Two Classic Traditions Return to PIC

The big game in progress on the Ballfield By Alex Toole When I was planning for the summer of 2025, I wanted to bring back some of Pine Island’s old traditions as a novel way to maintain the continuity of our camp’s unique culture. I started combing through archival...

“That’s No Loon…”

The moose off the western shore of the Second Island, photographed from a respectful distance It was a quiet afternoon during Staff Week when Taylor Clyde, ever vigilant and apparently overdue for an eye exam, spotted what he thought was an unusually large loon...

Mid-Summer Pine Needle

We are excited to share the Mid-Summer Pine Needle, a collection of articles, trip reports and artwork created by campers during a journalism session earlier this month. It offers a glimpse into the creative, imaginative, and active lives of Pine Islanders. We hope...

PIC Appears in Literature!

The 2018 Ex-Camp group that Ms. Chandler encountered on the Allagash. Standing: Ian Ford, Cole Wofford, Anders Westerman, Dylan Ashby, Ash Fraiman, Alex Sidorsky, Satchel Toole. Kneeling: David Austin, Ben Brill, Tom Straus. By Sarah Hunter Late one night last fall,...

Honoring Emily Swan: A Legacy of Loyalty

Last December, Emily Swan fully retired from Pine Island after more than 30 years as the camp’s Business Manager. This was a woefully inadequate job title; Emily seamlessly handled everything from finances and payroll to logistics and endlessly frustrating...

Trip Report: St. Croix Canoe Trip

By Miller Elston This is a four-day canoeing trip for ages 13-14 on the St. Croix River in Downeast Maine. On the first day, we had an early breakfast before starting our drive to the drop-off point. We ate lunch when we got there, then got out on the water. We...