boys
1. What is your favorite canteen snack? Tie between Kit Kat and Skittles
2. What is one thing you have noticed since being without technology this summer? Able to notice more things. Able to see more natural objects (trees, animals, birds)
3. What is the most adventurous thing you have tried at camp? Spoken to more people outside of my bunk. Trying new sports.
Senior Boys
1. What is your favorite canteen snack? Skittles
2. What is one thing you have noticed since being without technology this summer? Doing more activities with our bunks and being more observant.
3. What is the most adventurous thing you have tried at camp? Different things at the lake.
Hi-Senior Boys
1. What is your favorite canteen snack? Twix
2. What is one thing you have noticed since being without technology this summer? Learning how to communicate face to face.
3. What is the most adventurous thing you have tried at camp? River trip
It’s been a gorgeous day in Greeley, PA today! It’s not too hot, and it’s not too cold. We love the sunny skies and the breeze in the mountain air! And our grilled cheese, waffle fries and tomato soup on the side was the perfect lunch for weather like this. We’ve been eating a lot of watermelon at camp this summer, too. It’s been especially delicious!
Today our TOP gymnastics campers headed out for the beginning of their gymnastics intensive and TOP basketball spent the day on Max’s Court. We’re also SUPER excited to welcome back our 11th graders from Costa Rica! It sounds like they had an EPIC adventure, and we’re so excited to see them back, “Up where the sky begins!”
This afternoon, Mickey’s Book Club met under the tent and shared in their excitement about The Wild Robot Protects. They enjoyed cookies and fresh lemonade before heading off to an afternoon of activities. We’re looking forward to the Friday Night Campfire!
Overall, it’s been an active week filled with friendly competition and incredible evening activities! Basketball Leagues continue to be the highlight for many campers, while great camp food, especially Chinese, Grove Breakfast, and pizza, has been a major hit. When campers have free time, most are happiest relaxing with their friends in or around their bunks! Read on!
We invite you to schedule a one-on-one, interactive family tour of camp, led by one of our awesome camp leaders. You'll meet our owners/directors and learn more about our amazing, 95-year camp history and traditions. Come feel the love and warmth that Pine Forest Camp has to offer! Email hillary@pineforestcamp.com to coordinate!