The Gift of Connection

As parents, we seek to provide our children with opportunities that will help

them become the very best versions of themselves. We hope to give them experiences that will help them discover new passions, make friends, and further develop their self-confidence. At times, we may pause to consider the extended benefits of these experiences, but our lives are so busy that it’s easy to look at the more immediate impacts.

There is no question that those of us who have parents who gave us the opportunity to spend summers at ALC experienced those immediate benefits: ALC gave us courage and conviction through middle and high school; camp helped us be a good teammate; an ALC story became the focus of our college essay, and so much more.

All of that is amazing, and the ALC experience can be considered a success through these examples. But there’s more. Time and time again we hear stories of ALCers randomly connecting with each other decades after their camp days - either picking up an old friendship without missing a beat, or creating a new one because of their shared ALC experience. Even more powerful perhaps are the moments when ALCers lean on one another in deep moments of need - joyful occasions, moments of sadness, and times when we simply need a friend by our side.

This happens because of the depth of our shared experience in camp. There are few other places in the world where a community is together and fully present for weeks on end. Our days at ALC give us the time to really know one another, to learn how to be a good friend, to laugh and cry together. Cheering a friend on as she swims across the lake or dances across the stage helps us learn to believe in each other. Sitting by a camp friend when she is disappointed that she can’t quite master a skill, or has had a disagreement with another friend, shows us how powerful it is to be present for each other. Sharing summers together, where week after week we are in the same space, enjoying time to discuss all that is on our minds, laugh at silly jokes, and simply be together, empowers us to be able to show up for each other for the rest of our lives.

Today’s girls need this gift of camp as much as every girl who has spent her summers at ALC in the last 120 years. Empowering our girls with summer days at ALC is truly giving her a gift that will last a lifetime. It takes courage to give our girls the chance to soar, and ALC is a place that supports that growth every day.