Block Period Bonanza

These last few days have been “Chamber of Commerce” weather days. Clear, blue sunny skies, gentle breezes, and low humidity make for perfect summer mountain days. We’ve taken full advantage with activities abundant.

This afternoon held our first Block Period of the term. Every so often in the schedule, Richard Cox, our program director, schedules a block for the two afternoon periods. It’s basically a pause in the normal activities that boys are signed up for. Richard assigns each age group to a special afternoon activity or two.

By the way, I should probably introduce Richard. He’s been our 1st Term program director for a number of summers now. Hailing from Birmingham, AL, he’s a teacher at the Westminster School there, teaching high school history classes. He began his time at Alpine in college serving as a cabin counselor. In the years since he has been a head counselor, activity head, kitchen crew chief, and office assistant. His energy and passion for everything in life, including his beloved Ole Miss Rebel baseball team, are contagious. We are so grateful to have him here.

So Richard gave us a block period afternoon. I was able to walk around and witness some of the action - campers and counselors were having a blast. I watched the Braves (rising 8th graders) playing Home Run Derby on the tennis courts. Two teams formed. Counselors pitched tennis balls. Boys “batted” with a tennis racket. A point system was created based on where you hit the ball, one point for over the net, two points for over the high fence, and 4 points if you could hit it all the way to the volleyball court. The other team was playing defense and garnered a point if they could catch the tennis ball in the air. Richard created this game this week. The boys love it! It’s so simple yet so much fun. Boys love competition and this scratches that itch.

Then I mosied up to the pool where I watched a group of Scouts (rising 6th grade) engaged in a laid back game of water basketball. It was a perfect day to enjoy the water. Speaking of, the Warriors (rising 7th) relished some time down at the waterfront on Little River.

Trappers (rising 5th graders) participated in an Alpine favorite, Waiter Wars. Two teams compete to carry cups of water on frisbees from one end of a field to the other. The goal is to dump the water into a larger bucket. The winning team is the one with the most water in their respective bucket. But here’s the deal - the other team is pelting you with soft foam balls from either side while you run the guauntlet of the field with your cups of water! It’s a blast!!

Our Chiefs (rising 9th and 10th) hiked up to the soccer field and played a game called World Cup soccer. And our youngest boys, the Hunters, entertained themselves in the gym competing in Ultimate Kickball. About halfway through the block, the Hunters retired to their cabins to gear up for their age group overnight. I got to escort them out to one of our campout shelters, appropriately named, Hunter Overnight. Boys took sleeping bags (we have extra for those that didn’t pack one), flashlights, and a water bottle. The counselors packed in hot dogs and S’mores. I just checked in with them. They built a fire and have cooked the dogs. They will roast S’mores over the fire next. Then they’ll read a Dr. Suess favorite, the Lorax before ending the night with a devotional. Then it will be a peaceful night of sleeping under the stars. Hard to beat.

Mrs. Gail and our kitchen staff put on some fine food today. For breakfast, warm oatmeal with brown sugar, toast, scrambled eggs, and link sausage graced our tables. Then for lunch she served her famous meatloaf - it’s so good. Accompanying the meatloaf she made fried okra, pinto beans, green salad and cornbread. Finally, we ended the day feasting on red beans and rice with sliced sausage, Texas toast, and cole slaw.

Thanks for reading and good night for now, Glenn