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Staff arrive 10 days before their campers for an intensive training period. Days are long – often 14 hours or more – and begin with an in-depth bible study lead by Bill Boyd, senior pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Bill has been on staff at Alpine for over 20 years and has developed a rigorous curriculum to foster a distinctively Christian community at Alpine. Counselors are taught to view each area of their lives as an opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ. He also teaches counselors to help their campers “unplug” from modern distractions.
Counselors also sit under the instruction of Bob Ditter, widely considered the foremost expert on children and summer camps.Bob emphasizes effective communication with boys, equipping staff to resolve fights and discipline issues. Chris Thurber, another nationally recognized figure in camping, speaks on preventing homesickness and bullying. We even bring in parents to share their expectations and veteran staff members to share experiences from summers past.
Our head nurse covers health and safety, emphasizing common pediatric conditions such as ADHD, asthma, and allergies as well as cleanliness, bedwetting, and giving medication. Each counselor also receives CPR and First Aid certification from the American Red Cross. Staff leading specialized activities arrive early to participate in high level clinics in their fields and to receive official certification.
Finally, before each term, Glenn meets with each cabin counselor individually to go over the boys who will be in his cabin. He covers family background, connections to Alpine, past experiences at camp, pertinent medical information, and any other personal information passed on by parents (all of which is kept in strict confidence between directors, cabin counselors, and medical personnel when applicable).Each counselor knows his boys when they arrive and welcomes them to the cabin accordingly.
