The PineCast

Tune in to hear updates about Pine Island Camp and the upcoming summer season. Director Alex Toole shares important announcements, fun camp facts, PIC trivia, camper and staff shoutouts, and listener questions. Our older episodes feature the PineCast Oral History Project. This project documents the camp's history by showcasing some of PIC's most iconic personalities.

Season 2, Episode 5: Special Guest Matt Kennard! 01/09/2026

Season 2, Episode 5: Special Guest Matt Kennard! 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. /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/39669280

Season 2, Episode 4: Season's Greetings! 12/23/2025

Season 2, Episode 4: Season's Greetings! 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 atoole@pineisland.org or Hannah at hgordon@pineisland.org, and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/39517435

Season 2, Episode 3: A Very Grateful Pine Island Thanksgiving 11/25/2025

Season 2, Episode 3: A Very Grateful Pine Island Thanksgiving 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, , or Hannah, . We’d be happy to share them on the next episode of the PineCast! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/39173840

Season 2, Episode 2: What We've Been Up To, Info Nights, and Corrections! 11/11/2025

Season 2, Episode 2: What We've Been Up To, Info Nights, and Corrections! 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 or Hannah at hgordon@pineisland.org, and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/39000040

Season 2, Episode 1: We're Back for a New Season! 10/10/2025

Season 2, Episode 1: We're Back for a New Season! 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 , and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/38543330

Episode 6: Interview with Jono Bryant, WFR Instructor and Expedition Alumni Trip Leader 05/19/2025

Episode 6: Interview with Jono Bryant, WFR Instructor and Expedition Alumni Trip Leader 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 , and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/36628795

Episode 5: Camper Lindbergh, PIC in the Modern Era, and More! 04/16/2025

Episode 5: Camper Lindbergh, PIC in the Modern Era, and More! 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 , and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/36192585

Episode 4: PIC Looks Different Now, plus What's It Like to Live in a Tent? 03/18/2025

Episode 4: PIC Looks Different Now, plus What's It Like to Live in a Tent? 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 , and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/35746010

Episode 3: A Returning LTIP, a Pine Islander on Spotify, the Whitehead Lighthouse, and More! 02/14/2025

Episode 3: A Returning LTIP, a Pine Islander on Spotify, the Whitehead Lighthouse, and More! 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 , and be sure to subscribe to the PineCast. Remember: Gracious Living is our Goal, and Pine Island Always Wins! Akka Lakka! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/35286125

Episode 2: The One that Resembles a Seahorse... 01/17/2025

Episode 2: The One that Resembles a Seahorse... 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 for more information on camp, and to enroll today! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/34898935

Episode 1: Welcome to the New PineCast! 01/03/2025

Episode 1: Welcome to the New PineCast! 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! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/34716265

Coming Soon: PineCast 2.0! 12/11/2024

Coming Soon: PineCast 2.0! 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! /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/34403300

Buildings Part III 04/15/2022

Buildings Part III 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 /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/22805801

Buildings Part II 03/02/2022

Buildings Part II 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 /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/22244381

Buildings Part I 02/24/2022

Buildings Part I 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 /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/22244243

Vehicles 02/14/2022

Vehicles 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 /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/22068443

Pine Island's Launches 01/27/2022

Pine Island's Launches 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 /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/21924515

The Heist 12/09/2020

The Heist 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. /episode/index/show/pineislandcamp/id/17128235

The PineCast

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