Activity Action

Today marked the first full day of activity for the summer.  When the bell rung at 9:15 this morning campers raced to first period, eager to begin.  Carter and I stood in the middle of camp, greeting boys and helping point them in the right direction.

Atop the dining hall, in one corner, sits a large bell, camp’s official time keeper.  You don’t really need a watch around here.  Just listen for the bell, as it resounds throughout most of camp.  It first rings every morning at 7:15 calling boys to Morning Watch.  Morning Watch is as old as Alpine.  Dick believed that starting the day in God’s Word, and with song, was crucial.  And so do we.

Dick camped for 7 weeks each summer at another camp, riding the bus each summer from Jackson, MS.  He loved it.  He loved it so much he set out on a mission to start a camp of his own.  With one difference.  He believed strongly in the traditions and activities of his camp.  And had a desire to marry those with a Christian emphasis.  And his vision of what a Christian camp means remains strong today.  That is, that in order to have a Christian camp, you must hire college men who are Christians.  They are the key.  They make or break a camp.

So we start every day with Morning Watch.  We sing “wake up songs” like Father Abraham (Father Abraham had many sons, and many sons had Father Abraham.  I am one of them, and so are you, so let’s just praise the Lord, right arm).  So each time you sing it you add an appendage to move.  Right arm, left arm and so on, culminating with tongue out, bob your head, turn around, sit down.

Then a few worship songs before hearing a brief Bible story or message from the head counselor.  Each age group has a head counselor who lives in the cabin area and is a veteran staff member.  Not only does he speak each morning but he ensures that the age group is getting along and having a good time in camp.

Tomorrow I’ll highlight a few of the activities happening around camp.  For tonight I have to mention one of the night programs.  The Scouts (our term for boys just completing 5th grade) are playing a rousing game of floor hockey as I type, across the road, in the gym.  Now floor hockey might not sound real exciting - but it’s one of, if not the most popular night program besides Slaughterball.

Counselors serve as coaches.  Tonight some of the kitchen boys (high school boys, former campers, who serve in the kitchen) showed up to be the “student section”.  Other counselors hook up the sound system and provide play by play and color commentary.  They are playing a cabin by cabin tournament.  I walked up a minute ago to see a camper score.  His teammates erupted with cheers and high fives.  Similar scenes are playing out in other spots around camp tonight for night activities.

After lunch today the skies opened, bringing a deluge of rain.  Thankfully it was just at the end of rest hour so we didn’t miss any activities.  We shaved a few minutes off each of the afternoon activities and carried on as normal, even with a few sprinkles.

Today’s meals are worth mentioning.  Pancakes and sausage greeted us after Morning Watch, along with canteloupe, yogurt and granola, blueberries and bananas.  Lunch was a crowd pleaser - chicken fingers with Mrs. Gail’s Shazaam sauce (think thousand island or comeback), mashed potatoes, butter beans and green salad.  Tonight we ate good ol’ hot dogs and baked beans, chips and lemonade or water.

Thanks for reading and good night,

Glenn