Weekend Wrap

The weekend began with some unusual excitement around these parts.  The usual afternoon smells and sounds of sweat and screams were replaced with the wafting of perfume and high pitched laughter. The Chiefs (rising 9th and 10th graders) welcomed the Senior campers from Camp DeSoto. The late afternoon consisted of groups rotating through several fun and creative activities. Human Bingo, team building games, various yard games, and Apples to Apples to name just a few.

After their rotations through the various stations, they enjoyed eating some piping hot pizza from Papa John’s followed by a night of dancing in Deerfoot. All of the classic Alpine/DeSoto Dance songs were played. The girls enjoyed teaching all of their boys some of their many line dances, including dances to Stand, Jai Ho, and the ever-popular Elvira.

While the Chiefs were dancing the night away, the rest of camp was having a blast enjoying their own age group activities.  We call it Block periods. Every now and then we suspend the regular activity rotation for specially planned fun with the entire age group. Our program director plans these afternoons, apportioning out games to each group at lunch to raucous cheers.

Roderick Russ is our program director for 2nd Term. He’s a husband and father of five and a teacher at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, TN. He’s been doing this particular job for 8 or 9 summers, and on staff much longer. In fact, Roderick and I first became friends when he was my cabin counselor in 1992 and ‘93. I was 14 and 15, my last two years at camp, and he was a student at Ole Miss. It’s personally really fun to get to reconnect each summer. More importantly he possesses tireless energy and enthusiasm for the program, designing plans to entertain 265 boys from sunup to well past sundown each day.

So yesterday he planned block periods for each age while the oldest boys enjoyed the company of the Desoto ladies. Some enjoyed the cool confines of the river and pool. Others played capture the flag or extreme 4 square or Alpine cricket on the tennis courts. And last night he gave them what they’ve all been waiting for - Slaughterball! Alpine’s version of dodgeball, it’s been played around here for years and years.

Except for the Braves (rising 8th graders). They packed their sleeping bags and a water bottle and hit the trail for cabin overnights. Each cabin teamed up with another cabin and picked one of our overnight locales to cook out hot dogs, roast marshmallows for S’mores, and enjoy a night under the stars. It was a lovely night with a half moon overhead.

Today’s been back to normal activities, minus a brief rain storm we waited out this afternoon. Boys played games with their activity counselors under shelter in their activities. Sometimes these impromptu breaks from the routine prove to be memorable for their spontaneity.

Saturday nights at Alpine almost always mean it’s time for a feature presentation in the gym.  After a long week of playing hard it’s nice for everyone to get a break after dinner for a movie. Tonight’s feature is Space Jam.  They’ll be treated to a Moon Pie snack midway through the movie (another longstanding Alpine tradition).

This evening we enjoyed “hamburger night”.  After going through a buffet line with burgers, baked beans, and all the fixin’s and condiments campers sat at their regular tables. Usually we dine outside on buffet nights but because of the rain we chose to enjoy the dry chairs of the dining hall.

Tomorrow morning we’ll get to sleep a little later (a Sunday morning tradition) and be greeted in the dining hall by hot pancakes and sausage.

Thanks for reading and good night,

Glenn