Pine Cove Crier Creek FAQs
Table of Contents
Staff Presence at Pine Cove
Waiver Requirements
Keys for Camp
How to Reserve Space at Pine Cove
Maps of Crier Creek & The Ridge
Photos of Crier Creek
How to Get to Crier Creek
Wifi at Camp
Crier Creek Lodging
Crier Creek Kitchen
Coffee at Camp
Amenities & Activities
Additional Event Notes
Check Out Procedures
Important Contact Information
Staff Presence at Pine Cove
Does someone from The Austin Stone Staff need to be present for an event at Pine Cove?
Our Executive Team has decided to require staff and/or elders to be present for all events hosted out at Pine Cove for FY23. This is our first full year with Crier Creek and we're working to lay a foundation so that folks can know how to best utilize and steward the property and amenities. James Paquette can provide more context via phone call if necessary.
We're working toward a way in which we can broaden this to deacons and vetted leaders, but at best that would be FY24.
Waiver Requirements
Every participant on the property will need to fill out a waiver. If the participant is a minor, the waiver must be signed by their legal guardian. Please keep these with you during the event and then turn them into Lisa Benkendorfer or James Paquette after the completion of your event.
Keys for Pine Cove
We have four copies of the master key for Pine Cove. You'll need to contact Lisa Benkendorfer to check one out prior to your event at The Ridge or Crier Creek. At this time, we'll only be sending one key per event.
Please be advised, we have attached Apple AirTags for tracking purposes to steward our resources and relationship with Pine Cove well. These will likely notify your Apple devices that the keys are traveling with you, please do not disable tracking!
Please plan to return keys to Lisa Benkendorfer within a week of your event end date at Pine Cove. She'll reach out if keys are needed sooner due to back-to-back events.
We will keep track of who checks out which keys, here.
How to Reserve Space at Pine Cove
To reserve Crier Creek for your ministry or personal use, you’ll need to:
- Check the event calendar to see what dates are available. Please note that ministry events will always take priority over personal events regardless of which event was booked first.
- Fill out the interest form to submit your request.
- Wait for approval from the Central Ministry Team. Upon approval, you’ll receive all of the information you need to plan for your reservation.
- Cabins will be assigned closer to the date of your event and you’ll be notified once this is done. If you have any specific requests for certain cabins, please indicate that on your interest form.
- If you have any questions about the reservation or approval process or need to cancel your event, please reach out to Lisa Benkendorfer.
Calendar of Events: Use this to view the dates that Pine Cove Crier Creek is already reserved. Depending on the size and nature of your event, it’s possible to share the camp with another group. Ministry events will always take priority over personal events. The Austin Stone has access to use Pine Cove from August through April with a few exceptions.
Pine Cove Interest Form: Use this form to submit a request to use Pine Cove Crier Creek.
Maps of Crier Creek & The Ridge
Photos of Crier Creek
Check out photos of the lodging spaces, common spaces, and other various spaces listed on the map linked above!
For Communications team approved photography, click here.
Directions to Camp
For the current gate code, please check the #help-pinecove Slack channel.
How To Get to Pine Cove Crier Creek from Austin
Pine Cove Facilities
Wifi
Wifi is available at Crier Creek in the main gathering spaces: Whitetail & Big Horn. Wifi is available at The Ridge in the Gym, Congaree, and Big Bend.
TAS guests log in to the "PC Guest Wifi" and no password is necessary.
Crier Creek Lodging
Pack-n-play's are available, but not located in every cabin. Please request pack-n-plays for your event through Maria/housekeeping (see below for contact information).
Pine Cove Crier Creek Lodging Details
Crier Creek Kitchen
Groups using Pine Cove have two options for food:
- Contract Specialty Food Services
- Provide your own food or eat offsite
If you contract Specialty Food Services, they’ll take care of meal prep, service, and back-of-house clean up. You’ll be responsible for setting up the dining hall, tables, and getting dishes to the back-of-house.
If you are NOT contracting Specialty Food Services:
- Leave the kitchen as you found it.
- Clean your own dishes. Ask Gabby Barnholdt about the machine set up and how to use it.
- Photos of the kitchen
Coffee at Crier Creek
While there are some options for coffee already at Crier Creek, you may choose to bring additional items with you.
What's available at Crier Creek already?
- Commercial Coffee Maker
- Coffee Grounds (though not coffee-connoisseur approved)
- Vanilla & Hazelnut Syrups
- Various Creamer Pumps
What should you bring yourself?
- Coffee Grounds (approved by coffee-connoisseurs)
- Creamers of your choosing, especially allergy-friendly options
- Sweeteners of your choosing
What's available to check out from Central Ministries?
- 3 Cup Chemex Pour-Over
- 8 Cup Chemex Pour Over
- Electric Kettle
- Coffee Grinder
- Coffee Scale
- Coffee Caddy
- 3 Coffee Scoops
- Chemex Filters (if you use the last, please replenish)
Note: Please check with Lisa Benkendorfer before your event to reserve these items. Anything borrowed from Central Ministries must be returned, fully cleaned, within two business days after your event ends. The links are included above in case an item breaks - if it does, we are asking that you would replace it from your budget, as these were all purchased new.
What if we'd like to outsource our coffee needs?
Here is the contact information for Davina Adcock's Coffee company, Brooklynd's Coffee Co!
Brooklynd's Coffee & Tea
512-584-7930
Here is the contact information for the Coffee Truck we have hired in the past for events:
Nearby Coffee Co.
Ashley Brown
512-826-8326
They do already have our tax exemption on file, but be sure to remind them when you contract them.
Here are some pricing estimates based on a prior contract, subject to change:
- Drip Coffee: About $2.10 per Serving
- Handcrafted Beverages: About $6.60 per Serving
- Mileage Fee: $0.75 per mile (round trip)
- Event Production Fee: 18%
Pine Cove Amenities & Activities
Meeting Rooms
- Big Horn: Large gathering space that seats 100 people max (photos)
- Cove Kids: Small rooms for 8-10 people that are outfitted for kids
- Outpost: Game room (photos)
- White Tail Lodge: Dining hall, largest gathering space option (photos)
Pine Cove Crier Creek AV Details
Activities
- Pool (Red-Cross-certified lifeguard required)
- Lake fishing
- Canoeing/kayaking
- Slick track/go karts at Ridge (trained facilitators required)
- Sport court
- Archery/BB guns
- Pickleball courts
- Fire pits
- High Ropes at Ridge (trained facilitators required)
The ropes course, slick track, and pool cannot be used without hiring approved/trained facilitators.
Per our contract, firearms and alcohol are not allowed on Pine Cove property whatsoever.
Pine Cove Crier Creek Activities & Amenities Details
List of Pine Cove Trained Facilitators
Please keep in mind that we recommend paying facilitators $150 per day and offering meals and housing if needed.
Additional Event Notes
- Recommend using Specialty Food Services
- Recruit paid lifeguards and ropes facilitators for activities
- Recruit a “work crew” to help with meal set up/clean up, luggage delivery, taking out trash, putting out water jugs, snacks, and room flips
- Encourage people to bring their own reusable water bottles
Check Out Procedures
Upon leaving, please ask guests to complete the following:
- Turn all thermostats to (AC 78) (Heater 65) dependent upon weather conditions.
- Tear down all large group rooms (stack chairs, put away tables).
- Take out the trash in all public areas (Whitetail / Big Horn) and outside trash receptacles and place it in the dumpster behind Whitetail Lodge (dining hall).
- Upon arrival, make sure trash cans are flipped up right and have a bag in them before the event.
- After the event, take out the trash bags and flip cans upside down.
- Sweep or vacuum floors of public areas and pick up any large trash debris.
- Turn off ALL lights, including outside flood lights.
- Turn off and log out of all AV systems used.
- Please report any routine maintenance needs to Gabby Barnholdt via text or email (see below for contact info).
Important Contact Information
Hospitality
While out on Crier Creek's property, Gabby Barnholdt will be your contact for any maintenance concerns. She is onsite Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.
Gabby Barnholdt
817-659-0108
Housekeeping and Landscaping Services
Nathan Nalesnik
832-860-1760
Maria Rerich (housekeeping specifically)
979-249-7096
Meals/Catering
Kyle Saepaugh (with Specialty Foods Service)
832-221-8708
Mason James (with Specialty Food Services)
832-628-9550
mason@specialtyfs.com
Griselda “Mama G” Rodriguez (head of the kitchen)