Upcoming Events
Little Explorers
Select Tuesdays, 10-11:30 am
Stay after to play and picnic.
Tues. August 16: Mud Party – Get ready to get muddy! We’ll splash around in the mudpit, look for tadpoles and dragonflies, and make beautiful mudpies and mud paintings with nature’s decorations. Bring backup clothes!
Tues. September 13: Creekin’ and Clay Makin’ – Explore the shallow, sandy creek! Look for tracks, experience the cycle of water, and enjoy the sensory play of various soils. Hear the Indigenous story of fire before creating an art piece just like in the story. Be ready for water and messy play!
Tues. October 18: Groovin’ in the Pines – All about trees! We’ll gather under the pines for a short lesson, then jam out to some tree tunes and make a musical instrument to take home.
Tues. November 15: Hoot and Hike – Learn about the owls and other birds of our area. Learn about the different kinds of bird nests, parts of a bird, and go on a birdwatching hike. Practice your bird calls and
Tues. December 6: Warm in Winter – Learn about winter adaptations of bugs, birds, and mammals. Look for animal tracks and signs in the woods, then create a bug hotel to take home.
$8/child, one adult helper free. Ages 2 and under, free. $5 Additional non-participating guests.
Reservations required. Space is limited.
Call 901-878-1247 or email Charity@camppinecrest.org to RSVP
Trail Maintenance Mondays
August 29, September 19, October 24, November 21, and December 12
10am-2pm
We are smoothing trails, creating new trails, and clearing up and restoring old trails. We can supply some tools, or bring your own loppers, trimmers, rake, or shovel. Bring lunch and water!
Drop in and stay as long as you like.
RSVP: charity@camppinecrest.org or call 901-878-1247
Stargazers U-Night!
Sat. August 20 7:30-9:30 pm
Learn about the night sky before heading out to the Dark Sky fields, hang out with the Memphis Astronomical Society to observe celestial objects through high-powered telescopes, and try a night hike to engage the senses! BYO binoculars for added fun.
Meet at Chapel for indoor presentation at 7:30 pm.
Pay what you can, $5 per person suggested donation. Proceeds support our Dark Sky Project.
RSVP: charity@camppinecrest.org or call 901—878-1247
Tennessee Environmental Education Association State Conference
Fri. September 23-Sun. September 25
Whether you’re a formal educator, informal educator, parent, or just generally interested in environmental education, join us for the 44th annual state environmental education conference at Pinecrest.
Visit www.eeintennessee.org for more information on TEEA and to register for the conference.
Call for proposals through August 12.
Homeschool Bat Box Building Day
Tuesday, October 4 10am-12:30pm
Bring the family to help construct a professional-grade bat box certified by Bat Conservation International. After construction, we’ll paint our bat boxes, enjoy batty games, go on a bat “hunt”, and enjoy a warm campfire meal with s’mores. Take your bat box home to support our ecologically important local bats! Is your property right for a bat house? Contact charity@camppinecrest.org for more information.
$100/family of 4 (age 2/up), $8/additional participant
Cost includes a professional BCI certified single-chambered bat box, campfire meal, and awesome activities.
Register at pinecrest.campbrainregistration.com
Family Overlook Hike
Tuesday, October 11 10-Noon
A family-friendly hike. Explore up and over the hills to the Overlook and back. Look for animal tracks and traces, signs of autumn, and more with our knowledgeable biologist. Approximately 1 mile. Wear appropriate footwear and bring water.
Pay what you can, $5/person suggested donation
RSVP: charity@camppinecrest.org or call 901-878-1247
Fall Fun Field Trip
Friday, October 21 10-Noon
Students in grades K-3 will enjoy a day-out at Pinecrest that combines learning and fun! Learn about plant parts by making a silly soup, play a game to learn tree ID, learn campfire safety and enjoy a s’more, make a fall craft, and meet the baby goats!
$8/student, $5 chaperones, teachers free.
Arrive by 9:45. Bring a picnic lunch to stay and play. Concessions available.
Registration is required, space is limited.
Call 901-878-1247 or e-mail charity@camppinecrest.org
Ghost River Trace Hike
Sat. November 19 9am-Noon
This 5 mile hike explores long-abandoned pre-Civil War roads, or “traces”, to the Ghost River section of the Wolf River. Take a journey through time and you’ll encounter a wide variety of habitats, plant communities, huge old beeches and oaks, culminating with a view of the pristine upper Wolf River at the now mostly obscure site of Baugh Bridge, once a major crossing that connected West Tennessee and North Mississippi. Imagine the people who have come and gone through this old trace throughout years past and visit swamps accessible only by foot.
- Footwear must cover toes and should at least cover ankles. Be prepared for mud and rough terrain.
- 5 miles considered moderate to strenuous.
- Bring plenty of water and your own snacks.
Pay what you can, $5/person suggested donation
RSVP: charity@camppinecrest.org or call 901-878-1247
Stargazers U-Night!
Sat. December 3 6-8:30 pm
Let’s gather in the fields for stargazing. We’ll start indoors with presentation on Light Pollution and the Dark Sky Project at Pinecrest, then head out to our dark sky fields to view deep space objects through the incredible telescopes of the Memphis Astronomical Society. BYO binoculars for added fun.
Meet at Chapel for indoor presentation at 6 pm.
Pay what you can, $5 per person suggested donation. Proceeds support our Dark Sky Project.
RSVP: charity@camppinecrest.org or call 901—878-1247
Christmas Camp
December 2022 TBD 2:00pm-5:00pm
27 magical hours at Pinecrest! We’ll sing, dance, play, make stuff, go hiking, have a bonfire and s’mores, drink hot chocolate… all the things AND your favorite summer camp counselors will be here, too! Bring a friend!
Open to Grades 3-8.
Firefly Drive-In
The lightning bug display at Pinecrest is spectacular! Our chemical-free fields and forest edges host thousands of fireflies and a variety of species, each with their own flash pattern. Take a hayride and hop off out in the fields to frolic with the fireflies!
Families can also learn about how they can help encourage fireflies at their own home, visit with a local entomologist to discover the many species in our area, do a little stargazing with our astronomer friends, and enjoy a s’more around the campfire.
BYO: Lawn chairs, picnic, bug spray. We strongly suggest wearing long sleeves, pants, and a mosquito head net.
Keep fireflies safe by washing hands after applying bug spray and always release fireflies soon after you catch them.
$10 per car, truck, minivan.
Register online at https://pinecrest.campbrainregistration.com or pay cash at the gate.
Cabin rentals available! Call 901-878-1247 to make a reservation.
Firefly Lightshow Popup Hike
2023 TBD 8-10 pm
-If using bug spray, please do not handle fireflies (mosquito headnets and long loose clothing are highly recommended).
Presbyterian Youth Connection Retreat
2023 TBD for Middle and High Schoolers $120/person
ARE YOU READY FOR A REVOLUTION?!
Jesus was not a pushover! Jesus did some REVOLUTIONARY things like eating with ‘sinners’ and ‘unworthy’ folks in a time when where and with whom you ate and visited was so important. Jesus called the whole social order into question and called us to turn the world up-side down (or, really, right-side up!). Let’s talk about it. And play about it. And hang out about it….
Your youth group is welcome. Bring an adult chaperone, and you’re in!
Email Lucy@camppinecrest.org to register.
Play in the Pines
2023 TBD 6:00pm – 10:30am
Kids bring their favorite adults and spend the night at camp!
Find out about summer camp or just hang out. Night hike, s’mores over the campfire, arts/crafts, and hunts. Supper and breakfast as well as lodging and program are included.
$40/adult and $30/kid
Greeks in the Pines:
Rush and Sisterhood Retreats
Three meals, one night lodging, and swim time. Make your reservation today!
$50 per person/$45 for additional nights | Download Flyer
Special rate available for July and August
Hootenanny
TBD 2022
Plenty in the Pines
Canceled for 2021. We hope to see you in 2022!
Thursday, November 25 11:30-1:00
Here’s to plenty of gratitude and plenty of turkey! Join us for a homemade meal, then enjoy our bonfires, hayrides, and rocking chairs.
RSVP by November 18 amanda@camppinecrest.org or 901.878.1247
Tennessee Naturalist Program
Spring 2022 Session FULL
The mission of the Tennessee Naturalist Program is to teach Tennesseans about our natural world, inspire the desire to learn more, instill an appreciation of responsible environmental stewardship, and channel volunteer efforts toward education of the general public and conservation of Tennessee’s natural resources. Become a Certified Tennessee Naturalist through 40 hours of instruction and 40 hours of volunteer service. Limited space available.
Learn more and register at www.tnnaturalist.org
Call 901-878-1247 or email charity@camppinecrest.org for details.
Hunt for the Blue Ghost Firefly
Fri. May 6 7:30-9:30pm
Become a firefly scientist as we look for the unique Blue Ghost (Phausis reticulata). Observe this unique firefly, only recently noted to occur at Pinecrest. Wander through the fields and watch their ghostly blue lights hover in the tree-line. Experience the magic of all of the various fireflies that make Pinecrest their home.
Please Note:
- Indoor info session will begin at 7.
- Please do not apply bug spray. Wear long pants, sleeves, and (if available) a mosquito head net.
- If you have a bug net, please bring it! A headlamp is also recommended.
- Catch and release only. Fireflies populations are declining, and it is no longer acceptable to keep them in a jar through the night.
$5 suggested donation.
Please RSVP: Charity@camppinecrest.org or call 901-847-1247
Summer Camp Preview Day!
Sun. April 10 2-5 pm
Visit Pinecrest to see what summer camp is all about! Meet the staff, check out the cabins, play on the playground, try a camp craft, explore a trail, and roast a marshmallow. Our camps serve rising 1st – 12th graders. Been to camp before? Come say hi and enjoy a fun day at your favorite getaway. We’ll even open canteen for merch and treats.
Door Prize: Complete the Scavenger Hunt and you’ll be entered to win Play in the Pines admission for one adult and one child (K-8th grade)! See Play in the Pines event for more details.
Free and open to anyone interested in camp.
Just show up, or RSVP: charity@camppinecrest.org
Open-Gate Days
TBD
