The morning of Independence Day at Camp Timberlake woke campers to a beautiful, cool sunrise. A feeling of freedom hung in the air as the boys marched down to the Tuck to fuel up for the first day of activities in Session 2. The wonderful kitchen staff made sure we were well fed with a hearty sausage and hash brown casserole, along with warm bagels and cream cheese. Shortly afterwards, everyone raced over to the chapel to take our session photo including each camper and staff member, we can’t wait for all to see it! Then, we heard from Director John share a story about who mankind is and how God redeems us from ourselves. 

The first cabin cleanup of the session kicked off with each camper filling their role to help their cabin gain as many points as possible in the race for the coveted Golden Plunger. With showers sparkling and cabin floors spotless, the first daily activities began. Louis F. got his first ever grouping in riflery, while Graham W. and Wait M. shot groupings on the archery range. Over at the lake, second period kayaking played a game on Piano Keys with the boats. Rhett C., Will P., Jacob S., Harrison W., Britt M., and Powell M. headed out on a fly fishing trip where Rhett C. caught a wild trout! Rocketry class was excited to learn about spaceflight and safety, and also the secret rocketry handshake. 

Lunch came quickly after a busy morning, and nothing is more American than pepperoni pizza and red, white, and blue popsicles. Chatter filled the dining hall throughout the meal before we found out the winners of cabin cleanup – Hawksbill and Further In! In the spirit of the holiday, choruses of Proud to Be an American rang out and the necessary chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!”. Before heading off to rest time, each tribe elected their second session tribal leaders. The Black Bears elected chief Brayden C., elder Nick G., and lookouts Cole B. and Luke H. The Golden Eagles chose chief Garrett S., elder Reid S., and lookouts Elias W. and Teddy M. 

After a quick rest, campers rushed down to the beach for candy and drinks at the trading post while the youngest four cabins enjoyed the annual Freedom Free-Swim in the lake. Afternoon activities were full of fun and achievement! Jack V. hit 3 groupings from 50 yards in archery. Ford B. ran a mile in 5 minutes and 57 seconds, joining two other campers in achieving their bronze bar in fitness! Mountain biking class learned braking, shifting and ready positioning, while basketball classes jumped right into scrimmaging. 

Hungry boys raced to the Tuck for a camp classic dinner – Tacos in a Bag! It’s always an exciting experience to fill your first bag of fritos with meat, rice, and taco toppings. More USA chants echoed in the air and campers showed off their best red, white, and blue attire. Shortly after the conclusion of the meal, as everyone enjoyed fresh rice crispy treats, we found out the second tribal activity of the session would be… El Presidente! But, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out who wins.

Jordan Rustin

Cabin Area Director

Proud Golden Eagle