Alford Lake Camp

Today we celebrate Earth Day, a day to recognize and appreciate this earth that has given us so much, but at Alford Lake we celebrate Earth Day every day.  After all, we have so much ‘earth’ to appreciate, with over 416 acres of woods, fields, open space, waterfront, tree farm acreage, brooks, encampment areas, situated on a 500 acre glacial lake with a mile and third of waterfront! WOW that was a mouthful!

John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club and leading US environmentalist, stated:  “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to the body and soul.”

We echo John Muir with our appreciation for the nature that gives Alford Lakers a place to play, grow and learn each summer.  We are grateful for our towering pine trees, our crystal clear lake, the rocky Maine coast, and the inspiring mountains and rivers by which we are surrounded!!

The natural world is slipping away from a lot of today’s youth.  Time to connect with the earth is limited, as our suburban and urban lives surround us more and more.  Yet, we know how important it is for the human soul to connect with the natural world, to be a part of open spaces, and to feel a part of earth.  We share our days with nature’s companions: the horses in our stables, loons on the lake and chipmunks scampering around.  Campers spend their days under the sun (and in the rain) and sleep under a canvas of brilliant stars.

We witness the powerful impact of nature when we see the confidence of our campers after they have harnessed the wind for a glorious sail on Alford Lake, have hiked to the summit of a Maine mountain, have returned from an exhilarating trail ride on their favorite horse or have braved a series of rapids on a canoeing trip.  Through each activity, ALC campers learn to respect, enjoy and interact with their environment.

Our pristine environment gives campers an opportunity to slow down, to reflect and to be inspired by the wilderness.  Their days are richer, their souls are lighter and their confidence is stronger by interacting with the world around them.  Alford Lakers crave the simplicity of camp life, they savor the friendships forged under the canopy of pine trees and they are buoyed by the experiences of challenges faced and conquered on wilderness trips.

One of our most favorite camp songs is:

I’m Going Back (words and music by Jane Robinson)

I’m going back where the earth meets the sky
and there’s no yesterday, and there’s no by and by.
With the moon and the stars always watching over me,
I’m as lonesome as a mountain, I’m as wild as the sea.

I come from a place where the pine trees grow tall
and the sound of night is the loon’s ghostly call,
Where there’s time to wait for the dawn to catch the day,
and there’s no beaten path so you cannot lose your way.

There’s beauty all around in the sparkling dancing stream,
and the morning mist leaves me walking in a dream.
But I never knew all the beauty it could hold
till I saw a sunset all crimson, blue and gold.

The wind whispers secrets into the ear of night,
and the waves break gently on sands of dusty white
Where the sounds of peace keep calling out to me
to come back to this land so beautiful and free.

I’m going back where the earth meets the sky
and there’s no yesterday, and there’s no by and by.
With the moon and the stars always watching over me,
I’m as lonesome as a mountain, I’m as wild as the sea.

We hope you will think of Alford Lake Camp on this Earth Day.  Remember what your summers were like when you were a camper or imagine how your child can benefit from our natural surroundings!

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

Guest Blog by Whitney McMullan

As I sit here and reflect on my younger summers at camp, listening to the ALC CD for inspiration, I remember one thing distinctly. “I can walk ALL over camp in the dark without tripping!” Which was always followed by a hum of “You can? How? Don’t you get lost? Or trip?” I was proud. I knew where every rock and protruding root lay across the uneven ground.

Today I have a new perspective for my night walking talent. As a Bungalow counselor I always took my flashlight on night rounds so that I would not startle the counselors sitting outside the tents on duty. I began to notice that I had become clumsy and tripped over everything. This was odd, I thought, as I had always had a steady step without my flashlight and simply the blanket of stars that covered the Maine sky.

It was then that I realized something. When one walks with a flashlight, they are only able to see inside the bright circle created by the light. Everything outside of the light is too dark to make out. I was only able to see within the constraints of light, the rest was just darkness to me.

I switched my light off for the remainder of my walk. At first I could see nothing, but slowly my eyes adjusted. Not only could I see what the light would have shown, but I could make out everything that was surrounding me. You see, ALC encourages you to see beyond the specks of light; the familiar and safe images of life and allows you to walk outside of the light so as not to miss a single piece of beauty, even if it is a dark image. The point is, you can see it all.

You never know where Alford Lake Camp might pop up!!  We are thrilled that our photo of ALC campers is part of “A Rebecca Mystery:  Secrets at Camp Nokomis.”  Alford Lake Camp shared historical information and photos with the American Girl author Jaqueline Dembar Greene as she researched residential camp experiences for girls in the early 1900s.

The heroine of the story, Rebecca, is a child from New York City attending camp for the first time during the height of the polio crisis.  Reading the book our campers will marvel in how much of camp life seems the same:  travel to camp, sleeping in canvas tents, swims in the lake, reveille in the morning and taps at night!  It is fun to imagine how revolutionary it was for girls to wear “bloomers” and bathing suits and to embark on such an adventure as camp in the early part of the 1900s.

We are pleased that American Girl, through this book, is highlighting the history and traditions of residential camping and chose Alford Lake Camp as a camp to feature.  At 104 years old, Alford Lake Camp is one of the oldest girls’ camps in the world.  We are proud of our traditions, experiences and values that have enriched the lives of thousands of young women and are honored to continue to do so!

We will have copies of “A Rebecca Mystery: Secrets at Camp Nokomis” in our Library this summer.  If you have had a chance to read the book, we would love to hear how you felt about it!!

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

A nine-year-old camper spending her first summer at Alford Lake chose Challenge for her morning activity.  She arrived with her fellow campers to tackle our 36-foot climbing wall.  Soon it was her time to climb.  Safely harnessed, helmeted and instructed by the Challenge counselor she began her ascent.  Half way up the wall she stopped, frozen, unsure and began to cry.  The counselor called up to the camper:  “You are fine, you are safe and you have three options.  I can climb up and help you down, you can climb down yourself or you can keep going.  It is your choice and I am here to help you.” Her fellow campers sat quietly with sensitivity but watched intensely to see what the camper would do.  A minute or two later, the tears stopped and the camper weakly said, “I think I will try to keep going.”  Slowly, steadily and with lots of concentration the camper proceeded up and over the climbing wall.  Once back on the ground, she smiled, rejoined her group to watch and support the next camper as she began her climb.  Soon it was time for another activity and our camper bounded off with energy to the next part of her camp day.  Off to have fun, to play with her friends, and to be a camper at Alford Lake.

I learned of this camper’s experience from the camper’s mother who said, “this is why camp is so important to my child and these are the skills I want her to have as she journeys through her life”.  Yes, the mother agreed, it is wonderful that her camper decided to continue on the climbing wall, to have learned that she was brave and strong enough to complete what felt like such a daunting task.  But more importantly, the camper was presented with three equally solid options by the counselor.  They were supportive and encouraging and none was portrayed as being a better choice than another.  The counselor’s message was clear: you are safe, you have choices and I am here to help you.  “Life will bring her challenges,” the mother said, “and I want her to always know how to find help, to seek safe options, and to feel personal strength within herself”.

Think of how powerful a metaphor the Climbing Wall is for all of us.  In school, in work, and in life, each of us will encounter a wall standing in our way, a challenge to face, a situation that makes us pause and wonder, “Can I do this?” The answer must come from deep within us through experiences that have taught us the most important life skills: to try hard, to seek help when we need it and to believe that we will find a solid solution.

In the camper’s story, the counselor did not say “You will climb the wall” or “You must climb the wall”.  Too often our children are pushed to succeed, to compete and achieve.  Some places encourage competition and reward winners.  We are a much different community!  Every Sunday evening, counselors from our activities verbally recognize campers who have contributed to their activities.  These appreciations are presented to the entire camp community and are focused on effort, consideration, helpfulness and dedication to an activity.  Campers are applauded for learning, for making honest efforts, and yes, sometimes for achieving.  We are a community that believes in the glory of learning, the thrill of knowing yourself and celebrating that each camper has the emerging skills to face life’s challenges!

I urge you to consider this young camper’s experience.  Imagine how such an opportunity could contribute to the strength of that special young person in your life.  We, as adults should look beyond each summer’s experiences and realize the potential long-lasting value of the camp experience for our daughters. And, if you or she should face a wall to climb, please remember what our counselor said to our camper:  “I am here to help you as you climb”!

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

Imagine opening a letter and finding out you had a sister you never knew about!  No, this blog is not about long lost relatives… it is about just one of our wonderful camp traditions.  In the weeks leading up to camp, letters will be arriving mail boxes around the United States and across the globe!  These will be letters for our new ALCers with greetings from their ALC Camp Sisters.  The letters of introduction and welcome will be just the beginning of an important relationship our campers share in their summers on the shores of Alford Lake.

Camp Sisters is a mentoring program established by the Directors of Alford Lake Camp to ensure that every new camper knows they already have a friend excited to meet them on the very first day of camp!  These returning campers take an active role in helping our new campers “learn the ropes” of camp life.  A welcoming smile, a helping hand and maybe even a tour of camp on that first, exciting day of a camper’s summer are all roles our Camp Sisters eagerly embrace.  They are friends and mentors to our new campers all summer long.  This special relationship is shared throughout the summer in impromptu moments shared between the girls as well as established events such as camp sister luncheons and activity days.

As Directors, we are proud of this tradition and it is planned part of our commitment to our supportive and nurturing camp community.  We love that the girls and young women who return to Alford Lake Camp are always eager to reconnect with their friends from summers past.  But we carefully make sure that new campers become part of our group from DAY ONE!!  We are a community that embraces everyone.  We do not have camp “teams” or “groups” that compete against each other.  We nurture friendships and do not support groups or acts of exclusion.  Our philosophy allows our campers to enjoy healthy, fun and supportive relationships between all ages within the entire camp community.  These are some of the ALC values that matter and that help empower or campers to thrive!

So, to our new families: keep an eye out for that letter!!  Your camper is about to learn about a special new “sister” and begin to experience the warm embrace of Alford Lake Camp.  To our returning campers:  thank you for being the enthusiastic, friendly and compassionate ambassadors of Alford Lake Camp.

Thank you to all our ALC families for helping us spread the word about the value of the Alford Lake Camp experience.  We know we have the support of thousands and thousands of Alford Lake Camp Sisters (AND camp brothers)!!  We LOVE our ALC family.  

Warmly,
Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

One of the smallest buildings at Alford Lake Camp is the Library.  Originally the home of our first Director, Dr. Susan Kingsbury, this beautiful building has long been a favorite spot for our campers to sit by the fire, play a board game with friends, write a letter, or read a book.  Our library holds cherished memories of our camp with ALC logs (camper accounts of the day) that date back to the early 1900s.

Additionally, our library holds well over 500 books for our campers to borrow and enjoy throughout the summer at ALC.  Classics and modern books in a variety of reading levels for our girls – and many books in foreign languages too.  Year after year, generous families have been donating their campers’ favorite books to help our library grow.  Our library is always open for curious campers and counselors to find books to enjoy and share.  We are proud that our tent counselors read aloud to their campers before bed.  We hear the cries of “one more chapter” ringing out from the tent line in the evening!  Reading is a life skill and a meaningful way to continue to learn and grow in life.

Alford Lake Camp is proud of our commitment to literacy.  We encourage campers to write letters home, to write Camp Logs, to create campfire skits and to read just for fun.  We know that communication skills grow through these experiences.  Without computers, TVs, etc. our campers are able to rediscover the joy of reading.

These are our values.  This is our commitment to 104 years of successful residential camp life.  We hope you will visit our library when you next visit camp.  See what has changed and what has not.  You might just find yourself picking up a great book and sitting down by the fire.

What book is on your nightstand right now?  What books do you think you will bring to camp this summer?  Share your thoughts with us by replying to this or any of our blogs.

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

We know we are not the only ones who see it!! The litter on the side of the road, the small bits of our lives accidentally dropped or carelessly thrown away.  The clutter, the trash, the “disposable” part of our consumer based society/economy.  We notice it on the sides of the roads we drive, by the stores we frequent and everywhere we go!  Most of us of a “certain age” remember the powerful public service advertisement of the 1970s of the American Indian crying as he saw the trash polluting a river.  And, so we stop, bend down and pick up what we can.

And we know ALCers all over the world are doing the same…  Taking a moment to stop, to notice and to take a small action to care for the world. Why?  Because one of the foundations of Alford Lake Camp is stewardship of our environment.  Visit our camp and the first thing you will notice is the caring attitude our staff and campers have for this place.  Together we care for our buildings, our tents, our equipment and through this we also learn to care for each other.  We will not overlook, pretend to not see or ignore the people in our community. We will stop and take a moment to care, to connect and improve each other’s lives.  We are stewards of each other!

So, today we hope you will join us and pick something up.  Choose to see the small things and to be a part of the solution.  Share the ALC spirit with the world!!  It is who we are and it is just one of the important lessons of Alford Lake Camp.  This is what we mean when we say Alford Lake Camp is a place “where values matter and people thrive…”

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

Quiet time, time to reflect, rest, recharge, reconnect… at Alford Lake Camp we call this time “tent time”. What is tent time?  The time right after lunch and right before dinner, spent with tentmates and counselors in our tents.

Ask any ALC camper and they will tell you it is one of the highlights of their days, because tent time is mail time – the time when our eager Jr. CTs hand deliver letters from home!!  But tent time is more than just time to savor letters from home.  It is time to spend with their main camp group – their tentmates and their counselor, their small ALC family.  We specifically build in time in our campers’ daily schedules for meaningful time to connect, bond, share and enjoy with their immediate peers and their counselor.  We, at Alford Lake Camp, are proud of our tent groups.  The small, close-knit community of campers and counselor living together provides real relationships, true understanding and acceptance, as well as and a sense of “oneness”.  Our counselors and campers know each other, are proud of their tent groups, and share the experiences, joys and responsibilities of living together.

Just as a family gathers around the dinner table to reconnect after busy days, our tent groups share tent time to reconnect after activities at Alford Lake.  Silly games, books read out loud, stories of the day’s experiences are all part of tent time.  Talking, sharing, and laughing… all ages enjoy the time to be together every day.  The skills of living together, of community building and understanding the needs of others are all honed at ALC and most especially within individual tent groups.  Together our girls learn life lessons of peer relations, communication and group living.

We wish everyone could have “tent time” in their lives!! Time to pause from work, share unscripted time with true friends, all with a patient, fun and understanding counselor.  Imagine how happy we all would be…

Days spent on the shores of Alford Lake Camp are multi-layered.  They are a mix of dynamic activities and quiet times.  Tent Time is part of our tradition, part of our success and part of the gift we give campers (and they give us) each summer.

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

We heard the reminder… this was the weekend that the USA observed “daylight saving time.”  We turned our clocks ahead one hour, playing with time to gain more daylight.

Losing an hour of sleep but gaining more daylight to enjoy.  Children play outside longer, commuters can enjoy coming home before the sun sets!!  We throw open the windows to let in the light and the fresh spring air.  We cheer for the melting snow, glory in the first blooms of spring in our gardens and happily trade in our winter coats for lighter jackets.

As parents, we know about time passing with our children.  We celebrate their growth, we see them ”sprout” in their days, months, years.  A tiny baby one moment, a toddler the next.  An adventurous and independent ”tween” before we know it.  The seasons of their lives flying by.  And for many of us, we wish we turn back the clock or make the clock tick just a little slower.

Yet, we know the important part of being a parent is preparing to let go – just a little bit more each year.  To see them change and become more independent, more self confident, more of the amazing women they will be.  Alford Lake Camp is part of that process.  Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us.  Thank you for giving us a “season” with your child!  We know the trust you place in us, we value each wonderful and unique camper.  We cherish the summer “seasons” of their lives.

Wishing all our Alford Lake Camp families a joyous spring!

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

In recent years we have seen a rise in specialty sports camps.  We know that our campers enjoy their participation in team and individual sports during the school year.  We recognize the value of these activities and the important part they play in young girls’ lives.  Many families feel pressure to continue sport training during the summer months.  The American Camp Association recently posted an interesting article titled “Good Sports: Athletes Find Opportunities at Summer Camps,” and we encourage you to read it.

Campers choose their daily activities at Alford Lake Camp.  Each activity period they are given 3-5 choices.  For example, a camper can choose canoeing one period and tennis the next.  Campers can focus and attend many activities as much or as little as they wish.  The great part of this approach is that campers have a voice in their decisions and are still guided by our conscious counselors who keep a good eye to each camper’s experiences.  We have witnessed the value of this ‘liberal arts’ approach each and every summer. A novice tennis player realizes she loves the game and returns to the courts day after day.  A limber gymnast finds climbing the Challenge wall exhilarating and splits her time between Gymnastics and Challenge.  Our Sports activity swells when lacrosse or soccer is announced!  The value in the ALC approach is that campers can work hard and be mentored in their particular sport while still having choices throughout every day.

Swimming, sailing, gymnastics, tennis, horseback riding, challenge (our climbing course) hiking, archery, field sports…. there is no denying that our campers are active and on-the-go all summer long!!  Activities at ALC are designed to keep our campers busy, happy and healthy.  Camp life includes walks up and down our beautiful hill, days spent exploring the natural world and moving, moving, moving.  Fresh air, fun and a carefully balanced diet contribute to a summer that is positive and healthy for all our campers.

As you consider summer activities for your child, we urge you to reflect on the importance of a well-rounded athletic and active camp experience.  Today’s soccer player may well become tomorrow’s tennis player!!  A chance to learn a new sport, discover a new passion, to rest and recharge can benefit athletes of all ages.  What a great opportunity for our children to pursue their interests and explore life skills as well – all to feed their soul and their academic success as well!

Hurrah for camp, education and life skills!

Warmly,
Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director