The Gift of Time

Picture waking up in your cozy bed and rolling over. Not to grab your phone to see the latest updates on Instagram, but rather, to see what your tentmates are giggling about in the pre-Reveille moments of the day. And once that bugle blows, you are immersed in conversation as you and your tentmates get dressed, make your bed, and head to the washhouse to brush your teeth. You feel happy because you are with your friends, sharing an experience that could never be replicated through text messages or social media posts. You are excited to head up to breakfast where you will connect with more campers and counselors as you share a meal together and launch into a new day of fun at ALC.

Camp gives us all the gift of time. Time to be a good friend. Time to play. Time to explore. Time to make mistakes and learn important lessons. Time to be present in the moment. Time to learn something new. Time to follow a passion. Time to be a kid. We have the time to grow and become greater versions of ourselves because we are all together, creating a unique summer community. Camp empowers us to find our own strengths and to feel stronger in who we are. The time spent together gives us the courage to take the lessons learned and the friendships made, home with us so we can make a difference in the greater world.

Two Alford Lakers recently saw each other from a distance at a swim meet. While they didn’t get to chat, they smiled and waved at each other. Afterwards, one of these campers told her mother that the warmth of that smile and wave was different from what she experiences with friends at home. There’s something special about the time we spend together in camp. We can’t wait to begin again.