Night Games

Glenn Breazeale | Jun. 02, 2017

Boys tend to thrive within a flexible stucture and a variety of activity. It’s been said before around here, and we certainly didn’t make it up: girls make friends face to face, boys do it side by side. In other words, friendships are made here in the context of activities.

Of course we start and end every day face to face, in God’s word. Aside from that we don’t do a lot of sitting and talking. It happens much more naturally for us males if we’re doing something. Just now, as I was leaving dinner, there were several boys walking with their counselors, and chatting away getting to know each other. Boys do it with each other walking to and from activities as well.

It’s why we don’t usually have a lot of skit nights or talent shows or campfires for our Night programs. Or why we usually don’t have the entire camp playing one game, age group by age group, with the other groups watching. We have so many great venues for activity, why not let everyone play at once. Tonight is a perfect example.

The Hunter 1’s (that’s the boys who’ve just finished 1st grade) have been given free reign of the 4 square, ping pong, and gladiator courts for a game night. Malcolm announces night program just before dinner, in front of the flagpole, after we’ve said the Pledge of Allegiance. When he announced game night the Hunter 1’s jumped up and down high fiving and screaming. I love watching these littlest boys and their expressions. It is pure joy.

Hunter 2’s (finished 2nd grade) competed in a night of Extreme 4 square, played on the tennis courts under the lights. Malcolm marks out 4 larger than normal squares and they use the extra giant rubber playground balls. Teams of 2 fill each square, and they rotate in as teams get knocked out. So simple. Yet one of our most popular night programs.

Hunter 3’s played an old timey Alpine favorite, angleball. It’s a combination of football, ultimate frisbee, and soccer (maybe??). So, picture a metal pole standard, probably 20 feet tall, planted on a tripod. There are two of those spread on a diagonal at either end of the Team Sports field. Crowning each pole is a plunger (yes a toilet plunger), turned upside down. Sitting atop the round, rubber plunger is a rubber playground ball. And there’s a circle perimeter around each standard, probably 25 feet in diameter. Boys can’t go inside the perimeter. Two teams pass footballs around in attempts to get close enough to throw the football at the ball sitting atop the plunger. Knock it off and you score a point for your team. Any time the football hits the ground it turns over to the other team immediately. It’s fast paced and fun to watch (and I’m realizing a good bit bizarre sounding in description, I probably lost you at toilet plunger).

Trappers (rising 5th graders) sneaked around in dark clothing all evening in the Mountain cabin area, playing an elusive game of Spotlight. Get spotted by the counselors and it’s back to base. Make it all the way to the top of the Mountain, flip the light switch on in Cabin 8, and you’ve won, defeating the “bad guys”. Scouts (rising 6th graders) were busy doing the same on the Ridge, their cabin area.

By the time you receive this, devotions will be almost complete and boys on their way to dreaming, if not already there. Another full and beautiful day at Alpine in the books.

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.