Alford Lake Camp was founded in 1907 by Dr. Susan Kingsbury. The first summer at
ALC, 18 bold young women spent 8 weeks in the woods… and so the legacy began!
Since the summer of 1907, there have been only four directors, Dr. Susan Kingsbury (1907-1949), Mrs. Carlton (Gertrude) Knight (1949-1962), Jean Gentry McMullan (1962-1993) and the current director, Sue Stocker McMullan (1993-present.) Each of these dynamic leaders have guided ALC in a special and unique way, creating an atmosphere of respect, warmth, challenge and community.
There have been changes at ALC over the years. Mail is no longer delivered by horse. Bathing suits are made of Lycra not wool. But you may be surprised by how much has not changed. For generations, we have slept in Alford Lake’s signature white canvas tents and awakened to reveille. We have all spent hours in the lake learning to swim and relished the adventure of hiking through nearby mountains. And we have always loved to sing before and after most meals, at campfires, and on the trail.
Whether you are eight or eighty years old and have spent one or ten summers at ALC, you will find something that returns you to that time; a reminder of the fun, laughter, and friendship that make Alford Lake Camp unique in our lives. Alford Lake Camp is one of the most significant places in thousands of young women’s and men’s lives. We are thankful to be ALCers!