Little River Ramblers
Among our amazing group of about 80 counselors we have over 20 guitar players, a violinist, several drummers, piano players, and even a few horn players (including a member of the Auburn marching band!). Last night to cap off Mountain Day, our pinnacle celebration of the term, the newly formed band, Little River Ramblers, performed some gospel and bluegrass renditions for us in the gym. Their performances of I’ll Fly Away and Will the Circle Be Unbroken, along with quite a few other hits, brought the house down.
All of this took place in the gym during our ole timey County Fair, the ending of an all day celebration. Just after dinner each camper was given a number of beans as currency for the games to be played at the fair, plus tickets for some fair treats. We all strolled to the field and gym (well fast walked for some boys in hopes of getting to the ice cream for sno-cone lines first) just as the sun was setting over the western sky beyond Little River.
Our amazing program staff transformed the gym into carnival game booths. For a bean or two, boys could “Shoot the Lights out” (think waterguns and candles), play “Wheel of Fortune”, “Climb the Ladder”, and even try to pelt a counselor at the “Sponge Toss”. Meanwhile out on the field, a few beans would buy you a chance to soak your favorite head counselor in the dunk tank!
My personal favorite, the Ice cream station, stayed busy all night long. I personally had a scoop of Chocolate chip cookie dough first. Then a bit later they brought out Peach. How could I resist? Many others enjoyed Cookies and Cream or Mint Chocolate Chip. Maybe the most popular station all night was our friends from Froggy Freeze Sno-Cones who parked their trailer on the field to dish out shaved ice with Blue raspberry, Green Apple, Tiger’s Blood, and Silver Fox.
Mountain Day afternoon held several fun variety of activities. The older campers played a fun game called Alabama Gold Rush. It’s essentially a giant game of Capture the Flag between two teams played over most of main camp. Gold (orbs) are hidden all over camp on each side and the team who can successfully bring the most back to their side safely wins. Of course the risk is getting tagged and going to jail, awaiting a kind teammate to tag you for a free walk back. Younger campers enjoyed some water time, both swimming at the River and a special Slip and Slide on a gentle hill uptop. And our Trappers raced their sleek and freshly decorated pine box derby cars. Associate Director and awesome dad Thomas Gallagher cut each one to the boy’s specifications. Competition was fierce, first by cabin. Then the cabin winner advanced to the finals for a big showdown.
I have to mention our Mountain Day lunch. Mrs. Gail and her crew slow cooked BBQ chicken overnight on Tuesday night. It literally fell off the bone at lunch yesterday. Accompanying the BBQ was green beans, mashed potatoes, yeast rolls, and a green salad. She served strawberry shortcake with whipped cream for dessert!
Our Mountain Day Morning consisted of the annual Olympic competition, tribe v tribe. Motivational music played as each age group competed in field relay races. For the first time in a long time, our Olympics ended in a dead tie between the two tribes!
Maybe the most fun part of the day is our morning wake up and breakfast. Everyone comes to breakfast in costume, whether highly planned and coordinated or thrown together at the last minute. Chickens, dinosaurs, cowboys, Oompa Loompas and even Elvis Presley danced on the Dining Hall lawn prior to the breakfast bell. The musical party continued in the Dining Hall as we enjoyed pancakes with chocolate chips or blueberries as a side.
Today we have returned to regular camp life, if any day at camp can be described as regular! Activities are beginning final competitions like the Alpine Open in Tennis. There are quite a few special activities and events upcoming as we head into our final weekend of Second Term.
Thanks for reading and good night for now, Glenn
