Activities Begin

Glenn Breazeale | Jun. 13, 2016

Today began our first camp activities of the term.  We’ve played lots of games these last few days.  But today is what we have all been waiting for!  Yesterday each age group had a chance to sign up in the gym and create a schedule.  It is like old timey registering for classes in college where you would go from one booth to the next signing up for what you want to take and when.

This morning after fueling up for the day on grits, scrambled eggs, toast, Greek yogurt, granola, blueberries, and other fruits that much anticipated bell rang calling us to 1st period.  The beauty of an Alpine schedule is that you don’t really need a watch.  You get into a routine and just listen for the bell.  There’s something glorious about that kind of order to your day - paradoxically it allows for much freedom within an ordered framework.

Boys get to choose their own activities.  They think about what they might need (boots, swimsuit, etc) and then show up to that activity on time.  They couldn’t name this, but for a boy there’s a great amount of satisfaction in that kind of independence.

You sign up for 10 activities, plus each age group does team sports.  We use a snaking schedule that is hard to explain but allows for variety in the order.  Today we participated in periods 1,2,3 in the morning.  Then 4 and 5 in the afternoon.  Split of course by a recharging lunch.  A crowd favorite, I might add - chicken fingers with Shazam sauce (a homemade thousand island/comeback creation that is even better), butter beans, mashed potatoes, and rolls.  A mixed lettuce and spinach bar is served at each lunch as well, with loads of good veggies and other toppings.

After lunch a much needed rest hour (maybe they wrote that letter home!).  Then a quick snack at the Store.

Tomorrow will be 6-10.  Then Wednesday, 11, 1,2,3,4. And so on.  In this first rotation counselors spell out safety rules and other guidelines and then let the boys try out the activity.  Tennis worked on forehands and backhands to assess boys’ skill levels.  Mountain biking set up cones in the road and practiced emergency stops among other maneuvers.

The Project Adventure (ropes course) starts out with team building games and low initiatives to help bond the group.  Maybe the best place to be today was Little River (and the pool a close second).  Boys jumped in the cool, clear waters for the first time, in life jackets.  Today was a hot one so it must have felt heavenly.  We are pushing hydration and giving plenty of water breaks during each activity.

Tonight we dined on Spaghetti with meat sauce, green salad and sliced tomatoes, buttered toast.  As I finish typing this I can hear boys just across the road playing their final games of the night, by age group.  All is well atop Lookout Mountain.

Thanks for reading and good night,

Glenn

Glenn Breazeale
Glenn Breazeale

Like his own father, Glenn grew up as a camper at Alpine for six summers, coming from Jackson, MS each summer. He has served on staff at Alpine since 1997, working full time as Assistant Director from 2003 to 2005 and Director since 2006. Prior to that he gained experience serving in various capacities including cabin counselor, Head Counselor, Head of Project Adventure (Ropes course), Horseback instructor, and Program Director. Glenn’s love of camping and his desire to preserve the traditions of Alpine drew him back to camp to offer young boys the same opportunities he experienced. He met and fell in love with Carter during a Square Dance with Camp DeSoto.