News from Camp Albemarle

August 6 , 2008

Another almost perfect day. The only little thing was that we didn't have any wind this morning. It was very still, which did not help for sailing, but 2 of the 3 groups did get out sailing. All the other activities were able to happen without problems.

Tonight we are having "the dance." I think this is a favorite activity for many campers. Although we do not list anything fancy on our packing list, many of the campers do bring somewhat dressy clothes, especially for this week. Even some staff will get a little dressed up for the dance. We do a few slower songs, but most of the songs are fast, and group dances (electric slide, and dances like that).

Tomorrow is the last full day of activites, for the whole 2008 summer season. The campers will once again rotate through the four activity areas, swimming, sailing, Bible study and Arts and Crafts. Then tomorrow night will be a late night. (there may very well not be an update tomorrow). After dinner the campers will have some planning time for skit night. With 7 cabin skits, plus a few staff skits, this usually takes a while. Then we will all have a slide show with the pictures you have seen, plus some others. Then campfire, with lots and lots of songs. Then we often do something in the dining hall. Last year all the campers were in their cabins by midnight, which is actually earlier then some years has been. But I know that many campers really look forward to the last night of camp.

On Friday (in case I do not get an update on Thursday), we have Chaos. This is the time where campers can choose one or more of their favorite activites and do it one more time. It also gives them a chance to "hang out" a bit more (that is a favorite activity of this group). Maybe take a dip in the pool, get on a sail boat one more time, or play a few more rounds of teatherball. Depending on the wind and interest in sailing on Friday morning we may start to pull up boats onto shore. I have mentioned that it is the last day of camp for this season, so Friday afternoon will also be the pull up and put everything away day. We keep everything going until the end of camp, but as soon as the waterfront closes on Friday, rather then put the boats back up on the racks, we pull them out of the water and start to wash them. Cabins will get an extra good cleaning and the dining hall will be scrubbed from top to bottem.

Pick up is at 2:00 on Friday. Please do us a favor and walk around your campers cabin, check the clothesline and around their bed. Often campers will return from the pool and out of habit put their towel and swim suit on the clothesline to dry (and leave it there when they go home), or leave a pair of shoes under their bed, or on the front porch of the cabin.

In case I do not get to say it, this has been a great week (up until Wednesday night and I can not see anything changing in the next 36 hours). We have really enjoyed all the campers who came to camp this summer, especially this week. We know that there are a lot of choices out there, and many who came this week had summer jobs, or gave up sports camps or other things to spend a week here. It really says something about priorities in life when a church camp holds such a high place in the campers life. We do give thanks to God for each and every camper who came through our camp this summer. They have blessed our lives with their laughter and smiles, and hopefully we have impacted their life in some small way.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at any time via e-mail at robert@campalbemarle.org or Daniel at Daniel@campalbemarle.org, or Kim at office@campalbemale.org give us a call in the office at 252-726-4848

Rev. Robert Vodra & The 2008 Summer Staff