Activities Begin for Junior Camp

Glenn Breazeale | Jun. 01, 2017

Glee Club dates back to the beginnings of Alpine summers on Lookout Mountain. Each night after dinner boys have gathered in the gym to sing (and sometimes dance) to camp tunes passed down through the decades. As I write this, from my screen porch just across the road from the gym, I can hear boys chanting their requests for the next song. They just sang “I Want You Back” by the Jackson Five. Before that it was “Sweet Home Lookout Mountain” (Sweet Home Alabama with Alpine lyrics). And of course the legendary “Desoto Girl” to the tune of Brown Eyed Girl.

How do you get a group of boys to have fun singing old tunes? Simple, the counselors. They make it fun and cool. If it’s cool enough for a college guy, then it’s usually good enough for a young camper!

Since I’ve finished those first two paragraphs the chants have changed from song requests to “Mohawk, Mohawk, Mohawk” and “Cherokee, Cherokee”. More games of Slaughterball tonight for those who didn’t play last night.

Tonight in the dining hall we were served spaghetti noodles with a delicious homemade meat sauce, buttered toast, grated cheese, and a salad of chopped lettuce and tomato slices with ranch dressing. Everyone appreciated a good carb load after a full day of first activities. I’m not sure supper topped our meal to start the day: French toast and bacon!! I smelled the bacon as soon as I left my house this morning on my walk to the office. They start cooking it very early! I’m not telling you how many pieces I ate.

And along with every hot breakfast comes a fruit and yogurt bar, complete with granola, blueberries, various flavors of yogurt, bananas. Before breakfast the campers and counselors start their day with Morning Watch, a worship and devotional time led by their head counselor. It’s enjoyed by most everyone, and once again, it’s because the counselors make it work. Worship songs are followed by a brief message from the Bible by the head counselor.

We start our day with a meeting of the leadership of camp. We pray and talk about announcements, logistics, and upcoming events. I mentioned our Program Director for the term, Malcolm Saxon, last night. Malcolm plans out the day to day, in conjunction with Carter, Adam “Bully” Shields, and Ben Kenna. A short bio on Malcolm, so you’ll know who he is. In his non Alpine life, he serves as middle school principal at Christ Covenant School in Jackson, MS. He’s been in education for over 10 years now. Prior to that Malcolm worked full time at Alpine for 8 years, serving in administration and recruitment for camp. He’s married to Adrienne. They are the proud and busy parents of four young girls, all below the age of 8! We are so fortunate that he’s able to work with our Junior Camp.

In case you haven’t checked the weather up here, no need to. It’s been a Chamber of Commerce sort of day. Cool this morning, with boys wearing sweatshirts to breakfast. It warmed up nicely and a good mix of clouds and sun kept us very comfortable all day long. Activities are off to a blazing start. I passed so many smiling and eager boys today on my walks through camp, many of whom were running at a dead spring to their next location. A good day to be at Alpine.

Thanks for reading and good night for now, 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.