Alford Lake Camp

Technology is all around us and contributing to and improving our lives in ways both big and small.  Have you noticed how many cars have GPS systems?  Just a few years ago it was folded maps, stopping for directions, concentrating to make sure each turn took us to our destinations.  Now we can plug in an address and go!  Lost no more but not really aware of our route.  Do we do this in life?  Do we speed along with technology, busy schedules and multi-tasking life requirements?  Are our children along for this ride? Destination over the journey… something to ponder.

As directors of Alford Lake Camp, we know the camp roads and walking paths by heart.   Over the course of the summer, we can feel the path beneath us change by our campers’ journeys.  Our campers arrive in camp to explore, to learn and to grow.  We travel together with purpose and with fun.  We enjoy the journey and not just the destination. Each day campers gain new skills, make new friends, reach out to new people and experiences and through this gain valuable self-confidence and maturity.  This is our ALC journey.  We travel together and savor the route of childhood, of camp life and of values that make a difference in our lives.

We hope that all our ALC families and friends travel safely throughout their lives.  We welcome you to join us any time.  And, just in case you wish to plug it into your GPS, our address is (for the 104th summer):  258 Alford Lake Road, Hope, Maine!

From the road,

Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

The Kaiser Family Foundation released a new study, Daily Media Use Among Children and Teens Up Dramatically From Five Years Ago, on the technology habits of typical American children. The results are astounding:  children ages 8 to 18 spend on average 7 and half hours a day using computers, smart phones, TVs, etc.  We encourage you to review the study results.

Increases in the “screen time” of American children are on the radars of all American families.  We seek to find the balance in our children’s lives, recognizing that changes in  communication, entertainment and information gathering bring benefits and challenges alike.  As parents, we know our children were not born with adapters!   Surely the balance is struck when children are allowed to learn to live, for a while, without computers, TVs and cell phones.  Alford Lake Camp believes real communication skills, positive relationships and self-awareness comes with personal interaction in a community setting.

A Chance to Unplug…

Think about opportunities for fun and learning we have without electronics:  Campfire skits, drama plays, card games with tent mates, stories read out loud by flashlight, letters written home, summiting a mountain, laughing with counselors and campers as we share our days together.  Time to listen to the wind in the pine trees, to feel the sun on your face and the splash of lake water.  A text message will never replace a hug from a friend. A challenge conquered at camp will outshine any level of a video game. Real and lasting friendships will mean more than any Facebook “friend”.  The self-confidence of our campers, guided by our amazing counselors, can never be replaced by the virtual world.

We know the world is ever changing, yet Alford Lake Camp provides a place where children can still enjoy and benefit from the natural beauty of the world, the positive experiences of face-to-face relationships and the traditions that have been life changing for young women for over 100 years.

Join us in celebrating summer as it should be, as it has always been! Unplug, slow down and enjoy the fun of friendship and learning at a spot that cherishes each individual.

Thank you,

Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

Family Camp, Hope, Maine - Alford Lake Camp

Family Camp, Hope, Maine - Alford Lake Camp

Family camp is right around the corner and we are filling up!!! Call us for reservation – 207-785-2400

A Day At Family Camp:
•    Riding
•    Tennis
•    Swimming
•    Sailing
•    Canoeing
•    Kayaking
•    Arts & crafts
•    Hiking
•    Blueberry picking
•    Exploring the Maine Coast.

Cost & Accommodations:
Adults: $125 per overnight
Children 5-15: $75 per overnight  (Children under 5: Free)
This includes all meals, sleeping accommodations, and Staff facilitated programs.

Family Camp, Hope, Maine - Alford Lake Camp

• If you were in camp and needed to give someone a gift
• If you were in camp and someone needed some cheering up or enthusiasm
• If you were someone’s neighbor and it were holiday time
• If you were wanting to celebrate a holiday with someone who did not have family
• If you just wanted to brighten someone’s day

This might be the time to be thinking about some of this.  Let us know what it is that you have planned to give of yourself to others and to your family that is somewhat “camp like”.    Let’s join hands and hearts and make a difference in someone’s life.  We would LOVE to post some of your ideas for others to ‘borrow’ during this holiday time.

We found ourselves surrounded by so many enthusiastic ALCers and friends as we looked out of the wall of windows at the Gavin's in New York.  With each passing boat in the darkness, we gazed at the lighted masts as each boat cruised up and down the river.  In this gorgeous setting, we hugged one another, met new friends, chatted with one another and celebrated last summer and the coming summer with new and returning friends.  We continue to be so blessed!  (The one exception to this last statement is that we left our camp camera in the taxi on the way to the Gathering and had to quickly borrow Greer's camera which Betsy was trying to learn how to use – soooo, sorry about the quality of the pictures for NYC Gathering – ahhhhh!) To see what photos we did get, click here.

As we drove down the long winding driveway of the Simpson's new home in Morristown, we felt the excitement of the fast approaching, small, cozy, warm, friendly Gathering.  Sure enough we were greeted by Petey (their dog) along with Carolyn, Molly, Teddy and Tim; oh, where was Anna – at school of course.  We sat and drank tea together, talked and welcomed current ALC families and staff (!) to our fun-filled time together (carmalittas and all – just ask Molly's and Teddy's Mom about those!).  By the way, where else in all our travels would we be introduced to the a new birthday gift concept – a composting container; of course, at the Simpson's!

A huge 'Thank You' goes out to Tracy Jenkins Spizzouco, for organizing Portland's Alumni night at the Portland Pirates game!! There were 25 of us who hooted and hollered for the Pirate's, the night before Thanksgiving. The fact that they lost, didn't dampen our spirits! To view some pics, click here!

Getting together with all these ALCer's was so much fun.

We are looking forward to many more ALC alumnae events, both here in Maine as well as, all around the country and hopefully even internationally! We treasure all of you, our ALC Alums. We are all so fortunate to be a part of such a strong institution and are so excited to see this re-connection happening, through this event and through similar events to come!!

If you would like to organize something in your area, please be in touch with us at the ALC office (207) 799-3005 or email us at !

We arrived at the Hickey's (Carolyn, Ann & Leigh) on Sunday afternoon, to a warm fire and a warm atmosphere!  Mary & Brian hosted us at their home filled with the anticipation of all four of their children being home soon for the Holiday.  We are so blessed with the parents that are connected to us, and their enthusiasm to talk about Alford Lake Camp and what the experience has meant to them as parents, for their children.  We saw a really great group of ALC alums in Chicago, as well.  It seems every time we go anywhere right now, we are awestruck by the number of people wanting to re-connect with 'their camp'.  For some it is because they are thinking of camp for their children and for others it is because they want to verbalize the impact camp has had on them AND they want to feel that camp feeling again!!!

To see some snapshots of our Chicago Gathering, click here.

Hi All! Well after a pretty amazing landing in Cleveland in the midst of Lake effect snow, we made it to the Robertson's house with just minutes to spare (and no luggage)!  Small and cozy are the two words to describe this gathering. But despite the size, we were excited to hang out and watch the '08 video with Isabel, new camper Lila and a number of Alums! 
 
The next morning we headed off to Logan Davis' house whose mom Katie Emerson, hosted us for an ALC Coffee.  We had such great conversation with a group of mom's who came to hear about camping in general and about Alfor
d Lake!  This is such a fun and productive way for us to be able to relay the message about 
the gift of a long term camp experience!  Huge "Thank You's" go out to both of these Alford Lake families for opening their homes to us and for spreading the word 
about ALC!!!