2021 - 2026 Era

Our era is one of resilience and joy!  We came back ready for a full summer after 2020. That motivation and fire burned through every year of our era. The returners on staff had much to finish and the first time staff came in with an authentic servant's heart like no other. Ready to be all in, we gave 100% to everything we did. We still had some COVID protocols at the beginning of our era but found ways to be joyful despite these changes. Between starting the summer with  masks at check in and messy warz behind the dining hall, we never wavered in our devotion to having the best summer yet. We bonded through our clodge jame sessions, the ‘girls are people’ movement (take a lap), Zander Waves's luscious locks, and hair tinsel parties in the girls bathhouse. We may have had an unrequited love for the gladewater sonic, but we know camp loved us as much as we loved her.

As the years went on, camp continues to grow and expand! There were more new things than I can count, including paddle boards, the new office, GRASS IN THE MEADOW, and clipboards galore! Charlie the cat continued her reign of camp and set up shop on the porch of the welcome center. Even though the drought TRIED to keep us from weekly bonfire, we all brought the heat and creativity to make sure the bonfire didn't lose its spark (thanks to Schrute and Veecee). The Gladewater round up attendance was at its peak and it wasn't out of the ordinary to find a watermelon or pineapple on top of a building. These were the days. 

We are an era that never backs down from a challenge, and always stepped up to how the Lord was calling us to serve. The Pines made an epic move and launched Day Camp in DFW. The mission of The Pines has never changed, to bring young people to Jesus. And just like that, our reach just got a little wider. Now we have friends all over the metroplex: between the University of Dallas that housed us, the parishes that hosted us, and the staff who showed up in April to make it happen. It was ALL hands on deck. Alumni, former Big Sandy staff, and new staff members brought the same authentic joy to water villagers from 1st-6th grade…yes I said first graders. Big Sandy is still holding down the fort and making big moves. The adventure park is a new favorite and there are no little ceasars boxes to be seen on pizza night, Frunday is more...frun? than ever. 

Between Big Sandy and Day Camp in 2026, we served over 4,100 campers! Big Sandy was introducing new activities like a new power tower and LASER TAG. Additional adoration at the summit was a beautiful encounter of faith for the fire villagers. Day Camp brought the bits! Starting the summer at Big Sandy for training (Huzzah!) We were then sent out to spend 10 weeks serving 10 different parishes and live in 10 different host families homes. We survived a flash flood, more burgers than you should ever have to eat, and a battle of the green army, aliens, for waddles, with lightsabers… honestly there were too many. Anyone looking for a moving company because we became pros at packing the truck. Let’s move those inflatables one more time! At the end of the summer, we are just so thankful to never see the turf mats again, but we will always miss Chubs.

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Here are the prizes for this year's competition:

MOST MONEY RAISED: All donations from the winning era over $100 receive a complimentary t-shirt.

MOST DONOR PARTICIPATION: A limited-edition sticker with a design specific to that era. All gifts over $25 receive a sticker.

ALL: Anyone who donates above $19.88 gets a special NTXGD Pines sticker.

May the best era win!