Our Camp
Nestled in a valley near Decorah, Iowa, Pine Bluff Camp sits astride the Upper Iowa River alongside bluffs graced by majestic White Pines. This June, 300 people of all ages from the Midwest and beyond will gather there to sing, play, eat, learn, and remember. With our whole selves we will once again make beauty and connection, our humble and joyful attempt to show our gratitude for life.
Pine Bluff is a rustic camp. There are a few spaces with roofs: a large picnic shelter, 4 bunk houses, and a bathhouse. We’ll be setting up a number of large tents for shelter from rain and sun. Across the swinging bridge over the Upper Iowa River you can wander or camp on 100 acres of wild land. We will be held together by the land, by the river, by our songs, and by our children, teens, and elders.
Here’s a bit of the landscape of Pine Bluff:
Main Shelter: Attached to the small kitchen there is a picnic shelter which we will extend with large tents. This and the open space will be our eating area.
Open Spaces: There are large fields for running and playing. There’s a volleyball court. There are paths down near the river (adults should accompany children there).
The Bridge and the White Pines: Most of the wild land at Pine Bluff is across the large and sturdy (but swaying!) swinging bridge. Children should only go there with, or with the permission of, their parents who have looked with the eyes that know their children’s abilities, as there are steep slopes that drop into the river.
The River: This camp lies next to the Upper Iowa. In rivers of this size there can be undercurrents. As always, families and friend groups are in charge of their own safety. At this camp, it is important that children and non-swimmers be kept safe by their family groups. Life jackets will be available.
Bathrooms and Showers: There is one bathhouse with two sides, each with 3 showers and about 3 toilets. Though we would love to provide the most comfortable shower facilities for everyone, the limitations of this site only gives us the option of two designations, which we've assigned as gender-neutral and for women only. Apologies to men, who will not have their own separate spot but are welcome in the gender-neutral shower room. These limited bathroom spaces will be supplemented by Porta-potties, which are always gender inclusive.