Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director and Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

“A PLACE I CALL HOME”

Once I was introduced to a magical place in Hope, Maine.  This is what I call my second home.  It is a spot where I can think and say what I want whenever I want.  It is a place where I can release my inner talents and let my outer shell shed.

I am the second generation to go to this special world.  My mom and my aunt went there before me.  I go, willing, to extend the girl side of the family tradition.  Though it is a tradition, it is a fun and cheerful one.  Every time I go, the people change.  there are always new friends to share memories with.  This hidden gem is my camp, Alford Lake Camp.

Durng the time that I go to camp, I get much more mature and independent.  The directors encourage us to reach out to new girls and widen our comfort zones.  I arrive with my friends and sister thought I leave with a bunch of newly made friends to keep in touch with.

I started going to camp when I was eight years old.  I was scared and nervous to be without my parents for seven weeks, but when I got there, I was greeted with a smile and a hug.  So, in the comfort of being in a place with girls just like me, I came back to camp for two more years after that.  I am going there again this summer, happy to see my old friends and excited to meet some new friends.

Every year I learn something new about life.  Each of life’s lessons helps me be a better person.  So, every year I think about my summer waiting ahead of me with a smile on my face, but butterflies in my stomach.

- ALC EXPLORER CAMPER

America celebrates “Mother’s Day” today and we want to wish all our Alford Lake Camp mothers (and those who serve as “mom” in their families) a happy day!!  What a great moment to pause and think of our answers to the question “who is an Alford Lake Camp mom”?

Our experience has shown us that camp moms are a special group of people and a vital part of Alford Lake Camp’s history and success.  For well over 100 years, ALC mothers  have supported, encouraged and forged the legacy of strong independent camp experiences for their daughters.  We stand in amazement of those pioneering mothers who embraced this ‘new and revolutionary” experience for their daughters during the infancy of residential camping!  Imagine their courage as they allowed their daughters to venture to Maine for a summer in the early 1900s.  We imagine they knew these mothers recognized that a summer of camp activities, experiences and adventures would lead to a life time of memories, skills and growth for their campers.

Equally impressive in our eyes are our current ALC Mothers!  They are the loving caregivers of our campers who are able to embrace that emotional challenge of “letting go” of their children (for a few weeks – our full or half season summers), thus allowing their daughters to gain important and independent experiences.  We know this is not easy – for our children are our pride and joy! Regardless of their age, we love being with our children and sharing in their days.  But camp moms know the benefits of camp life and are willing to share their
daughters with the ALC Community.  Thoughtful, trusting, caring, determined and organized are just some of the words that come to mind as we think of our camp moms!

Thank you to all our ALC Mothers! Thank you for investing in the legacy of residential camping at ALC. 
Thank you for your trust in our leadership.  Thank you for sharing your amazing children with our camp community. Thank you for embracing the “values that matter”.  Surely the world is a better place because of the role you have as “mother”.  We salute you all and thank you for continuing to be the backbone of our camp.

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director

Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

What does this closeness bring to our campers and our whole camp community?  It brings a sense of understanding and friendship!  It allows our campers to truly interact and connect with our teaching and counseling staff.   When we are close, we cannot ignore each other and we cannot exclude each other.  Sharing our living and activity spaces, we must forge the skills of patience, kindness, sensitivity and understanding.  Campers and counselors have the opportunity to be together as we all laugh, learn, support and encourage each other.  It works because we are all here together, for each other, with the focus on making sure each person has the best summer experience possible! 

Often repeated to us is the closeness of bonds of friendships made at Alford Lake Camp.  We couldn’t be prouder of what this means.  This closeness is the lasting value in our lives when we have people who know the “real you”, accept you for who you are and share memories of amazing times spent together.  Campers, CTs and counselors all remain connected long after their years at camp because they experienced something unique at ALC – a time of growth, exploration, friendship and fun…. And closeness!

We are a community that celebrates values that matter.  Each summer, ALCers create bonds of friendships and memories that can last a life time.  We are a close-knit bunch and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Happy Valentine’s Day from ALC!

Sue McMullan, Director

Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

By Barb Sullivan (ALC Staff Member)

This is true:  On various occasions in my life, I have been given a purple and green horizontal striped sweater (umm..), a “make-your-own-candle-kit” (me? really?), a fanny pack (does anyone my age need to wear a fanny pack?) and even a crocheted black and gray lap blanket (45… NOT 90!!!)

So what did I do with these lovely items?  You guessed it… I REGIFTED them!  Amy Vanderbilt, the noted etiquette and manners author, would be horrified for she states it is the height of rudeness to give a gift selected for you to another.  Oh Amy, I totally disagree!!  I re-gift often.  In fact a few of you might have received some of my gems for your birthdays or holidays.  But beyond my habit of re-gifting these lovely gifts, I have become VERY GOOD at re-gifting Alford Lake Camp.

You are the gifts I share with my family, friends, colleagues and my community in my “winter life” – each and everyone of you has been handed over by me at one time or another.  Amy Vanderbilt clearly doesn’t know the gift of ALC and all of you or she would never object to the regifting I do!!  Each of you are amazing gifts to me -

Campers:  You are the gift of energy, exploration, enthusiasm and fun.  When I want to feel young at heart, I think of your smiles, your songs and your passion for trying new things.  I share you – when I remember to say “please” and “thank you”, when I write to my parents, when I reach out to someone new.  You are regifted everyday in my life!

CTs – Junior & Senior:  I re-gift your love for ALC and the friendships you have built here all the time.  Honoring traditions, sharing what you have learned throughout your years at camp is a gift that makes me remember that the things that have been important to me in my life are worth holding onto and cherishing.  You are a gift I find easy to share!

Counselors:  You are my gift of responsibility.  You have taken on an awesome and sometimes exhausting job of caring for and loving other peoples’ children.  You teach with enthusiasm, lead with quiet grace and give of yourselves day and night in a million different ways.  Wise and understanding beyond your years, I re-gift you when I interact with children.  I take the gifts you have showed and shared with me and give them to others.  You are people I admire and I try to re-gift YOU in my days.

Regifting you, the “bungalows” and “non-tents” is hard!  For you have given me your example of ceaseless work, attention to detail and work that is undefined but never too much for you.  When I roll up my sleeves and do more than I feel is my share, I am regifting YOU!

I guess I re-gift the Directors too.   When I try to lead, plan and organize, I take your gifts, Sue & Betsy, and dig deep to find them in myself.  When juggling too many things seems to drive me to exhaustion, I re-gift YOU and find a way.  When I work for something bigger than myself, especially ALC, I am re-gifting Sue & Betsy.

I re-gift ALC singing:  There is always a reason to sing!  I re-gift the Eleanor Room – there is always a chance to talk things out and move forward!  I re-gift this beautiful, natural camp – for cherishing this wild open place reminds me to appreciate nature and the simple life!  I re-gift the meals we share, the laughter and the joys of our summer days together!  I re-gift each of YOU for you have taught me to love unconditionally and that by simply being here, in this special community,  is the most amazing gift of all!

So, I would like to give you each a ribbon.  Take one, tie it on you today and remember that I am re-gifting you always!  And perhaps, you just might want to re-gift ALC too!

In this new economy, Alford Lake Camp, like all traditional, residential camps in America, is faced with the challenge of staying true to our history, our values and our philosophy of camping while utilizing the vast array of new technologies to spread the word of our camp.  In this effort, we have been advised that Google searches for “residential camp” simply is much too low on the list of inquiries for it to be effective.  Rather, searches begin with words such as “sleep-away camps” or “overnight camps” are higher on the list.  This information made us pause and reflect.  Are we clinging to the description of Alford Lake Camp as a “traditional residential camp” only because we think it sounds nicer?  Are we splitting hairs?  Or do we really believe that the word “residential” truly does best describe our camp?

So, we Googled it! (Ironic? Yes, we know it is…)

Residence: (noun):  the place, especially the house, in which a person lives or resides; dwelling place; home:

Overnight: (adjective): done, made, occurring, or continuing during the night. Staying for one night: a group of overnight guests. Designed to be used on a trip or for a journey lasting one night or only a few nights.

Sleep-a·way: (adjective): of or pertaining to a place at which one sleeps away from home

Yes, it is true that Alford Lake Campers sleep-away from home when they come to Hope, Maine!  Our summer sessions do last more than one day, so yes; it is true we are an overnight camp.  But, Alford Lake Camp is first and foremost our campers’ summer home!  It is their residence!  Just like the comfort, support and sense of belonging that we all feel when we are at home, Alford Lake is a special place of community and friendship. 

Here, at Alford Lake Camp, we believe in certain unchanging values such as respect for all people, embracing differences and providing opportunities for everyone.  We create a summer home that allows each camper to feel nurtured, respected and appreciated!  Together we share our days: living in our signature white tents, sharing meals, singing songs, going to amazing activities and always laughing, growing and enjoying our time together.  This is what home feels like – this is what a residence is… this is what residential camping has always been!

So, for now, we will continue to proudly call Alford Lake Camp a “traditional, residential camp for girls in Maine” – and we hope you agree that it best describes this magical place we all call “home” during our summers!

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director

Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director

We invite you all to read this wonderful essay written by a camp counselor (not an ALCer but we can simply imagine our talented counselors share the author’s feelings)! 

We see community, leadership, values and integrity at the heart of our summers at Alford Lake.  We are so immensely proud of our talented and dedicated counseling staff who are impeccable role models for our campers. 

Celebrating over 105 years of residential camping, Alford Lake Camp is a magical place – for campers, counselors and staff!

Warmly,

Sue McMullan, Director

Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director 

http://harvardmagazine.com/2011/11/at-camp-a-community