Camp Sisters at Alford Lake Camp
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
