Among the numbers at camp, we have…
• 1 Cottage
• 2 Camps — Junior and Senior
• 4 hiking trails
• 5 camping sessions…Mother Daughter Weekend, Mini Camp, two Term camps, & Family Camp
• 6 Tennis Courts
• 14 Activity Departments
• 21 Canoes
• 23 buildings in camp
• 40 new showers & toilets in our Bathhouse
• 56 years of Family Camp
• 58 years of Dawson Family Leadership
• 70 Platform Tents
And in 2022 we’ll celebrate 100 years of Camp Alleghany for Girls!
I can’t even believe it myself — what a milestone! What an accomplishment! What a celebration we’re going to have — a centennial celebration to be exact!
Big Plans
With such a big summer coming up at camp, I’ve been in planning mode with our 100th Celebration Planning Committee ever since I got home in August from Family Camp 2021. But let’s not get a head of ourselves just yet…
This summer at Alleghany looked a little different than years past. Now, don’t forget, I spent three weeks in 2020 running a very successful and Covid-free modified Family Camp Program called Family Retreats. Although the 2020 and 2021 summers were atypical due to Covid mandates, we were just so happy to be there.
During Summer 2021 we social distanced, took a PCR Covid test before we came into camp, masked in the Dining Hall, and we had access to big open-air event tents in case of bad weather. We did the things we had to do to keep our Family Campers safe and healthy. In short, we all adapted quite nicely.
Honestly, this past summer was one of my best. Even with all those accommodations, I found myself tearing up and overwhelmed with emotion quite a bit throughout the week — I was just so happy, truly happy to be back at my “summer home.”
That said, you can only imagine the excitement and enthusiasm I have for our 100th summer. I’m so excited to announce several things for our 56th summer of Family Camp and 100th Summer of ‘Ghany overall.
First, we’ve extended our traditional Family Camp to include three extra days! Family Camp will run this summer from Sunday, August 7th to Tuesday, August 16th. We’re offering several options for Arrival and Departures days with the hopes that you find one that will be best for your family.
Secondly, due to the high demand of our 100th summer, registration opens significantly early this year to the general public, on Monday, December 6th! Stay tuned to our website and social media (Facebook | Instagram | Twitter) to find out more.
100th Summer Celebration Bash
At Family Camp next summer, we’ll be wrapping up our yearlong celebration of our 100th summer. There are celebratory plans for each session of camp next summer along with special virtual (and hopefully in-person events) sprinkled throughout the Winter and Spring. This will culminate in a 100th Summer Celebration Bash on the evening of Saturday, August 13, from 5-10pm, including dinner, entertainment, and special presentations.
To accommodate all the interest, even for folks who aren’t staying at Family Camp, we’re offering a 100th Summer Party Pass for Saturday evening so that all can join in the merriment. Party Passes will go on sale after the new year. Check back in January for pricing and payment details.
The committee is designing an evening to toast and honor Alleghany in a special way with a distinct menu and entertainment that will have us all talking about this night for the next 100 years. We hope that you will come and toast the Blue and Gray that evening with us!
Even with all the 100th Summer festival events, those coming to Family Camp to stay can count on all your beloved Family Camp traditions and evening activities during your time with us. I’m planning all of your favorites such as trivia, FC I Spy (a favorite of 2021), live music throughout the entire week, campfires and s’mores, and of course a DUTAT (Dinner Under The Apple Tree). Let’s not forget about the daytime activities such as Caving with Casey Tucker, Yoga, canoeing in the Greenbrier River, hiking our new trail (created in 2020), Rifle, Archery, and Arts & Crafts.
I hope that you’ll join me this summer for some time with friends and family in our unique environment as we pay tribute to the “best camp ever to be found in the land.”
— Stephanie Astley, Alumna and Head of Family Camp, Camp Alleghany for Girls
