Weekend Update: Mission Impossible and Sunday Traditions
The second to last day of Junior Camp activities concluded Saturday afternoon, as many campers competed for tribe points, and tested new skills they’ve learned this week in their various activities. Up top at horseback, campers rode trusty steeds, Conley and Moon, around barrels and through cones attempting to get the best time. In between turns, they tried their hand at lassoing an iron bull, and got to feed some of the other horses hay.
In crafts, boys competed in a paper airplane contest, attempting to make a plane that could fly the farthest across the dining hall lawn. Campers on the waterfront raced each other down our two slides. We don’t only compete though, fishing has enjoyed catching bluegill and bass in the peaceful mountain top ponds we have at camp. With as much fun that was packing into the day, it would be hard to imagine ratcheting up the excitement, but nothing could have prepared the boys for the surprise they had Saturday night.
Mission Impossible is essentially a camp wide game of spotlight, which challenges cabins to travel from location to location transmitting secret codes between “good agents,” all while avoiding being spotted and sent back to their beginning by “bad agents.” The game is simple enough, but it only takes place once in a term. Though usually triggered by an item being stolen by surprise during a skit at lunch or dinner, campers were shocked when we had a surprise appearance at glee club of none other than Baby Yoda and the Mandalorian. However, their surprise turned to distress when Baby Yoda was taken by Tuscan Raiders.
It was up to the campers to complete Mission Impossible and rescue Baby Yoda. Cabins donned their best camouflage, even some disguising themselves with branches and leaves, and made their way through camp as a unit. In the end, Cabin #1 on the Mountain completed the mission first and ending another great day at Alpine.
With all this drama and action, the boys earned their delayed wake up call this morning. Sundays at Alpine are set apart as a day of rest and recharging, and, as with so much of Alpine, is steeped in tradition. The first, and perhaps my favorite, are pancakes. Ms. Gail Collins cooks some incredible meals. No qualifiers necessary. But her pancakes, I’m convinced, would rival the best in the world. Boys enjoy a hearty breakfast before cleaning up the cabins for an elevated status “white-gloved” inspection.
Today, as with the first Sunday of each term, was picture day. It’s a great opportunity for the boys to memorialize their time at camp. My wall growing up was filled with old cabin photos, which is a treasured possession to have now. The counselors made sure to keep the fun rolling with games and stories during some free time before church.
At 11, we lined up to walk to the gym for worship, where our camp minister, William Bondurant, preached on Sabbath rest and the creation of man from Genesis 1. He told the boys that God created them in his own image, which gives them immense value in all of creation. William is the campus minister for RUF at Texas A&M, and, even though this is his first summer at Alpine, did a great job of also explaining that the reason Sunday at camp is structured the way it is flows from the first Sabbath God has in Genesis.
Lunch was served afterwards and consisted of baked chicken, green beans, rice and gravy, halved pears, rolls, and probably most people’s favorite camp dessert, Moosetracks ice cream. At camp, we are serious about our ice cream. So serious that we award each week’s tribe competition winner an extra bowl after the meal. After the traditional singing of “Thank You Lord for Alpine,” Tyler Proffitt, our program director for Junior Camp, tallied up points from all activities as the boys quickly tried to do the math in their heads. In the end, the Cherokee’s prevailed this week, but there is still plenty of time for the Mohawks to make that up before Tuesday night’s final score.
As a former camper, and maybe not the most gifted athlete of all time, the individual competitions didn’t always go my way. However, being a part of a larger team with my cabin mates and those older or younger, and having to accept victory or defeat in the confines of the camp environment tangibly helped me and my friends grow and mature over the years. In the end, the competition isn’t the main point of Alpine, just like it isn’t the main point of high school, college, a job, or friendships. The older I got, the less I cared about if my tribe had won, and the more I felt inclined to be gracious to the opposing tribe if they lost. At Alpine, we love to compete with all that we have, and we also understand that it won’t always add up to a win.
After rest hour, the boys headed out to block periods with their age groups. Some campers enjoyed cooling off at the pool, while others spent time playing ultimate kickball in the gym, or Jedi Ball on the team sport field (appropriate after our Star Wars themed evening last night). Afterwards, showers were had and we sat down for a dinner of chicken spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad.
Tonight, campers will get to go to Vespers where a counselor from each age group will get to share a message or testimony to the boys. It’s always a surreal scene to have the boys at our typical morning watch areas at sunset. We sing a few songs- more serious in tone than our wake up songs, and listen to God’s Word. They’ll turn in a bit early in order to rest up for one final day of activities tomorrow. Though it may not feel like it for parents, it really is crazy how quickly this term goes for campers and staff! Thank you all again for sharing them with us this summer.
For Rapids that Flow,
Wayne