The Alvernian - Session 1, 2026
From The Camp Director
Hey Camp Alvernia families,
Ben here. We just finished the last day of Session 1. If your house is anything like mine tonight, your campers are probably tired, covered in dirt, and completely happy. Every summer, kids arrive carrying a lot of stress from the school year. They have been staring at screens and dealing with a lot of pressure. Camp acts like a summer reset button for childhood anxiety. Here is what your kids built this week and why it matters.
Learning to Connect
In a world full of smartphones, talking face-to-face is a skill you have to practice. This week, we put the phones away. Kids looked each other in the eye. They talked through arguments on the playground. They played games like gaga and kickball, they swam and splashed, and they learned to paddle and sail. More importantly, they had to solve problems in real time, with support from our wonderful staff.
No Audience
Today, kids often feel like they are always being watched or judged, because someone is always filming. It makes them scared to look silly or try new things. At Alvernia, our staff leads the way with what we call “professional silliness”. We wear goofy hats, play games with the kids, and jump right into the water. When adults show it is safe to be ridiculous, kids relax. The anxiety goes away, and they can just enjoy being kids.
Looking Ahead
Building confidence takes time and daily practice. Pushing kids to try new challenges might feel a little uncomfortable at first. But when we believe they can do hard things, they start to believe it too. If your camper is staying with us next session, get ready to watch that confidence grow even more. If you want to keep this momentum going, now is a great time to think about adding more sessions or saving a spot for next summer. The lessons they learn here will stay with them long after the summer ends.
Peace and all good,
Ben
Camp Traditions That Never Grow Old
One of the best traditions at Camp Alvernia every summer is when the fire truck comes by on a hot day to help cool everyone off! The excitement starts as soon as campers hear the sirens, and before long, the whole camp is filled with laughter as the firefighters spray everyone with refreshing water. It’s such a fun way to beat the summer heat and make memories that last. As someone who has spent the past 12 summers at Camp Alvernia, I’ve had the chance to experience this tradition from every perspective. I’ve run through the water as a camper, helped organize the excitement as a counselor, and now get to watch the joy unfold as a supervisor. No matter what role I’ve been in, one thing has always stayed the same, it never gets old. Every year, seeing the smiles, hearing the laughter, and watching our camp community come together reminds me why this tradition is so special. Moments like these are what make Camp Alvernia more than just a summer camp. They’re the memories our campers talk about long after the summer ends, and I’m grateful to continue being a part of them year after year.
— Jack, Heron Supervisor
Behind the Scenes at Camp with the Activities Staff
Staff at Camp Alvernia aim to create a warm and welcoming environment from the moment campers arrive to the second that they leave at the end of the day. We understand that it’s the little moments that can make a big impact, such as waving to cars at Turnaround in the morning or a friendly goodbye during dismissal. A smile goes a long way!
Our activity staff and supervisors work hard every day in order to create and plan new activities for campers. They strive to make sure there are new and engaging games and activities each day for campers to enjoy. No matter if you are a Duckling or an Eagle, there will be a fun and interesting activity for you to try out in each area! Oftentimes, activity staff will spend downtime crafting ideas for games. They brainstorm together and bounce ideas off of each other. Sometimes, counselors will even spend time at home preparing activities and crafts and bring them in the next day. Our Nature counselor, Grace, created huge posters of trees and cut paper into the shape of leaves which campers adorned with ways they respect their environment.
During our Staff Orientation, one thing we always talk about is Camp Alvernia traditions. Every summer, we aim to bring back as many traditions as we possibly can. Camp Alvernia is home to many special traditions such as Firetruck, Joke of the Day, Color Wars, Tie dye, Camper and Staff Talent Shows, and many more. It’s important to keep these traditions alive and remember our roots!
-Jess, Katie & Julie, Activities Supervisors
Badyr’s Quote of The Session:
“A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room.” — Robert Baden-Powell
Hi from the pool staff!
We are all about having fun at the pool, however we always make sure safety is our top priority. The lifeguards and swim instructors have been working hard all summer to maintain a safe environment for the campers to enjoy.
When planning lessons, our Water Safety Instructors take time to implement water safety topics into each lesson. This week, the Sandpipers worked on blowing bubbles and backfloats. These skills are important for beginners because they help campers feel comfortable with their faces in the water and teach them how to rest and stay afloat if they ever need a break. Dakota and Abigail mastered their backfloats and are now able to swim with no bubble!
We love incorporating games into lessons so that campers can continue to practice their skills while having fun and working together. The Sandpipers’ favorite game is Sharks and Minnows. Rocco, the first shark, used his flutter kicks to swim fast and tag a few campers to join him. Before long, they were all cheering, laughing, and working together to tag the remaining minnows.
Campers have also been making amazing progress during our after-camp swim lessons. In just one half-hour lesson, Celeste mastered her backfloat and was introduced to elementary backstroke, freestyle, and diving. Kenzo, who has participated in after-camp lessons with us for several years, is now on the swim team! Duckling Ella Rose has also become much more comfortable going underwater and blowing bubbles after initially feeling hesitant.
The Ducklings especially love swimming in the main pool with the lifeguards and going down the slides with them. These experiences allow our youngest campers to become more comfortable in the water while having fun with staff members they know and trust.
The pool staff aims to create a space where campers can feel relaxed, supported, and safe. It is so amazing watching each camper’s confidence in the water grow as they learn new skills. Whether it’s a camper finally putting their face in the water, swimming their first lap without a bubble, or laughing with friends during a game, these are the moments that make our jobs so rewarding. We can’t wait to see what new milestones and memories next week will bring!
-Amelia, Assistant Pool Supervisor
Catching Up with The Ducklings
The ducklings have been super busy these last two weeks making their way around the beautiful Alvernia Grounds. Those little legs have done a lot of walking :)
We have been swimming in both the kiddie and big pools (with water slides), have been power paddling and kayaking and searching for crabs along our beach walks. The ducklings have enjoyed their specials and have done some very cool projects in arts and crafts and nature.
We are very excited to continue our adventures over the summer and look forward to so many more fun memories and friends along the way.
A special shout out to our two camp birthday’s in session 1… Olivia and Layne :)
-The Ducklings
The Power of Friendship with the Plovers
Plovers are kicking off the start of the summer by creating friendships and making bonds through team building activities. This week, Plovers enjoyed a fun water game down at the beach that involved passing small pool noodle circles to and from kiddie pools. Teams had to work together to pass the pool noodles over their heads to get from one side of the line to the other. The laughter and cheers carried across the beach as Plovers raced to be the first group finished. As the last pool noodle landed in the pool, Gabby from the Plovers yelled, “Yes! Go team! I’m proud of us!” These are the encouraging phrases we love to hear at camp! Each group walked away with smiles, whether they won or lost, they all worked together with their friends and had a great time. We are so excited for more team building activities this summer!
-Bree, Plovers Supervisor
A Heartfelt Note to Parents from the JC’s
Dear Parents,
We want to start by saying, “Your kids are in good hands!” You have made the best choice to send them to Camp Alvernia and we want to express our gratitude to you for choosing this camp.
Your children are already having an amazing camp experience swimming in our pools, playing basketball, baseball, tennis, singing, drawing, and dancing. Our schedule changes every day, and it is made up of too many activities to fit into one day. Your children will have fun playing soccer at one moment and be learning about boats at the waterfront the next.
Here at Camp Alvernia, your children are learning social skills by meeting and talking to other campers, JC’s, counselors, and supervisors; they are making new friends every day! We have icebreakers and other fun activities for the campers to engage with each other which includes learning new names and all of their favorite things. We always work to make sure each camper feels welcome and included. We’ve seen so much character building in our campers and this growth is exciting.
Our staff is very patient and they are good at remembering to give your children time to get used to things and try new things. We want to assure you that all of the staff here at Camp Alvernia are always cautious and observant of campers’ needs and wants. We are always encouraging the campers to drink water, eat well, put on sunscreen, and be careful while playing. During the heat, we modify the schedule so we’re not in the sun all day long. We prioritize both fun and safety! We also make sure that any food that’s brought from home gets checked by our amazing team of nurses so we take care of our campers with allergies.
Camp Alvernia is special because of the memories the kids make and we make it our goal to see Camp Alvernia become a “second home” for each camper. We work consistently with your children every day to make sure they have a very unforgettable experience. Thank you for trusting us with your children. Please always feel free to reach out to the office; your voice will be heard. We are happy to help!
With much respect,
The 16 JCs of 2026
The Kind of Summer We Hope They’ll Remember
When we think about what makes Camp Alvernia so special, it’s often the little moments that come to mind. It’s the dirty clothes after a day of running and exploring, the popsicle-stained smiles after eating a treat from the canteen, the grass-stained knees from playing a game of soccer, or their tiny hands proudly showing off their newest “treasure” that the Sandpipers found from their scavenger hunt on our Special Day. These are the moments that remind us what childhood is all about.
In a world that often feels busy and scheduled, Camp Alvernia gives children the chance to simply be kids. They climb, dig, imagine, laugh and come home happily exhausted. We truly believe that “kids need dirt” and the freedom to explore. While the crafts, games, and activities are certainly memorable, it’s these simple experiences that make the summer special. Your child may not remember every game they played, but they’ll remember how summer at Camp Alvernia made them feel.
-Matty and Courtney, Sandpipers Supervisors
Special Days
This week at Camp Alvernia, campers saw the world from a whole new perspective! On July 9th, campers shrunk down and explored the camp through a whole new lens, complete with giant bugs, baggy clothes, and larger-than-life fun! They navigated through huge dandelions and into brand new games, such as Caterpillar Relay, Giant Chess, Donut Tag, and many more! In the Activities department, campers used their observational skills in a nature scavenger hunt, which included searching for insects. To end the day, younger campers made butterflies out of pipecleaners, while older campers engaged in an all-out game of Giant Battleship here in Centerport Harbor. That’s not all, though. During the week, when a torrential rainstorm swept through camp, campers engaged in some indoor fun! With cards from the makers of Exploding Kittens, everyone here at Alvernia kept their spirits bright. For example, a peek into the Cafeteria revealed campers, such as Adelaide, Mason, and Alex, playing through a heated game of Throw, Throw, Burrito! Our little stagecoach was transformed into a competitive arena, where campers Ford and Brooklyn battled it out in No Loyalty. Overall, while the weather outside may have been blue and rainy, our campers found a bit of sunshine in their card decks and with each other!
-Tara and Anne in Special Days
Eagles Session 1
What an incredible start to the summer we have had during Session 1! The energy and excitement from all of our campers have made these past two weeks. We kicked things off in Week One with an absolute splash at our Eagle pool party. The kids enjoyed some well-deserved extra time swimming and playing water games, followed by plenty of delicious pizza and engaging group activities. It was the perfect way to break the ice, make new friends, and set a joyful tone.
The thrills only continued into Week Two as we took an exciting trip to the Adventure Park! It was so inspiring to watch our campers step out of their comfort zones, overcome their fears, and have a blast soaring through the trees on the zip lines. On top of that, we shared a wildly inventive “Alvernia, I Shrunk the Kids” Special Day, which brought out everyone’s imagination. We have had such a wonderful two weeks watching these camper thrive, and we eagerly invite all future Eagles to come join us, have fun, and continue to grow! Fly Eagles!!
-Claude & Erin
The Magic of Unplugged Fun
Happy Summer Camp Alvernia Families! It is so exciting to see all the familiar faces back for the 2026 summer. Previously, I have worked with the Sandpipers for the past few summers. I am so thrilled to see all my past campers have grown into amazing Ospreys, the group I lead now. As a teacher, I spent the school year enforcing the no cell phone rule in the classroom. However, at Alvernia, cell phones have never been allowed. This is a truly special place where campers and counselors can come together, screen free, and really engage in meaningful relationships.
I believe there’s truly magic in these grounds, as those “necessities” such as the tablets and phones become an afterthought. At Alvernia, these campers come alive, as we can hear their laughs and cheers from all over camp. Gaga ball is a favorite of theirs, as all the Ospreys get into the pit to battle it out until there is one camper standing. And you cannot forget about sailing. These campers cannot wait until they get to the waterfront and patiently await for our boating staff to lead them out, hopefully making it to Sand City!
The screenless summer is truly the best way to reconnect with the lifelong friends we have made here at Alvernia.
-Talia, Osprey Supervisor
