The PineCast

It's time to go to camp! The countdown is on: less than one month! In our season finale, Alex updates listeners on everything the PIC team has been doing to make sure camp is ready to go for our boys on June 26th. Tune in to hear about how to visit camp this summer, a historical fact or two about Pine Island, and a great listener mailbag question about mosquitos. Plus: turn up the volume on those speakers and jam out to our classic PIC tunes between segments! This is our finale episode until the fall. In September, we'll be back on the airwaves to tell you all about our summer season. Be sure to subscribe to The PineCast so you don't miss the first episode of season three! Remember: Gracious Living is Our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

Spring has arrived in Maine, and that means that camp will be here before you know it!  In this episode, Alex updates listeners on what the team has been up to as we get ready for summer 2026. Tune in to hear about a few dates to add to the calendar, a historical fact about Pine Island, and the answer to our trivia question about the oldest building at camp. As always, our musical interludes will get you excited for our many campfires this summer and the annual Club Honk bash! Send your trivia answers and listener mailbag questions into the podcast by emailing Alex at [email protected] or Hannah at [email protected], and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

This week, we're excited to share a conversation with Pine Island Camp parent and current PIC Board member Bianca Bell. Bianca's sons attended—and later worked at—Pine Island from 2018 to 2025. She is a pediatrician in Atlanta, Georgia with Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates and serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Georgia. Bianca earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and has more than 20 years of experience caring for children. In addition to her involvement with Pine Island, she also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Jesse Parker Williams Foundation. In this episode, Bianca reflects on her career in pediatrics, the impact Pine Island has had on her sons and her family, and why she believes summer camp experiences are so important for children. We talk about what it's like to send your kids away to camp for the first time, how a six-week commitment really feels as a parent, and why—despite the nerves—it's all worth it. We wrap up with a fun lightning round to close things out. We're thrilled to continue bringing thoughtful guest conversations to the podcast in the months ahead. Please enjoy this in-depth conversation with Bianca Bell.

It's been a bit since we've done a normal episode with offseason updates, trivia, staff and camper shoutouts, and event announcements. Tune in for a quick episode and catch up on what has been going on in the world of Pine Island Camp! As mentioned in the episode, our upcoming events are: Thursday, February 12th: Boston Gathering Wednesday, February 25th: Chevy Chase, MD Gathering Saturday, February 28th: Winter Campfire in NYC! Head to our website to RSVP for any of these events if you're able to make it! As always, send your trivia answers and listener mailbag questions into the podcast by emailing Alex at [email protected] or Hannah at [email protected], and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

This week, we're excited to share a conversation with Pine Island alum and current PIC Board member Matt Kennard. Matt attended Pine Island as a camper from 1994 to 1998 and now serves as CEO of BetterLesson, a professional development and coaching organization created by teachers, for teachers. BetterLesson partners with K–12 districts to use resources more strategically, support student-centered classrooms, prepare students for college and careers, and strengthen instructional leadership. In this episode, Matt reflects on his years at Pine Island and the lasting influence of the camp community on his personal and professional path. We explore his career journey, how camp experiences translate into college and career readiness, and why formative summer experiences matter deeply for child development. The conversation also ranges into making major life changes, the role of ancient societies in shaping modern community, and the enduring importance of male friendships. We wrap up with a quick lightning round! We're excited to bring more guest conversations to the podcast in the months ahead. For now, enjoy this thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion with Matt Kennard.

In this episode, we update listeners on what we've been up to; we give a fun fact about a high-speed activity we used to have at PIC (unbelievably); we give the answer to our trivia question about Sacred Animals and deliver a new trivia question; and we deliver a season's greetings message! Oh, and can't forget: staff and camper shout-outs! As always, send your trivia answers and listener mailbag questions into the podcast by emailing Alex at [email protected] or Hannah at [email protected], and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

Today on the podcast, we do something a little different. Instead of our usual format, Alex reads a letter that we sent out, from him, to the broader Pine Island community in the spirit of Thanksgiving. This is an important time to practice gratitude, and in this letter Alex expresses many things for which he is grateful this season. If there are things from the Pine Island universe that bring you feelings of gratitude, reach out and share them! Send them to Alex, [email protected], or Hannah, [email protected]. We'd be happy to share them on the next episode of the PineCast!

Welcome back for a new season of the PineCast! Season 1 followed us as we prepared for the 2025 camp season, and season 2 will track the lead-up to the 2026 camp season. We're excited that you're tuning in! In this episode, we update listeners on what we've been up to, personally and in our preparation for camp; we provide corrections to our fun facts from last episode; we give the answer(s) to our trivia question about Magoon; and we hit you with a new trivia question about Sacred Animals! As always, send your trivia answers and listener mailbag questions into the podcast by emailing Alex at [email protected] or Hannah at [email protected], and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

Welcome back for a new season of the PineCast! Season 1 followed us as we prepared for the 2025 camp season, and season 2 will track the lead-up to the 2026 camp season. We're excited that you're tuning in! As always, send your trivia answers and listener mailbag questions into the podcast by emailing Alex at [email protected], and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

Tune in today for episode six of the PineCast, Pine Island Camp's official podcast! Today we're doing things a bit differently and airing an interview with Jono Bryant, a longtime friend of PIC who teaches our WFR course and is leading our alumni trip (Expedition Alumni) to Belize in December! Tune in to learn more about that trip, what it entails, and why you should be on it! As always, send your trivia answers into the podcast by emailing Alex at [email protected], and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

Tune in today for episode five of the PineCast, Pine Island Camp's official podcast! We'll talk about some celebrity history at camp, hear trivia about one of the island's buildings, and learn about Alex's thoughts on PIC moving deeper into modern times. As always, send your trivia answers and listener mailbag questions into the podcast by emailing Alex at [email protected], and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

Apologies for the delay between episodes! Tune in today for episode four of the PineCast, Pine Island Camp's official podcast! Hear about a returning camper from Brooklyn, a trivia question about basketball, and what it's like to live in a tent at PIC. Plus, head to the history books to learn about how the spaces on the island used to be arranged almost 100 years ago. As always, send your trivia answers and listener mailbag questions into the podcast by emailing Alex at [email protected], and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

Tune in today for episode three of the PineCast, Pine Island Camp's official podcast! Hear about an LTIP who is returning as a first-year counselor, a camper who put on the show of a lifetime at Club Honk, and an alum who is taking Spotify by storm. Plus, go back in time to learn more about the history of the Whitehead Lighthouse.   As always, send your trivia answers and listener mailbag questions into the podcast by emailing Alex at [email protected], and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka!

Tune in for Pine Island updates, camper, staff member, and alumni shoutouts, the fact and trivia question of the week, and some amazing PIC musical interludes! Our hearts go out to PIC families and alums affected by the LA fires. Please get in touch to let us know that you're safe, and if you need any support. The PineCast is recorded, hosted, and produced by Director Alex Toole, with producing help from Nick Toole. Visit www.pineisland.org for more information on camp, and to enroll today!

This week, we're proud to present our first full episode of the re-launched PineCast! Listen for updates on what we've been working on, our camper and staff member shoutouts, a PIC fun fact, and a chance to answer the Pine Island trivia question!

Coming soon to a podcast player near you: the revamped and re-launched PineCast! Stay tuned for episodes every two weeks or so, starting next month. We're excited to deliver you important updates, announcements, shoutouts, trivia, and more!

Ben Swan continues his tour of Pine Island's buildings and their history. Tune into Building's Part I and II for a history of the northernmost buildings on Pine Island. In this episode, Ben Swan talks about the Dining Hall.  Who remembers 6'8" ceilings and posts throughout the dining hall? Hosted by Woody Hoyt Intro Music by Johnny Credit Card  

Ben Swan continues his tour of Pine Island's buildings and their history.  Tune into Building's Part I for a history of the northernmost buildings on Pine Island.  In this episode, Ben tells the rich history of Honk Hall — both its first and second iteration.  Hosted by Woody Hoyt Intro Music by Johnny Credit Card  

A history of Pine Island's buildings would be boring without Ben's additional stories.  Tune in to learn more about the buildings that keep us dry and provide spaces to gather.  Hosted by Woody Hoyt Music by Johnny Credit Card    

Planes, trains, and automobiles have all delivered Pine Islanders to camp, and the latter two have brought Pine Islanders to adventures all over New England.  Ben Swan dives into a history of the vehicles that have transported Pine Islanders to and from their expeditions in the wilderness.  Hosted by Woody Hoyt. Intro Music by Johnny Credit Card  

Ben Swan takes us back to the earliest days of Pine Island Camp when traveling to the Island was more of an adventure. He tells us stories about our esteemed launches. Hosted by Woody Hoyt.  Intro Music by Johnny Credit Card    

Ben Swan takes us back to a chilly fall day in Pine Island history — to a heist and the subsequent "investigation" to return the stolen items to Pine Island. Hosted by Woody Hoyt.  Intro Music by Johnny Credit Card