Cruising Into the Weekend
At about 3 yesterday afternoon the bottom fell out. Rain came down hard in sheets. The timing was actually fine, and we needed a little refresh. Most importantly, we had time for everyone to get their snack at the Store! With snacks in hand, we headed back to cabins for some games inside while the storm passed. It’s actually fun every now and then to have a game time with your cabin on a rainy afternoon. That is, as long as it doesn’t last too long! This storm did not. By 4 we were out and about, headed to our last activity of the day.
We did lose power, as you know, but that doesn’t slow anyone down but the folks in the office. Our kitchen has a backup generator, so the ladies were still able to deliver on a fabulous dinner, red beans and rice, with sliced sausage, buttered toast, and lettuce and tomato salad. Our generator does not provide enough juice to cover lighting in our dining hall. Carter and company had prepped a candlelight dinner. Dinner is at 6:30. At 6:28 the Sand Mountain Co-op “made our lines hot” and the lights popped back on.
Last night most groups played Slaughterball in the gym. If you’re new to Alpine, it’s a decades old Alpine tradition, our salute to dodgeball. It’s pretty much universal that boys like to throw balls at each other. Slaughterball just provides a legal and safe venue! Cherokees v. Mohawks, age by age, hurled heaters at each other all night, while chants of “Cherokee, Cherokee” and “We got that Mohawk power” reverberated around the gym from onlookers.
This morning our breakfast tables greeted us with a welcome surprise. Pancake and sausage! Mrs. Gail (and her mom before her) have a famous and secret pancake recipe (it may just be secret because it’s not written down anywhere, they know it by heart). I can tell you it is from scratch. And the ladies flip every single pancake, starting early in the morning before anyone else is awake. If you do the math, it’s several thousand pancakes flipped by 8AM. We are so grateful for our dedicated and hard working group of ladies in the kitchen.
We woke to a cool morning after the rain. The sun passed through the clouds gently most of the morning, meaning it wasn’t quite as hot. Even so, it was definitely warm enough for campers to enjoy a dip in the cool waters of Little River. There are 3 separate activities that meet at the river, all staffed by our lifeguard counselors. They also staff the pool, a separate activity as well.
Boys who take Waterfront get to participate in all the fun “toys” on the river, as well as free swims. Two “Wet Willie Slides” (that’s really their name, copyrighted by the company that makes them) descend into the river. Boys climb to the top of wooden stairs and race towards the water, aided by a steady stream of water circulating from the river into each slide by a pump system.
A zipline takes off from the top of our waterfront tower. Holding onto bike like handle bars, you zip towards the river on a metal cable and pulley, splashing down after a nice long ride. There’s also a great spot up top for a tower jump, regulated by our lifeguards.
Canoeing is it’s own separate class. And so is paddle boarding, offered to our older boys. From our docks, there is about a mile of navigable water upstream before it gets rocky and shallow. It’s a peaceful paddle, surrounded by the sights and smells of lush greenery on each side. The older guys like it because it’s a laid back time to hang out.
Everything I’ve mentioned happens above the dam. Below, water cascades onto and around rocks and boulders (some 15 and 20 feet in the air). Several deeper spots attract larger pools of water, especially this time of year. The guys in waterfront each get a turn to explore the rapids, guided and guarded by our lifeguards.
Our Waterfront director is Ross Shumate. Ross teaches at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN in his other life. He’s been with us now for probably 10 summers. He’s also an Alpine Dad and his wife Dodd, is one of our camp doctors (a pediatrician). Needless to say, it’s a blessing to have the Shumates around!
This afternoon most everyone in camp is carrying on with regularly scheduled activities. Everyone, that is, except for our Chief age groups (boys entering 9th and 10th grades). We have invited the older gals from Camp Desoto over for an afternoon and evening of fun known as the Senior Social. I have just returned from the Ridge (where the Chiefs live). I can report that these boys look and smell more fresh than they have all term. Excitement and nerves and freshly sprayed cologne are mingling in the air. I met with the entire age group. I gave them the “you represent your family and Alpine, so behave like gentlemen, be gracious hosts” speech. Check the website tomorrow for some great party pics, as well as snapshots from the rest of the day.
For now, I’ll sign off and say have a great weekend. We have lots planned around here. I’ll check back in Sunday or Monday with a report from the weekend. Thanks for reading, Glenn
