Happy Friday from Camp Timberlake! We are ending the first week of second session at full throttle today and there is so much to tell. We started our day with a camp favorite, breakfast casserole and blueberry muffins and sausage. 

After breakfast we raised our voices to the heavens during the morning yell, after which we headed to the chapel for some singing and to hear a true story from Winston, one of the Timberlake assistant directors. 

We also had two trips leave property today for some excellent adventures. First, John David A, Owen T, CJ R, Braxton F, and Gabe W saddled up their bikes and went to the gateway trails system in nearby Old Fort for some high speed shredding. Additionally, Powell M, Turner M, Ethan C, Robert D, Luke H, Trey W, Kolson M, John F, Blake L, Giancarlo Z, and Thomas C went on a rafting trip! Our overnight climbing trip arrived back at camp this morning. These boys got to practice not only their climbing skills, but their backpacking skills as well.

At lunch we munched on italian subs and fries along with fruit and the soup bar. As lunch wound down, campers anxiously awaited the results of this morning’s cabin inspection. There were a lot of clean cabins out there today but the winner was Big Piney with a perfect 10! We also announced the winner of last night’s evening activity, Battle to Middle Earth. It was a tightly contested game but the winner was…The Golden Eagles! These two tribes are trading blows in the fight for the banner and there’s no doubt that it’s going to be a close race. 

Tonight, however, we did not have a competitive tribal game in the evening. Instead, just like we do at the end of each week, we held a Little Chief Ceremony. This ceremony is a crucial part of moving our mission forward so I wanted to take a quick moment to explain it. Our mission is growth through friends and adventure and we see our guys growing every single day at Timberlake. But we believe that these moments of growth and accomplishment are significantly more impactful if we can make sure we take time to recognize and celebrate them. We try to do this in the moment of course but we also set aside a time each week to come together as a whole camp community for the sole purpose of celebrating just a few of the great things we’ve seen our campers doing in activities, in cabins, on trips and in camp life in general. That time is our Little Chief ceremony. 

In the first section of the ceremony we recognize bars in activities. We’re just getting warmed up in activities but we still had some guys finish bar requirements this week. Sam H and Wait M received their bronze in archery this week. Penn Charles D, Finn C, and Cole D received their bronze in canoeing this week. Jay N received his bronze in climbing. Levi G earned his bronze, silver, and gold in diving. Mac S and Mac C also earned their bronze in diving. 

Next we move to cabin life where campers who have exemplified the 4 traits of servant leadership: Courage, Humility, Grit and Empathy are recognized by receiving commendations.  Commendations are given by both the counselors and voted on by campers themselves. Tonight the following boys received commendations. 

Huckleberry: Counselor Commendation-Collier V Camper Commendation- Knox C

Finch’s Landing: Counselor  Commendation- Winton F Camper Commendation- Billy Luke I

Further Up: Counselor Commendation- Ryder S, Axel B Camper Commendation- Jack W, Charlie G

Further In: Counselor Commendation-Lynwood W Camper Commendation- Jack H

Tiger Tooth: Counselor Commendation- Gabe G, Thomas W, William N Camper Commendation- Leo G, Mac S, Xavier B

Hawksbill: Counselor Commendation- Henry S, Aarson C Camper Commendation- Witt G, Harrison B

Turtleback: Counselor Commendation- Jack B, Reid S, Beau I Camper Commendation- Jack B, Haran R, Cole D

Little Piney: Counselor  Commendation- George D , Thax M, Aiden P Camper Commendation- Quay B, Ethan C, Luke M

Big Piney: Counselor Commendation- CJ R, Hayes D, Will M Camper Commendation- Teddy M, Will M, Hayes D

Stomper’s Knob: Counselor Commendation- Dane T, Hayes C, Charlie C Camper Commendation- Collin G, Max G, Alexis B

Little Slaty: Counselor Commendation- Luke H, Braxton F, Gabe W Camper Commendation- Santiago M, Benjamin P, Emerson F

Big Slaty: Counselor Commendation- Charlie A, Gary M Camper Commendation- Giancarlo Z, Gary M

Greybeard: Counselor Commendation- Barrett B, Aubre S, Graham W, Wait M. Camper Commendation- Graham W, Jack V, Wait M, Ryan S

Next up, since this was the first ceremony of the session, we also recognized our Sons of Timberlake. We are a family here and every single camper here is a Son of Timberlake. At our Little Chief ceremony, however, we like to recognize guys when they hit certain milestones in their camp journey. Campers in their 1st year receive their skin. 3 year Sons of Timberlake receive a gold pin. 6 year sons of Timberlake receive an arrowhead pendant and 10 year sons of Timberlake receive a personalized mini canoe paddle that is hung in the dining hall as well as a custom Camp Timberlake belt. Tonight we recognized a great group who had reached the next level as sons of Timberlake. 

 

1st year sons of Timberlake

Hayes A, Kess A, Axel B, Will C, Knox C, Logan D, Penn Charles D, Cole D, JOhn F, Ford F, Winton F, Thomas G, Charlie G, Gabe G, Jack H, Oliver K, John L, Turner M, Hunter M, Dhilan M, Freddie O, Grant S, McRae S, Mason S, Henry S, Finley S, Jack S, Davis T, Coller V, Garrett W, Jake W, Jack W, Calvin W, Thomas W, George Y, Clark P

3rd Year Sons of Timberlake

James A, John David A, Jack B, Alexis B, Xavier B, Ethan C, Aaron C, Charlie C, Braxton F, Colin G, Max G, Witt G, Luke M, Andrew M, Aiden M, Evan M, William N, James N, Noah P, Ryan S, Dane T, Elliott W, Ben W, Will W, Lynwood W, Gabe W, Giancarlo z

6th Year Sons of Timberlake

David Allen B, Hayden C, Drew D, Charles D, Elliott D, Will E, Ernest F, Thax M, Will M, Elias W, Barnes Z

10th Year Sons of Timberlake

Brayden C, Gresham C, Spencer M, Ben C, Grady R, Andrew R, Wells F

The final portion of the ceremony is to award those campers who have received promotions towards Little Chief. Essentially all the different parts of camp life come together to trigger these promotions being earned: Years at camp, bars in activities, cabin commendations received and elective challenges campers can decide to try on their own (things like lighting a fire with just one match, catching a bullfrog at least 8 dots long or spending a solo night in the woods). These promotions are rare and exciting when they occur. Below are the promotions we awarded this week. 

 

Junior and Intermediate Camp Promotions

Scout:

Harrison B, Zade B, Riggs C, Sam C, Wyatt H, Billy Luke I, Jay N, Haran R, Jack W

Guide:

Jack B, Leo G, Levi G, Beau I, Harris N, Ryder S, Mac S

Pioneer:

Aaron C, Finn C

Ranger:

Earnest F

 

Senior Camp Promotions

Tracker:

Alexis B, Hayes D, Jack G, Colin G, Luke H, Santiago M, Thax M, Aiden M, Brody R, Ryan S

Hunter:

David Allen B, Hayden C, Hayes C, Braxton F, Luke H, Matthew H, Powell M, Cam M, CJ R, Cole R, Trey W, Giancarlo Z

Warrior:

Gary M

Pathfinder:

None tonight

Little Chief:

None tonight

It’s a lot to pack into a short ceremony, but we think it’s important (and we’ve mastered ceremony efficiency so it doesn’t drag). And while lots of boys get the chance to be recognized, we know that not every camper will, which is why after the ceremony our cabin counselors take time back in cabins to sit down with each camper and encourage them in the ways they have been growing here at camp. It’s the most important piece on the puzzle and one that is sure not to be missed!

It’s been another great day here at camp! Thanks for sharing your sons with us this summer and tune back in tomorrow to read all about Sunday Funday. 

Great Camping, 

Molly 

TImberlake Program Director

Proud Timberwoman

Proud Red Wolf