Campers Arrive for 2nd Term

Glenn Breazeale | Jul. 08, 2017

This morning Alpine welcomed 275 campers for our 59th edition of 2nd Term high atop Lookout Mountain. I asked a camper early on if he was excited to be back at camp. His reply, “Are you kidding, this is like Christmas Day for me!” And now, as I write this, I can look out my window and see by the waning sunlight boys happily tossing dodgeballs at each other on the field. Simple, yes. But it’s carefree, it’s summer on Lookout Mountain. It’s the same place boys have been tossing balls for many, many summers. And for boys it’s an icebreaker. It’s an introduction to new friends, a reacquaintance for old. Discovered over a heroic shot or shared team strategy or even the frustration of defeat. For boys, it’s bonding. Plus where else can you have really cool college guys organize fun games for you and 40 of your best friends to play together!

Carter and I loved seeing so many of you today, and meeting many of you for the first time. My name is Glenn Breazeale. We’re the directors at Alpine. Carter grew up here and in Chattanooga. Her dad started Alpine in 1959 and her mom joined a number of years later in helping Dick operate Alpine for many, many summers. They are still around and hopefully many of you were able to see/meet them today. Carter and I have been back on the Mountain full time since 2003, directors since 2006. I had the joy and privilege of being a camper and counselor for quite a few summers before that.

I hope to give a small glimpse into our days while your boys are with us. If you were around at noon, you heard a bell ring, beckoning campers and counselors to the gym for our opening meeting.

We covered several important topics. One, Alpine is a safe place to be who you are and not get picked on. We don’t bully or mistreat other boys. I asked everyone to step up and put a stop to boys being mean or bullying others if they see it. That’s not the Alpine way. And we also asked them to tell someone (counselor, head counselor, us) if anyone says or does anything that makes them uncomfortable or is against the rules. We introduced the leadership in camp so everyone knows who they can talk to. I also reminded them that it’s perfectly normal to be a little homesick the first few days. And we covered some health tips like hand washing and hydrating, plus a few boundaries around camp. After such a full morning (and probably an early one for eager, excited boys) the lunch bell rang just in time. Chicken and dumplings, with corn off the cob, green peas, chopped lettuce salad, and homemade silver dollar biscuits awaited us. We eat family style in our dining hall, 10 campers and 2 counselors per table. Boys entered and quickly found their table assignments for the term (by age group but a mix of boys from several cabins). After the traditional noon blessing, sung acapella, food passes to the right and everyone takes a portion. On a day like today serving bowls and platters are quickly refilled by our high school Kitchen Boys (mostly former campers).

We celebrated Ben T. and Wade L.’s birthdays after lunch! Where else can you have 350 people sing to you at the top of their lungs, led by a head counselor conducting with the “birthday monkey” (one of those little coconut monkeys, another tradition that some counselor long ago started). The kitchen makes a cake for each birthday boy shaped like an Alpine tree, yellow cake mix iced with chocolate almond icing and topped with sprinkles and candles.

This afternoon we took care of some necessary pit stops. Health checks (meet with the nurses and doctor and get screened for lice and fever), Alpine gear order (sizes checked and names added by the store ladies), and swim checks (required by the American Camp Association) to name a few. Activity signups have been going on today as well, at various times for different age groups.

I have a great feeling about this term. On Opening Day afternoon Carter and I like to sit in front of the store passing out the Alpine gear forms to each camper. It gives us a chance to see every camper right off. I love the energy and excitement of this group. And everyone seemed so settled and at home.

Thank you for sharing your boys with our Alpine community this term. We are excited to see what’s in store for this group.

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.