Campers no longer wear “bloomers” or spend hours each afternoon resting flat on their backs, but many ALC traditions endure from decades ago.

 

LOGS: Each Sunday evening, the ALC community gathers in the Camphouse wearing their “evening clothes” (pajamas). A quiet time to unwind and celebrate together, campers share their “logs”, or journal entries, for each day of the preceding week.  CTs announce the winners of the weekly age-group inspection competition and bravely share their “belief statements”. Campers and counselors share quiet musical performances, and nature sightings are announced. We end the evening with appreciations where anyone in the community can pause and recognize someone and share their gratitude.

 

SUNDAY IN THE PINES: Each Sunday morning, the camp community gathers for a secular service in a pine grove by the lake. A quiet moment together, a few campers, counselors and the directors all speak about a common theme such as challenges, friendship, opportunity or gratitude. A moment to reflect on the values we share as a community and to enjoy being in nature.

 

BEACH DAY: The whole camp piles on school buses and heads to the beach in nearby Owl’s Head. Exploring tide pools, making drip sandcastles, reading under a pine tree at the beach edge, playing cards with friends or taking a dip in the COLD Maine ocean, campers love this change-of-pace day.

 

THREE MINUTE SHOWERS: Campers swim in the crystal clear lake almost every day but yes, it’s true, all of our campers learn about limited natural resources and learn to share the hot water by taking three-minute showers, three to four times a week.  Our alumnae often cite this as one of the most practical skills they gained at camp!

 

CAMPFIRE: Each Friday, the CTs organize a campfire where campers and staff can perform skits, share a story, laugh and sing as the sun sets across the lake.

 

SATURDAY NIGHT THEATER: Each Saturday night, the Drama department produces skits or short plays starring campers who attended Drama that week. The whole camp is the audience for the show and it’s always fun to see friends perform on stage. On Visitors' Weekend, the full-season campers act in a larger musical production. Half-season campers may participate in a special performance at the end of their session. 

 

TENT OVERNIGHTS: Tent groups spend the night at a campsite on camp property but away from the center of camp. Highlights may include a special dinner, dessert and campfire as a group.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS: There are a handful of special SURPRISE events that happen throughout the summer - returning campers know to keep them a secret so new campers are surprised.

 

SWIM ACROSS THE LAKE: Selected campers and staff spend one afternoon swimming across the lake. Lifeguards swim alongside a small group of campers and also have a support from counselors paddling in a canoe nearby. It's about a mile across and campers celebrate when they make it across!

 

THE SONG CONTEST:  Every summer, each tent group writes an original camp song and performs it on stage in the Camphouse. Three-four winners are chosen and the campers begin to teach that song to the whole camp. The prize-winning songs are added to the ALC songbook.