Friday Update
A camper found me towards the close of Mountain Day, Wednesday night. He said, “You know, this is my second favorite day of the year, only behind Christmas.” That about sums it up.
Mountain Day begins with a wake up call by the head counselors. Decked out in costume, they roll through camp with patriotic music blaring from a megaphone, singing and dancing.
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. More dancing, all the way to breakfast.
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. The Cherokees are red and the Mohawks blue.
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 came at just the right time after a competitive morning. 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 second annual edition of Alabama Gold Rush for our older campers. 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. After only two years their is strong debate over whether Gold Rush is almost as fun as Mission Impossible! That’s high praise.
Hunters and Trappers (rising 3rd - 5th grades) enjoyed some river and pool activities 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.
Yesterday and today we’ve returned to “normal” schedules. Camp has received a tremendous amount of rain in the last 18 hours. Amazingly, we have yet to miss a regular activity. A few activities have had to divert their plans a bit to accomodate. But zero lightning or thunder that would send everyone indoors immediately. The reality is that a rainy day at Alpine often ends up being one of the best memories a boy will carry home.
Plus we’re all aware that the days are winding down. We are relishing every moment with friends and counselors. I’ve heard more than one boy say he’d stay here all summer if he could!
Thanks for reading. First Term parents, be looking for an email in the morning regarding logistics for Closing Day on Wednesday. I’ll hope to be back with probably one final update Sunday or Monday.
Glenn
