Someone has to be first! In 1928, it was Jervey DuPre who signed up to be Camp Pinnacle’s first camper. He is still alive today and 3 generations and countless members of the extended DuPre family have attended Pinnacle over the years! Jervey would see many changes at Camp Pinnacle if he visited today but […]
Virtual Tour
At Camp Pinnacle, you’ll make lifelong friends, learn from fantastic role models, and have more fun than you thought possible.
Virtual Tour
At Camp Pinnacle, you’ll make lifelong friends, learn from fantastic role models, and have more fun than you thought possible.
North Carolina’s Best Summer Camp
Providing a safe, substantive, and exciting sleepaway summer camp experience through personal attention to every camper, our caring, and our competence is Camp Pinnacle’s top priority. We’d love to speak with you today!
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Congratulations Jervey DuPre – Our first Camper – on your 100th birthday!
Electronics and Nature
A prevailing theme in American life today is that the more digitally connected we are, the better off we are “supposed” to be. We all generally accept the rush to new and better digital technology and the pace of change is so fast, there is no framework to judge if ultimately our digital world is […]
Reflecting on the Gift of Camp
Relaxing after a Sunday dinner, my wife Margo and I engaged in a lively conversation about camp with my visiting parents. I asked what it was 31 years ago that inspired my parents, who had never been to an overnight camp themselves, to make a huge financial stretch and send their 8 year old son […]
Reopening Camp Pinnacle
How much fun is this? Bringing this great camp back to life is so much more fun than if we were starting our own. It’s an absolute joy to see the smiles on alumnae’s faces and hear the laughs in their voices when they discover that the institution that meant so much to them and […]
Summer 2025: A Season of Growth and Gratitude
As we reflect on Summer 2025 at Camp Pinnacle, one word stands out most: gratitude. We are grateful for our campers, who brought boundless energy, curiosity, and joy to every day. We are grateful for our staff, who invested deeply in creating a safe and supportive community. And above all, we are grateful for you, […]
Camp Pinnacle Welcomes New Chef
Camp has a funny way of bringing people into our community when we need them most. At the beginning of the year, we were seeking a new executive chef to lead our culinary operations for both our wedding and summer seasons. The chef role at Camp Pinnacle is unusual compared to many other camp […]
What’s New at Camp!
There are many things that make Camp Pinnacle the best summer camp in the US. Our values shine through in everything we do. The community we build is supportive, inclusive, and fun. We make excellent use of the space that we have and the location we are in. One of the things that makes us […]
Welcome Rylie, our new Program Director!
We’re ecstatic to introduce our newest member of our Director Team, Rylie Young! Rylie has taken on the role of Program Director and is overseeing all our off-camp trips and on-camp program areas. Growing up in Minnesota, Rylie attended summer camp for three summers and began her love for camp at an early age. She […]
Camp Pinnacle Is a Leader in Summer Camps!
Steve Baskin Named Head Board Chair of American Camp Association The Camp Pinnacle team runs like a well oiled machine. We answer phones, make sales, hire counselors, and lay the foundation for a successful summer every year. There is someone behind the scenes who guides us with his wisdom and helps make sure we […]
Welcome, Gretchen!
After four years of Pinnacle summers, we are saying goodbye and thank you to our Office Administrator, Madison Bain. Many of you had the chance to interact with Madison during your phone calls, emails, and opening day camp store shopping at Camp Pinnacle. You were surely greeted with a warm smile and excitement for the […]
Starting a New Year with Gratitude and Thanks
In our leadership program at camp, affectionately known as the “Wolfe Pack,” campers take part in conversations facilitated by our director team geared towards growing as leaders, as members of a community and, most importantly, as individuals. Each workshop focuses on a theme that we think is important. One of the themes for our Pups […]
Living the 5 R’s
On Sunday, November 5th, I ran the New York City Marathon. The sense of pride and accomplishment I felt crossing the finish line after running (and a little bit of walking) for 5 hours and 20 minutes was something I have never felt before. I have done a lot of reflecting over the past month […]
Halloween: Repurposed
Happy Halloween, Camp Pinnacle families! Alice here! As a lifelong theater kid and camp kween, I am a big costume person and I lean hard into Halloween. I have gone with silly puns, cultural commentary, pop music icons, beloved animated characters, and inanimate objects. I used to save every costume in a giant bag *just […]
Explore Hendersonville this Summer!
Western North Carolina is a beautiful place to send your child to summer camp. With lovely weather, unmatched nature, high adventure, there is a peacefulness that is hard to find beyond the Blue Ridge. We are so grateful that you chose to send your child to Camp Pinnacle, and you deserve to enjoy the area […]
I get by with a little help from my friends.
Do you have a camper who loves to help? A child that, while you were baking cookies, desperately wanted to help and ended up getting batter all over the kitchen? Or that time when your child spilled red paint on the carpet and decided to “help” by mopping it up with the fancy towels reserved […]
Meet Alice Haefeli, Hillside Director!
Hey Y’all! I adopted “y’all” while living in Texas. It didn’t feel natural saying it. I grew up in a “you guys” household in the northeast, so even hearing “y’all” was unfamiliar. But after adjusting to it, it became my favorite way of addressing a group of people. “Y’all” is inclusive. You don’t have to […]
Camp Pinnacle Wolfe Pack – Pt. 2
On opening day, I met 15 teenagers who were excited to be the Wolfe Pack but didn’t quite know what they were in for. There were challenges at first. Waking up early, being on time, running their own schedule, communicating with younger campers, public speaking, facilitating activities, etc. did not come easy for all. Despite […]
Camp Pinnacle Wolfe Pack – Pt. 1
From Greg Golf – A few years ago a friend asked, “What are the top 3 experiences in your life that made you the person you are today?”. Without skipping a beat I was able to answer this question with certainty: traveling solo to countries where I didn’t speak the language, starting my own business […]
A summer to remember.
As we take a deep breath and wrap up another amazing summer, we’re left with incredible memories of all our campers and staff – evenings in the Council Ring singing “Pinnacle Kids” across the lake, cold plunges into the Nantahala River on rafting days, and starting the day with our Good Morning song led by […]
What’s New at Camp
Spring at Camp Pinnacle brings a lot of excitement to our camp family. Inflatables and boats are making their way back into Wolfe Lake, mountain biking trails are getting a fresh trim, and flowers are peaking out to welcome our pre-summer weddings. Everywhere you look there is progress being made and noticeable evidence of the […]
How to Pack for Camp
We are getting closer and closer to camp, so here in Flat Rock we are full steam ahead getting ready for campers to arrive! As you are making your own preparations, you probably have a mental checklist of tasks related to camp. Forms? Done. Sorting out travel plans to camp? Done. Packing? Let’s talk about […]
Introducing New CP Team Member: Margaret Timberlake
As we approach the summer, we are delighted to welcome our Hillside director, Margaret Timberlake to the leadership team. In her past three summers at Camp Pinnacle, Margaret has developed a deep appreciation for our wonderful camp community. Margaret is excited come back to Camp Pinnacle for her fourth summer and to contribute to creating […]
What it Means to be a Camp Nurse
This blog comes to us from Nurse Anne. Originally from Wales, Anne has lived in the US since 1988. Anne has worn many hats, enrolling in nursing school in 1993 and gravitating immediately towards pediatrics. Anne is a certified pediatric registered nurse with 29 years of practice experience, and three of those were in Africa […]
Welcome Back, Walker
We are incredibly excited to welcome Walker Hendry back to our director team this summer. After two summers away, it did not take too much convincing that this is where he is supposed to be. Walker rejoins us for 2022 over seeing the boys’ side of camp. Known for his skills branding paddles, Walker will […]
New Staff Spotlight
Meet Corey Elliot How did you find out about Camp Pinnacle? I found Camp Pinnacle through one of my lifelong friends Max Albers, who will be returning for his third summer at camp this year – watch out for this dynamic duo! That photo is of Max and me on a camping trip. After going […]
Introducing New CP Team Member: Anna Terry
We are thrilled to introduce our newest year round staff member, Anna Terry as our office administrator. Anna is a Furman University graduate with a Masters degree from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. After seventeen years as a community development practitioner internationally and in the Southeast, Anna is excited to bring her administrative skills to […]
Camp is Like College, Just a Little Bit Early
Well, it’s much too early for parents of current campers to be thinking about college. We like to think that camp is just one of many stops (college being another) that if approached properly will help our kids transition to adulthood and live bold lives filled with growth, adventure, and learning. Parents often mistake preparing […]
Introducing New CP Team Member: Jack Privette
As we enter a new season at Camp Pinnacle, we are thrilled to introduce our newest year round team member: Jack Privette. Jack hails from North Wilkesboro, NC and has worked at Camp Pinnacle for the past two summers. In 2020 Jack joined Pinnacle’s summer staff as our Head of Ropes and he returned in […]
A Reflection on Summer 2021
By Jane Dockendorf As we wrap up summer 2021 and the completion of 10 summers as the “new” Camp Pinnacle, we are so grateful and humbled by what we have accomplished and the trust you have placed in us. In 2012, our first summer, we served a total of 102 campers (about half of whom […]
What’s New for Camp Pinnacle 2021
Late May is always the time for “all-hands-on-deck” as we make sure that Camp Pinnacle is ready to go by opening day. Even though we have been preparing since last August, getting camp ready always seems to come down to the wire. We bite off too many projects each year and then keep dreaming of […]
A Few Thoughts about Fayssoux Moss
By Steve Baskin I want to share a few thoughts about Fayssoux Moss. Almost eight years ago, we conducted a nationwide search for an assistant director to join our brand-new team at Camp Pinnacle. Back then, camp was much smaller and less complicated. We had no Sky Park, only half as many biking trails, and […]
Learning about Nature at Camp Pinnacle
Hi! I’m Charlie Kendrick, and I’m happy to be returning to Pinnacle this summer. I grew up coming to Pinnacle as a camper and later as a counselor. When I became a school teacher (currently I’m the media specialist at Blue Ridge Middle School in Greenville County, SC), I got to return to camp in […]
Introducing New CP Team Member John Burton
As summer draws closer, we are getting so excited about welcoming our campers on opening day! We want to reaffirm our commitment to our mission: to create the safest, most exciting, and most substantive summer camp experience through our personal attention to every camper, our caring, and our competence. To help fulfill this mission, we […]
Camp Photos During the Summer
Returning parents know it, and first-time camp families will soon understand: Seeing photos of your child having fun while they’re away at camp is a huge deal! The Camp Pinnacle media team understands that the photos and videos we upload in the summer are a window into your child’s Pinnacle experience, and we take that […]
Camp Pinnacle Families’ Advice for New Campers
Going to sleepaway camp from the first time can be nerve-wracking due to the uncertainty of a new experience. However, Camp Pinnacle campers and their families will tell you that spending a few weeks at camp is an incredible way to try activities that they don’t do at home and step out of your comfort […]
What’s new at Camp Pinnacle for 2021
Tom and the entire facilities team have been hard at work preparing camp for summer 2021! For our returning campers who weren’t able to attend in 2020, we know you’ll be wowed with two years’ worth of renovations and additions to explore on opening day. And for those who came last year, we can’t wait […]
Goodbye 2020, Welcome 2021!
It’s with great eagerness that we look toward the hope and change that 2021 will surely bring. But as we reflect on 2020, we are truly thankful for continued good health in our Pinnacle community as our hearts go out to the many folks who have suffered loss and illness this year. Though this has […]
Behind the Scenes at Camp Pinnacle
In fall, winter, and spring, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes at Camp Pinnacle. On Instagram, we asked campers and parents what they want to know about our off-season, and wow, we had some great inquiries! Below, the low-down on all things camp. What’s it like being at Pinnacle without campers? […]
Fall 2020 at Camp Pinnacle
It’s been an unusual autumn at Camp Pinnacle—no surprises there. Back when things were “normal,” we barely noticed the transition from summer camp to our fall weddings and school programs. In a typical fall, the day after our summer campers depart, we host a week-long program for underprivileged kids in our community. Every succeeding weekend […]
Summer 2020: Our Most Rewarding Camp Season Yet
It has been an absolute privilege to be able to operate Camp Pinnacle this summer. To be able to see the joy on children’s faces as they reveled in face-to-face connections with friends for two weeks at camp in the middle of a pandemic has been the most rewarding summer we have ever had! The […]
Advice for Coming to Camp Healthy – Straight from the Nurse
By Andrea Little Gray, head nurse A healthy camp experience starts at home The build-up to going to camp is an exciting one. There’s the anticipation of meeting new friends, reunited with old ones, packing camp flair and gear, and maybe even getting to pick out a new pair of shoes or backpack. There also […]
How to Make the Decision to Attend Summer Camp this Year
The framework for this article comes from Emily Oster, a professor of economics at Brown University. A mother of two, she writes a newsletter called “Parent Data,” which, as the name suggests, applies data to parenting decisions. We highly recommend reading her recent article, “How to Think Through Choices About Grandparents, Day Care, Summer Camp, […]
Bake at Home with Recipes from Chef Richard
Like many other people, spending so much time at home has gotten us a little more acquainted with our baking tools! Has anyone made a new recipe recently? If you haven’t, or maybe you want to try another, we have three great options for you, each from Chef Richard’s recipe box. If you make one, be […]
Brain Buster Challenge
During this unique time, we hope to be a resource for you. By now we can only assume your child has played the same board game 17 times, exhausted their coloring books, and beat the final level on their favorite video game—twice! Don’t fret, we are here to help. The Camp Pinnacle Brain Buster Challenge […]
Get to Know Camp Pinnacle Lingo
We know many of you will be attending Camp Pinnacle for the first time this summer. The thought of spending two to three weeks away from home can be overwhelming for a first-time camper… But don’t fret—we are here to help! Let’s talk about the basics: What does a typical day at Camp Pinnacle? You’ve […]
Advice for the Current Coronavirus Situation
It’s a strange world out there. Schools across the country have moved to virtual learning, restaurants can only offer take-out, and ski areas, movie theaters, concerts, and sporting events have been cancelled. There will be no March Madness. The streets of big cities are eerily deserted. Our hands have never been cleaner. We are in […]
Nice Kids Finish First
After returning home from Camp Pinnacle, we often hear our campers say, “Everyone is so nice and kind at camp… why can’t it be like that in the real world?” Of course, we’re thrilled to hear this because our culture of kindness is a key part of our program design, and the cornerstone of the […]
Travel 101: Flying to Camp Pinnacle
Even though the first session of camp is still four months away, let’s talk travel! Whether you’ll be driving your child to camp or having them fly on their own, we encourage families to make travel arrangements as early as possible. *Please note a major travel change from previous years. Beginning summer 2020, Camp Pinnacle […]
The Benefits of Adversity: a Geopolitical Perspective
It is an illusion to think that more comfort means more happiness. Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to be needed. Happiness comes from the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed. – Storm Jameson The Revenge of […]
Camp Pinnacle’s Food Philosophy and Kitchen Updates
A brand-new kitchen Though we just finished our fall wedding season with 10 straight weekends of weddings, we are already looking ahead to excitement for next summer. What will be most exciting is our brand-new kitchen! The old one, which has been around since the 1950s, is being completely gutted. We are adding space to […]
Reflections on the role of Camp Counselor
When I first heard of the job of “camp counselor” through a mutual connection, it was a tough sell. Upon hearing of the demands of the position, I immediately thought, shouldn’t I be pursuing some sort of internship? Plus, I didn’t want to give up my low-stress, friend-filled summer months or that week at the […]
Camp Pinnacle is ACA Accredited!
We are extremely excited to announce that Camp Pinnacle is now fully accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA)! For our year-round staff, this has been a goal for a long time, and this month we officially received word of our new accreditation. This furthers the mission of Camp Pinnacle by creating a safe, substantive, and […]
Fall at Camp Pinnacle
While the wake-up bell may no longer ring each morning at 7:30 and the Lognasium is now closed for the season, the magic of Camp Pinnacle is still very much alive. Have you ever found yourself wondering what we could possibly be doing now that the hustle and bustle of another busy summer has ended? […]
Summer 2019 at Camp Pinnacle has begun!
It was so exciting to welcome 185 new and returning campers to Camp Pinnacle on Sunday. We loved watching our returners’ faces as they explored the many new additions to our facility. We felt downright prescient with a brand-new pavilion as we also welcomed 4.5 inches of rain! The weather has drastically improved, however, and […]
Video: Meet our 2019 Counselors
We’d love for you to meet our 2019 counselor team! We are so excited for you to meet your campers’ role models on opening day. Get to know a few of them below: Camp Pinnacle staff orientation is in full swing, and we can’t wait for you to get to know this summer’s group of […]
Video: What’s New for 2019
It’s summer prep week at Camp Pinnacle. Our counselors have started arriving, and many are taking a variety of clinics to improve their skills for the summer. We are running a water safety instructor course, lifeguarding course, mountain biking level 2 instructor course, and wilderness first aid course. Meanwhile, we are putting the finishing touches […]
The Intentions of Camp Pinnacle
We couldn’t be more excited about the summer ahead. We have a wonderful team of counselors, and our senior staff are putting final touches on programming updates. We’ve made more improvements to camp this past year than ever before, and Tom and the maintenance team are working feverishly to finish all remaining projects. Our fleet […]
The Newest Camp Pinnacle Facility Additions!
We like to think that with the top-notch counselor team we’ve assembled, we could run our programs in a grassy field and still deliver a fun, growth-oriented summer camp experience. That being said, we feel fortunate to have a 126-acre campus blooming with natural beauty, which makes our job that much easier! When we took […]
The Pinnacle Cup: Competition at a Non-Competitive Camp
One of the most anticipated events for campers each summer is the challenge for the Pinnacle Cup. The reaping of the teams kicks off a six-day series of events that puts three teams to the test, competing against one another in the hopes of claiming the coveted trophy. Every session, campers put on their team […]
Pinnacle Family Spotlight: The Touchberrys
Behind every rock star camper is a rock star family! We have thousands of incredible campers and families all over the world who are an integral part of our extended Camp Pinnacle family. Each month, we will profile a family who has experienced the long-lasting, positive impact of camp and who continues to live out […]
Staying in Touch with Camp Friends
Winter is here, snow has come and gone, and the air temperature jumps around from 30 to 55 degrees. Camp is quiet and packed up, patiently waiting for June for yet another amazing summer. If you’re like me, when things slow down there is often time to reflect on important things—some you might want to […]
Meet the Newest Member of Our Leadership Team: Cara Nisbet
We are thrilled to announce that Cara Nisbet has joined our leadership team full-time! You might already know her from her time on Hillside as one of our great cabin counselors or recognize her friendly voice from phone calls with the office. At the end of the summer, Cara stepped up into a full-time position […]
Greetings from Camp Pinnacle Sessions 1 and 2
It’s another great day at Camp Pinnacle! Today, campers are rafting the Nantahala River, rock climbing at Cedar Rock, canoeing on the French Broad River, and backpacking in Panthertown Valley. Meanwhile, on our campus, campers are mountain biking on our eight miles of trails, climbing on the new climbing tower, challenging themselves on the new Sky […]
A Look at Our 2018 Global Community
Every year, we at Camp Pinnacle have the pleasure of welcoming kids from all over the United States and even the world. We have the widest geographical spread ever this summer: 15 countries and 37 states! We’re happy to celebrate our campers’ diversity, and we know they enjoy getting to know others from different cultures […]
What’s New at Camp Pinnacle for 2018
The kitchen is open, counselors are arriving, the water toys are in the lake, and we are eagerly preparing for our campers to arrive! Many of you might wonder what we do throughout the year, when camp isn’t in session. Because camp is not something with an easy on and off switch, we have been […]
Staff Spotlight: Erin Reisman
Erin will be joining us for her third summer at Camp Pinnacle this year! She hails from New York City and is currently a junior at Providence College in Rhode Island, double-majoring in economics and history. Her two younger brothers, Aidan and Colin, are both attending Adventure Treks this year. Why did you decide to […]
Announcing Our New Assistant Director!
After a long and intensive search for our newest member of the leadership team, we are excited to introduce you all to our assistant director, Walker Hendry! Walker comes to us from Austin, TX, where he worked for Explore Austin, a youth mentoring and outdoor leadership non-profit. He is originally from the southeast, however, and has […]
How Long Should Children Go to Camp?
When we reopened Camp Pinnacle in 2012, we had the opportunity to create a new vision for what summer camp could be. When we went to camp as kids many years ago, many of us were lucky to attend an eight-week session. Nowadays, families don’t have the luxury, disposable income, or time to commit to […]
Announcing the Pinnacle Sky Park
All of our campers are going to love the latest addition to Camp Pinnacle. Every penny of profit over the past seven years has gone back into improving our campus and the camp experience. Last year, we rebuilt the dining hall, and what a difference it made! This year, we are putting the emphasis on […]
A Little Boredom is a Good Thing
I grew up with six siblings, and when you said you were bored, you stood a good chance of having to get a job. We didn’t have cell phones, laptops, or more than three channels on our TV, which made unstructured playtime a completely different ballgame than what kids are used to this electronics-filled era. These days, we rarely hear “I’m […]
Thank you, Ben Lea
After six years of service to Camp Pinnacle, Ben Lea is moving on to accept new challenges. We greatly appreciate his many contributions to the success and revitalization of Camp Pinnacle. We will miss his tremendous rapport with staff and campers, and his commitment to harnessing the power of the camp experience to affect young […]
Thinking of All in Harm’s Way and Thanking You for a Great Summer
Between hurricanes, wildfires, and unsettling international and domestic events, our world seems to be turning upside down. Our hearts go out to our Camp Pinnacle families in the Houston area. Fortunately, we have heard from many, and all seem to be doing OK. While the most recent Irma forecast for our families in the Dominican […]
Greetings from Session 3: A Fun Video!
Session 3 is going well, and we couldn’t be more pleased with this great group of kids. Everyone is having lots of fun and forming a kind and respectful community. This is our first three-week session ever, and the campers are enjoying the opportunity to be able to accomplish more than they ever could in […]
Greetings from Session 2: Thoughts and a Video
We are off rafting on the Nantahala River today! It’s always a highlight of my day when I get to spend time with our wonderful campers. Though we’ve had a few summer storms here and there, campers have been walking around with non-stop smiles on their faces. New friends have been made, new skills have […]
Greetings from Session 1: Thoughts and a Video
We couldn’t be more pleased with how session 1 is going. Camp is a joyful place, and every single camper seems to have found their groove. Everyone has made many new friends, challenged themselves, and succeeded beyond expectations. This is a kind and friendly group of kids, and the overall camp community has come together […]
Video: 2017 Camp Pinnacle Counselor Orientation
Camp Pinnacle counselor orientation is going extremely well, and everyone is so excited to meet the session 1 campers on Sunday, June 11! We are extremely proud of our counselor team. This year, we have 54 counselors, meaning a counselor-to-camper ratio of less than 1:3. Our counselors have traveled here from 19 states, as far […]
Introducing Our 2017 Counselor Team!
We are in full swing preparing for camp: Our facilities team is running full-steam ahead to fine-tune camp before session 1, and perhaps most important of all, our counselors and staff have arrived! Orientation for all of our counselors begins June 1, but many are here and taking lifeguarding, Wilderness First Aid, and other certification […]
Video: What’s New at Camp Pinnacle!
We have heard that a few of you are already out of school and counting the days, minutes, and seconds until Camp Pinnacle opens, so we thought you might like to see a video of what’s new at camp! We are feverishly getting ready for our campers. Richard has opened the kitchen (the new dining […]
A Look at Our 2017 Global Community
Year after year, Camp Pinnacle welcomes children from all over the United States and even the world. So far in 2017, our campers and counselors hail from 16 countries and 30 states! We’re grateful and appreciate the opportunity to celebrate diversity at camp, and we know the campers sincerely enjoy getting to know others from different cultures and […]
Mail Call: Writing Letters in the Summer
Every day after lunch, a small but significant ritual occurs at camp: Mail is distributed! On any given day, a few campers will receive four letters, some will receive one or two, and many won’t be getting one. All of those scenarios are typical and just fine. But there is something about a handwritten letter […]
The New Camp Pinnacle Dining Hall is Open!
We are so excited—the new dining room completely exceeds our expectations! It’s a beautiful space, and the wood floors, made from refinished wood milled more than 100 years ago from native hardwood, are absolutely gorgeous. We’ve kept the old fireplace and the old locust poles, so the new dining hall fits perfectly into camp and […]
Meet Our 2017 Heads of Boys’ and Girls’ Camp!
Keegan and Andy are joining us again at Camp Pinnacle, this year as the Head of Girls’ and Head of Boys’ camp! We are so excited to have them back with us! Keegan Trofatter Hometown: Greenville, SC Years at Camp Pinnacle: This will be my second summer at CP! Why did you decide to come back […]
A Word on Food from Chef Richard
By Camp Pinnacle’s chef, Richard Merritt Like all of us here at Camp Pinnacle, I hope all of our campers will find their best selves this summer. To be at their best, children need to feel safe, appreciated for who they are, and know they are wanted and needed. For many campers, this is their […]
5 Reasons to be a Trip Leader at Camp
For years, outdoor enthusiasts around the world have been leading groups on adventures to show them fun experiences. Some of these enthusiasts have worked at summer camps, leading and inspiring young people to pursue outdoor goals. Many folks in the outdoor community directly attribute their passions to their experiences at summer camps and the role […]
Summer Camps: A History and Why They Matter
Summer camps, like national parks, are a uniquely American idea. And it’s one of the reasons campers travel from all over the world to experience summer at American camps At Camp Pinnacle, we typically have 16 countries represented each summer, including China, Russia, Israel, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and many countries in Europe and Latin […]
Camp Friends are the Best Friends
Camp friendships last a lifetime. Ask anyone who has spent even one summer at camp, and they will say the same thing. I recently got married at Camp Pinnacle, and both my husband and I filled our guest list and bridal party with friends who we met over our combined 24 years at various summer […]
Meet the Newest Member of Our Leadership Team: Emory Klesick!
After a nationwide search with nearly 150 applicants, Camp Pinnacle is proud to present the newest addition to the leadership team, program director Emory Klesick! Emory is an Appalachian State University graduate who has spent the past five summers working at Camp Highlander in Mills River, NC, as a kayak instructor and head of wilderness […]
Camp Pinnacle in the Age of Acceleration
Thank You for Being Late by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman a powerful book, and it does an outstanding job of explaining the current state of the world and the “accelerators” driving the insane pace of change. Friedman’s accelerators include Moore’s Law, Big Data, the markets, population growth, and global warming—all whose effects are […]
There is a lot going on this winter at Camp Pinnacle!
From the end of May to mid-August, the summer is action-packed with fun activities. Come November, when camp and events are over for the year, the facility team jumps into action on projects that will help us improve camp for the next summer. Each year the list grows. Past projects have included the Arts and […]
How to Get Kids Outside in the Winter
One of our missions at Camp Pinnacle is to foster a love of the outdoors. That is why we strive to make the time our campers spend outside challenging and engaging, but, most important, fun! Ultimately, we hope spending time outdoors on a regular basis becomes a lifelong passion. Recently, we received our first snow day of […]
“What’s with that white squirrel crossing sign?”
Happy Thanksgiving from Camp Pinnacle! We hope everyone is enjoying this time with friends and family. This is a great time to focus on all for which we are grateful. All of us here at Camp Pinnacle are thankful for all of the families who are part of our camp family. We are thankful to […]
Camp Pinnacle is Building a Brand New Dining Hall
We are building a new dining hall! We hope you agree that a brand new dining room is exactly what Camp Pinnacle needs as we try to make camp little bit better each year! A few campers already knew this secret because they got to meet architect, Ken Gaylord during the summer and add their […]
What Could We Possibly Be Doing this Time of Year?
It was a great summer and we wish our campers were still here. After all, nothing is as much fun as camp. But since you all are in school we have had to make do without you. It would be a shame for a place as magical as Camp Pinnacle to lay fallow. Rest assured, […]
2016 Camp Pinnacle Summer Memories Video
Now that School has started and summer is officially over, we thought we would share a short video filled with highlights from all four sessions of camp. Even if you don’t see yourself, we hope this video brings a smile to your face as you relive fantastic memories from a very special summer. We’d like […]
Thank You, Parents!
It was a great summer at Camp Pinnacle and we wanted to thank our parents for trusting us with your kids and being willing to “let go” and support us in creating a memorable summer filled with fun, new friends and personal growth! Here’s our way of saying THANK YOU! A Huge Thank You to […]
Video – We are having so much fun in Session 4
We have a fantastic group of campers in session 4! We have campers from 15 states plus China, Russia, Germany, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Panama, Venezuela, Morocco, and Nicaragua. We’ve been backpacking in Pisgah and Panthertown, day hiking in Pisgah, mountain biking at Dupont, canoeing the French Broad River, climbing at Gilbert’s and Looking Glass, and […]
Session 3 is in Full Swing!
Session 3 at camp is going great – It’s mountain beach party tonight followed by Rainbow Tag. Today was a free choice morning with lots of activity additions to our normal program such as SUP Yoga, Improv., Ultimate Frisbee, Fishing, Tie Dye, Battleship, Square in the Air and much, much more. Everyone is in great […]
Scenes from Session 2
All is going well at Camp Pinnacle, Session 2 – The boys are rafting the Nantahala River today, the Girls Tomorrow and the weather is perfect! Canoeists are on an overnight on the French Broad River, Bikers have been riding in Dupont State Forest and the new trails across the lake. Everyone is having fun. […]
A Video Postcard from Session 1
Camp Pinnacle Session 1 is off to a great start. We are having so much fun, we thought we would share a video postcard from camp. Postcard from Pinnacle – Session 1 – 2016 from Camp Pinnacle on Vimeo.
Greetings from Camp Pinnacle Counselor Orientation
Camp Pinnacle counselor orientation is going extremely well, and everyone is super excited to meet the session 1 campers on Sunday! We are extremely proud of our counselor team. This year, we have 57 counselors, meaning a counselor-to-camper ratio of less than 1:3. Our counselors have traveled here from 23 states (as far away as California, […]
A Look at our 2016 Global Community
Every year, Camp Pinnacle welcomes campers from all over the United States and even the world. So far in 2016, our camper population comes from 16 countries and 35 states! We love being able to celebrate so much diversity at camp, and we know the campers truly enjoy getting to know others from different cultures and backgrounds. Through our welcoming community […]
How to Pack for Camp
By Jane Dockendorf, camp parent It’s almost here! Camp is right around the corner, which means packing those trunks is getting closer and closer. The great thing about packing for camp is that it builds the excitement and anticipation of camp. And that is part of the fun, right? For some, this last task before camp can […]
A Few Words from Chef Richard
Food and chef Richard are a central part of the Camp Pinnacle experience. Chef Richard is completely involved in camp. He joins cabin groups for evening circle, teaches cooking and baking classes with executive director Jane Dockendorf, and when not in the kitchen, can frequently be sighted on the disc golf course or the campfire […]
Counselor Spotlights: Rachele Harvey & Wyatt West
Name: Rachele Harvey Where do you go to college? I graduated from University of Florida in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication. Years at Camp Pinnacle: This will be my fifth, and BEST, summer at Camp Pinnacle! What is your role at Camp Pinnacle? I’m the head of girls’ camp, so […]
Reflections From a Camp Pinnacle Alumni
By Fayssoux Evans, assistant director and camper from 1998–2002 Growing up, my favorite part of summer was always Opening Day at Camp Pinnacle. As a child I attended Pinnacle for five summers. Every year, my mom would drive my sisters and me to camp, and without fail, I would get sick on Little River Road. […]
Oh, the Places We Go!
By Ben Lea, director One of our favorite parts of the fall and spring is when we travel to some of our Camp Pinnacle families homes to share the camp experience with prospective families. A great part of hosting these sessions is hearing how camp has positively affected our campers and how it fits into […]
2016 Counselor Spotlight
Name: Jeffrey Krasnow Hometown: Vero Beach, FL Years at Camp Pinnacle: First! I attended Adventure Treks for three summers. Why did you decide to work at Camp Pinnacle? It offers me the best experience possible this summer. To give back to an amazing group of kids and to spend the summer outside with them is […]
Video Games: Our Real Competition
When people ask me what other programs we compete with, I don’t first think of other outdoor or youth development companies—our competition is actually video games and technology. Twenty years ago, most kids spent their summer outdoors—it was what kids did. Now programs like ours are reserved for the adventurous few as people move away […]
Second Thoughts Can Be a Natural and Healthy Part of the Camp Experience
We can’t wait for the summer of 2016 because so many of our beloved campers and counselors will be back to share it with us! We are currently traveling, doing presentations in places like Charlotte, Raleigh, Florida, Knoxville, Chicago, Savannah to name a few and it’s exciting to meet many new campers with whom we […]
Happy Halloween and some thoughts
We wish our Camp Pinnacle family a Happy Halloween. Halloween is easily one of the the three favorite holidays for the Dockendorf family. I’m going to use pumpkin carving as a metaphor for how high the bar is being raised in our globalized world. When I was a kid, back in the dark ages, my […]
2015 Summer Memories Video
We miss our Pinnacle campers. So we made you a video that shares scenes from last summer at camp. We want to give you a reminder of some of the fun, adventure and great friendships we all shared. Great news! Everyone who has already signed up for summer 2016 will get an Under Armour brand […]
Thank You for a Great Summer 2015
Camp ended too quickly this year! We had a fabulous group of kids in each of our four sessions and we really didn’t want the magic of summer to end! We made many new friends and the countless smiles from our campers kept us going strong all summer long. I can’t remember a stronger team […]
Postcard from Camp Pinnacle
Session 1 is off to a great start. We love this incredibly kind and considerate group of campers! We thought we would share via video how much fun we’ve all had at Camp so far – and there is much more ahead! We are very proud of our fantastic team of counselors. Postcard from Pinnacle […]
Video: 2015 Camp Pinnacle Orientation
Camp Pinnacle is open and off to a tremendous start! We love this group of Session 1 campers, and everyone is having lots of fun, taking “reasonable risks” as they try new activities and accept small challenges on personal frontiers. With only two weeks to create incredible experiences, campers were out climbing rocks, summiting mountains, and camping out […]
Video: Meet Camp Pinnacle’s 2015 Counselors
The caliber, commitment, and accomplishments of our counselors is impressive. After two weeks of orientation, which has included dozens of training blocks like first aid, a parent panel, a child psychologist, how to develop a “Growth Mindset,” and even a discussion on how to make camp more fun than video games, we are finally ready. Our […]
A Look at Our Global Camp Pinnacle Community
Every year, Camp Pinnacle welcomes campers from all over the United States and even the world. Our goal is to be a national and even a global camp, rather than a regional one. So far in 2015, our camper population comes from a whopping 33 states and 15 countries! We love having so much diversity at camp, and we know […]
Character and the Essence of the Camp Pinnacle Experience
Thirty-seven years ago, as a high school senior with three years of world history under my belt, I took an Advanced Placement test. History was my favorite subject, and back in my day, only the top kids in each subject would take the AP test. Last week, I dropped off my 14-year-old, 9th-grade daughter to […]
Video – New for Summer 2015!
In case you missed our recent Open House, we thought we would share via video several of the great new additions our campers can expect to enjoy this summer at Camp Pinnacle. We are incredibly proud of our facilities team; Tom, George, Steve, James and Alaska for all of their hard work and many accomplishments […]
Camp Pinnacle has hired an impressive team of role models!
One of the greatest gifts of the summer camp experience is the opportunity for children to form relationships with impressive role models who will be remembered forever. This summer, we are bringing together some of the best young leaders from around the country to be exceptional role models for your children. We’ll have close to […]
Join Us! – Saturday, May 2 – Camp Pinnacle Open House
There is so much that is new and exciting this year at Camp Pinnacle. We can’t wait to show it off! Please Join us! Visit with our Directors, meet other Camp Pinnacle families and, see what’s new at Camp. Open House Details: Saturday, May 2 10 AM – 2PM 1 Wolfe Lake Dr. Hendersonville, NC […]
Camper Spotlight: Madilynn from Florida
The five R’s (respect, resilience, responsibility, reaching out, and reasonable risk) are the foundation of our philosophy at Camp Pinnacle. We want our campers and counselors to use these five words as guidelines for being their best selves. It’s great when we hear how our campers embody these concepts when they’re back at home and […]
How Do We ‘Auto-Correct’ Our Kids?
Not only do our Camp Pinnacle campers spend two weeks in nature, surrounded by surreal beauty and involved in action-packed camp activities, but they have the time of their lives without video games or technology. That’s one of Camp Pinnacle’s principles: unplugging from technology to reconnect with our natural surroundings and each other. Living in […]
How the Disruption of the Camp Experience Enhances Learning Objectives
Recent advances in brain science support the concept that “disruption” can make the brain more receptive to learning. What do we mean? We all go through life in some sense of routine in which our brain operates on a type of “autopilot.” When we have a dramatic break from our routine (or a cognitive dissonance), […]
What Could People Who Run a Summer Camp Possibly Do in the Winter?
“You run a summer camp? What could you possibly do during the winter?” This is a question we hear frequently! Although winter is slower than summer, our “To Do List” continues to expand as we assiduously prepare for summer 2015. Here’s a breakdown of what winter looks like at Camp Pinnacle: Sharing Camp with Families […]
A Glimpse of Fall at Camp Pinnacle
Were it not for the slowly changing leaves, and failing light, one would think it was still summer at Camp Pinnacle. Today the water slide was humming, kids were canoeing on the lake, Mike and Richard were cooking in the Kitchen and evening activity was Rainbow Tag. In fact, there were only 6 days in […]
Thank You for Sharing your Kids with Camp Pinnacle!
As School starts across the country signaling the end of summer, our Camp Pinnacle Counselor Team wanted to say “thank you” to parents for sharing your wonderful children with us. Enjoy the short video tribute below: Thank You! from Camp Pinnacle on Vimeo. Even though our summer campers have left us, we are only halfway […]
Camp Pinnacle Counselor Orientation and What We are Reading 2014
Camp Pinnacle Counselor Orientation is in full swing. Beginning May 31, Our counselors converged from around the country and the globe for two weeks of counselor training. Orientation is as long as a camp session and it needs to be! Even though our counselors arrived with a lot of ability and talent and many have […]
Meet Our 2014 Camp Pinnacle Counselor Team
Our two- week Camp Pinnacle counselor training officially begins with lifeguard training on Saturday, May 31. Several of our counselors are already here, helping get the camp facility ready for summer. Our entire staff comes together on June 3, and we are excited for these incredible role models to begin preparing in earnest for our […]
Welcome to the Enchanted Forest!
Last year we embellished our waterfront with a new waterslide and bouncer. This year the activity we have been enhancing most is mountain biking. We like biking because one can build skills quickly, these skills are easily transferable to home and biking is an easy and exciting way to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. […]
Becoming a Global Summer Camp
It is our intent that Camp Pinnacle is a place where campers from across the country and even around the world come together for an incredible summer experience. Our aim is that the Camp Pinnacle experience will be so unique and valuable that campers will be willing to travel great distances to experience Camp Pinnacle. […]
We Are Getting Ready for You! – May Camp Pinnacle Update.
We are getting ready for you! We’ve already held our May Open House and hosted the “GNAR,” (an Adventure Race for over 200 kids.) Several Camp Pinnacle kids participated which made the race all the more fun! (11 of 36 medals went to Pinnacle or Adventure Treks kids) Triangle Day School is currently at camp […]
Visit US – Camp Pinnacle Open House – Saturday, May 3
Join us! Visit with our Directors and see all that is new and exciting at Camp Pinnacle. We are getting very excited about summer and can’t wait to show you around Camp. Open House Hours: 10 AM – 3PM 1 Wolfe Lake Dr. Hendersonville, NC 28739 Light refreshments will be served Please RSVP to Info@CampPinnacle.com […]
Manifesto of a Soccer Dad – Camp vs. Organized Sports
I never thought I’d be a soccer Dad… I always envisioned that weekends with my four kids would be spent hiking in the woods or mountain biking. Instead, Jane and I spend spring and fall weekends dividing and conquering as we figure out how to get our four kids to different soccer games in multiple […]
An Exciting Preview of Camp Pinnacle Summer 2014
We can’t thank our maintenance team enough. Through their hard work and dedication they are transforming Camp Pinnacle. If you haven’t been here since last summer, we think you will be truly amazed! Since last summer, we have built a new biking flow trail and the new Lakeside Amphitheater. The Amphitheater will now be the […]
The XXII Olympics sent the right message – Hard Work and Resilience
For two weeks every four years my TV viewing spikes. I’m enthralled with the Winter Olympics. Though I am confronted by the fact that my best athletic days are long behind me (No moves like Ligety in my future), I love watching the Olympics. It was great for my kids to get a break from […]
Why Our Kid’s Can’t Communicate…
At a break at a camp conference in Boulder last month, I looked out from the second floor at over 100 camp directors in the lobby below. Virtually everyone was gazing into their smart phones completely disengaged from their peers. It wasn’t that way even three years ago…And this was right after a session where […]
Welcome Fayssoux – We Thank You, Maggie
Maggie Allen has been the unsung hero of Camp Pinnacle’s resurgence of innovative and exciting programming. Maggie has worked tirelessly creating programs and schedules and managing many of the details of Camp behind the scenes. She has been the source of countless creative ideas that have added fun and excitement to our program. She has […]
The Google Car and Camp Pinnacle
As the pace of change continues at epic speed, I have realized that I may not have the opportunity to teach my 7 year old to drive when he turns 16. Sure I am jumping the gun a bit …but with the Google autonomous (driverless car) on the horizon, it looks like the computer will […]
Camp Pinnacle at the Summit on 21st Century Skills
21st Century Skills has been a buzzword circulating the educator community for over ten years. In 2011 bipartisan legislation, the 21st Century Readiness Act, was introduced to Congress to support state and local innovation around 21st century readiness initiatives. More and more, schools are reflecting the need for 21st Century Skills in their school missions. Last […]
Camp Pinnacle October update
Greetings from Camp Pinnacle! The leaves are beginning to change and camp is beautiful. We have another school group at Camp Pinnacle this week, The Galloway School from Atlanta, GA. Last week, St. John’s Country Day school from Jacksonville, FL joined us and we will have The Brookstone School from Columbus, GA next week. This […]
Camp Pinnacle is Busy Preparing for Summer 2014
There is a lot going on at Camp Pinnacle! Between weddings and school programs, Camp has been busy, but it’s not the same without our campers and counselors. We miss you all! We are hard at work getting ready for next summer and we wanted to update you with some of the many things we […]
Camp Pinnacle Summer Memories Video. Thank You for a Great Summer!
Many of you are back in school. We wanted to say THANK YOU for a great summer and tell our campers, We Miss You! We made a short video to share some memories from Camp Pinnacle summer 2013. We hope this puts a smile on your face as a reminder of fun, friends, great counselors, […]
Camp Pinnacle is one Special Camp, By Steve Baskin
This is one special camp. Before I share any more observations, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Steve Baskin. My wife Susie and I are the owner/directors of Camp Champions in Marble Falls, TX. We are also partners with Jane and John Dockendorf in Camp Pinnacle, a project that is creating great excitement […]
Camp Pinnacle – Helping Build the Skills Which Lead to Adult Success.
We just finished our second session and we hated for these wonderful campers to leave us. Despite the wettest July in recorded weather history, we have been having a lot of fun. Every camper has rock climbed, summited a mountain, white water rafted, and camped out. What is apparent to me is how much our […]
July Update from Camp Pinnacle
Parents of currently enrolled students are viewing photos and getting news updates through their own accounts. We thought we would take a moment to share with our broader community (and our session 3 parents), how things are going at Camp Pinnacle. First off: Everyone is having a lot of fun! The arrival of our amazing […]
Opening Day 2013!
Opening Day! We are excited to meet many of you today as Camp Pinnacle officially opens for its 84th summer! We are incredibly proud of our counselor team. It’s a wonderful group of role models and they have formed a super close community over their two-week orientation. The kindness and inclusive nature of their community […]
Smart vs. Good – Our Philosophy
One of our themes for counselor orientation this year is Smart vs. Good. If you as a parent actually had to choose, would you choose for your child to be a smart kid or a good one? Of course, it’s a ridiculous question; we want both for our child! But if we had to make an […]
What We Are Reading in 2013
The Mountain Laurel is in full bloom around Wolfe Lake as our summer staff arrives! We have started Lifeguard training for our new counselors, and Senior counselors have arrived for a special leadership orientation. All staff will be here on June 9th when orientation officially begins. We are so excited for summer, and camp preparations […]
Ready for Summer at Camp Pinnacle
Summer is here – Wolfe Lake has finally warmed up – all water slide testers under the age of 14 have given the new slide rave reviews! It’s not slow! “It’s the most awesome thing ever!” said 8 year old Thomas Rundell. “It’s Totally Epic”, said 6 year old, Charlie! We just hosted a fabulous […]
Forming a Camp Community from Around the World
One of our five R’s at Camp Pinnacle is “reaching out.” We know our campers are excited to make great new friends this summer with folks from across the country and around the world. We strive to form a global camp community and are excited that this summer we will have students from more than […]
May Update: Announcing our 2013 Counselor Team
Thanks to the more than 50+ folks who came to our Open House on May 4. It was great meeting many campers who will be new to us this summer and to see returners eager to view the many improvements. Several new campers arrived at camp nervous and uncertain and left counting the days until […]
Join US! Camp Pinnacle Open House Saturday May 4, 10 AM – 3PM
We are excited to meet several of our new campers this Saturday, May 4 between 10 and 3 for our annual Spring Open House at Camp Pinnacle. We aren’t quite ready for summer, but we are eager to show off all of the multiple camp improvements this winter and to point out the many new […]
22 Degrees, Geographical Determinism, Resilience and Camp Pinnacle
I just read a fascinating book by Robert Kaplan, The Revenge of Geography. It posits that though technology is making the world “flatter, much of Geopolitics and macro human behavior can still be defined by Geography. One of his points, one also made more subtly by Jared Diamond in Guns, Germs and Steel, is that […]
“My Parents Aren’t Cool!” – Liam Baskin
Every now and then, you get a comment from your children than makes you think you are doing something right. At first glance, the title above does not seem to fall into this category, but it does when you hear the rest of the quote. He was talking to a woman from California who had […]
Ben Tries out the New Water Slide
Camp Director Ben Lea Tests the New Water Slide from Camp Pinnacle on Vimeo. We hope you have had a great Spring Break! We are working hard getting camp ready for you! Here is Ben on the inaugural run down the slide. We still have some more work to do to make it operational for […]
New Things for Spring at Camp Pinnacle
It’s supposed to be Spring… It still feels like January, but with less than 3 months until Camp Pinnacle opens for the summer, we are picking up our already speedy pace! Wow! There is a lot going on. Summer registration already exceeds all of last summer by 25%! We still have space in every session […]
Camp Pinnacle Can Provide Kids With A New Perspective on Their Technology
We are not among the legions that see technology as an evil to be feared. (We love our I-phones). However, we do believe we should think through the ramifications of how technological changes affect our children before we automatically embrace the next and newest gadgets. To our knowledge no one has yet written a parenting […]
Winter Improvements at Camp Pinnacle
Despite over 10 inches of rain this year (and no snow yet,) we are continuing to make all kinds of improvements to Camp Pinnacle. Below are pictures of the new walkway along the lake which replaces the old sea wall. The new fishing pier is beautiful. Thanks Tom, Nick, Alaska and Joe! Construction on the […]
Tips for Getting Your Kids Outside
As the parent of four children, I witness an improvement in family dynamics whenever we are able to spend time outside together as a family. Whether it’s just playing games or better still going on a family hike or bike ride, we just seem to get along better outside. Conversations come more easily and we […]
Happy New Year
We just wanted to say Hi and Happy 2013! This weekend Ben will be in Atlanta with the Mohler family and Dock will be in DC with the Norry family. Ella and Ava are going with Dock to visit with Will and Emily Norry and Kate Lamkin. Next weekend Dock and Ella will be in […]
December Camp Pinnacle Improvement update!
There is so much going on at Camp. We’re screaming into the Christmas Holidays with lots of projects. We are taking advantage of a warm fall to get a jump on our huge To Do list before next summer. We’ve finished a new copper roof on the Gym! The waterslide is making huge progress. We […]
What do Playgrounds, Camp Pinnacle and Character have in Common?
I’m serving on an exploratory committee for our municipality, Flat Rock, NC that is studying the feasibility of converting an unsuccessful 55 acre golf course into a public park. If the park becomes a reality I foresee differences in opinion over what the playground “should” look like. Having already heard public comment in which well-intentioned […]
A word from a Camp Pinnacle camper about the excitement building for summer 2013
My family did something different on Thanksgiving morning. We went to a “Turkey Trot” at Camp Pinnacle. We ran/walked fast for 3.1 miles (5K) through Camp Pinnacle’s trails and saw many friends. Camp looks different this time of year. I saw that many things had changed since I had been there this past summer. I […]
Looking forward to 2013 – There is lot’s happening at CP!
The last group has left, leaves have been raked, re raked and raked again. The roofs have been cleaned off and the water has been turned off in preparation for winter. It’s been a busy fall. We’ve hosted weddings, fund raisers, a sorority gathering, a retirement party, a rehearsal dinner, and several school groups. A […]
Happy Halloween
I’m going to use pumpkin carving as a metaphor for how ridiculously high the bar is getting set in our global and digitized world. Long ago, my parents would present me my annual pumpkin just before Halloween. I would take my knife, hack out a couple triangles for eyes and a nose, try to cut […]
Camp Pinnacle Summer 2012 Memories Video
We sure had fun in 2012! Hopefully this video will bring back many great memories from this fantastic summer! The video is a great way to share the many amazing things you did at camp with parents, grandparents and friends! …And the good news? Summer 2013 is going to be even better! We are already […]
Fall Update from Pinnacle
The sounds of laughter and outdoor play are still echoing at Camp Pinnacle as we work with schools from across the Southeast this fall. Great food is still being served in the dining room and Tom and Nick are hard at work building decks, upgrading cabins and making improvements. A movie is being filmed here […]
On Counselor Orientation
To say we are excited is an understatement. It’s already day nine of twelve days of staff training and it’s going extremely well. Counselors have taken an intensive lifeguarding course, gone on a hiking overnight, freshened their teaching and activity skills, and painted, cleaned and organized. Trisha Miller a noted area psychologist has taught […]
30 Days and Counting Plus 8 things You Can’t Give Your Kids
We are getting ready! All kinds of new toys are arriving at camp. We are building decks on the girl’s cabins and hope to move the carpentry crew over to “Boy’s Land” soon. The new bathhouses are finished. We are feverishly planning activities and the details for our off campus “Ventures”. A second new mountain […]
What We are Reading: 2012
Memorial Day weekend conjures up vision of a beach, a lounge chair and a slew of summer reading opportunities. As the Executive Director of Camp Pinnacle, one of my many jobs is to stay in touch with trends affecting kids, the environment, education and the outdoor industry. Though none of these books would qualify as […]
Camp, More Valuable Now than Ever!
For the past 20 years, Dock and I have enthusiastically endorsed summer camp as a great growth experience for children. Every year we become more passionate about the benefits. At times, we wondered if we might be overstating our case. We are now convinced that we have been understating both the power and the importance […]
Thanks for a Great Open House!
Thank you to the many of you who attended our Open House last Saturday. We were gratified that close to 50 folks streamed in to see the many improvements at Camp Pinnacle, meet Ben, Cait, Dock and Jane and begin making friends for the incredible summer ahead. Campers came from Virginia, Georgia, and North and […]
Open House This Weekend!
We are excited to meet several of our new campers this Saturday, May 5 between 10 and 2 for an Open House at Camp Pinnacle. We aren’t quite ready for summer, yet but we are eager to show off all of our hard work this winter and to point out the many new improvements still […]
1 C and 4 P’s – The Magic Behind Camp Pinnacle (CP)
The magic of Camp Pinnacle can be summed up with 1 C and 4P’s • Place • Philosophy • Program • People • Culture Less important than the others is PLACE. We believe that you could give us your camper and we could not leave a grassy field for14 days, and parents and campers would […]
If it’s Friday, I am interviewing counselors
Fridays are the most important day of my week. It’s the day I interview potential Camp Pinnacle counselors. If a candidate makes it to my interview, (their third interview) they have already been carefully screened and there is a high likelihood they will be hired. I feel the weight of responsibility. This year our hiring […]
Congratulations Jervey DuPre – Our first Camper – on your 100th birthday!
Someone has to be first! In 1928, it was Jervey DuPre who signed up to be Camp Pinnacle’s first camper. He is still alive today and 3 generations and countless members of the extended DuPre family have attended Pinnacle over the years! Jervey would see many changes at Camp Pinnacle if he visited today but […]
Electronics and Nature
A prevailing theme in American life today is that the more digitally connected we are, the better off we are “supposed” to be. We all generally accept the rush to new and better digital technology and the pace of change is so fast, there is no framework to judge if ultimately our digital world is […]
Reflecting on the Gift of Camp
Relaxing after a Sunday dinner, my wife Margo and I engaged in a lively conversation about camp with my visiting parents. I asked what it was 31 years ago that inspired my parents, who had never been to an overnight camp themselves, to make a huge financial stretch and send their 8 year old son […]
Reopening Camp Pinnacle
How much fun is this? Bringing this great camp back to life is so much more fun than if we were starting our own. It’s an absolute joy to see the smiles on alumnae’s faces and hear the laughs in their voices when they discover that the institution that meant so much to them and […]
Summer 2025: A Season of Growth and Gratitude
As we reflect on Summer 2025 at Camp Pinnacle, one word stands out most: gratitude. We are grateful for our campers, who brought boundless energy, curiosity, and joy to every day. We are grateful for our staff, who invested deeply in creating a safe and supportive community. And above all, we are grateful for you, […]
Camp Pinnacle Welcomes New Chef
Camp has a funny way of bringing people into our community when we need them most. At the beginning of the year, we were seeking a new executive chef to lead our culinary operations for both our wedding and summer seasons. The chef role at Camp Pinnacle is unusual compared to many other camp […]
What’s New at Camp!
There are many things that make Camp Pinnacle the best summer camp in the US. Our values shine through in everything we do. The community we build is supportive, inclusive, and fun. We make excellent use of the space that we have and the location we are in. One of the things that makes us […]
Welcome Rylie, our new Program Director!
We’re ecstatic to introduce our newest member of our Director Team, Rylie Young! Rylie has taken on the role of Program Director and is overseeing all our off-camp trips and on-camp program areas. Growing up in Minnesota, Rylie attended summer camp for three summers and began her love for camp at an early age. She […]
