Song of the South

Glenn Breazeale | Jun. 29, 2016

It may be a normal Wednesday where you are.  At Alpine it’s an official camp holiday! Alabama’s (famed country band from nearby Ft Payne) Song of the South blared on the speakers as a giraffe, hot dog, Elvis, King Tut and all manner of famous character, or just underwear on head, strolled into the dining hall this morning.  Dancing and singing intermixed with blueberry and chocolate chip pancake eating.  Mountain Day!!!

Mountain Day begins with a wake up call by the head counselors. This morning it was aided by our very own Lookout Mountain Fire Department.  One of our maintenance guys, Gene, is a volunteer fireman and graciously agreed to bring one of the firetrucks in this morning.  So head counselors decked out in costume and driven by Gene, drove down the main road, sirens blaring, to wake up camp.

What you would expect is that boys would sleepily stroll onto their porches, rubbing eyes and wondering what is going on.  But what you see is boys that are prepared.  Instantly boys pour out of cabins decked out in costume, some real and some made up moments before. Word spreads quickly that it might be Mountain Day.  So they are ready.

After breakfast Richard Cox, our program director, led us in an all camp devotional.  Then it was back to cabins to don those red and blue tribe jerseys.

Our Team Sports staff brought us a full morning of Olympic competition, tribe vs. tribe.  Field events, tug of war, and some relays kept us busy all morning.  And yes, there was music there too.  That’s the beautiful thing about being unplugged for a time period.  It makes you appreciate so much more.  A little recorded music on Mountain Day gets us all excited.

Lunch could not have come sooner.  Mrs. Gail’s Mountain Day special: BBQ chicken awaited us.  Served with green beans, mashed potatoes, salad, and strawberry shortcake, we feasted. She cooks the BBQ chicken all night, low and slow, in our camp ovens.  It falls off the bone.

In the afternoon Richard introduced a new camp game for the older boys. Alabama Gold Rush. A combination of capture the flag and an Easter egg hunt, played over most of camp.  Red and blue orbs were hidden throughout each side.  The team with the most found orbs, successfully carried across the border to their safe zone, would win.  The game was met with great enthusiasm by the boys.  I think we have a winner.

Hunters and Trappers (rising 3rd - 5th grades) got to enjoy some river and pool activities on this hot Mountain Day afternoon.

The best part of the whole day (and maybe the term) came at sundown.  The Alpine County Fair.  With snowcones, cotton candy, and ice cream I probably need not say much more.  But there was so much more.

Currency at the fair is dried pinto beans.  Loaded with an envelope full of beans, boys are turned loose in the gym and field to play fair type games to their heart’s content. Cakewalks, Climb the Mountain, and the Sponge Toss were just a few.  Several boys told me this was the best day they could remember.  We will all sleep well tonight.

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.