Happy Friday from Camp Timberlake! As Fog covered the hills that surround our camp, and revelle belted out, yet another amazing day at Camp Timberlake began. Following the traditional schedule, everyone made their way down to breakfast for a delicious meal 

We then proceeded to the stairs where we raised our voices to the heavens for a short, but very loud Morning Yell. 

Following the Yell, we made our way to chapel where we heard a story from the one and only Hunter Snivley how if you give a 5 year old some gum, it will end up in their hair. 

And while most of us left chapel to “GO Clean Those Cabinsss!!” A lucky few were spared from chores as we had three trips out today. First Some Mountain Bikers went to Fonta Flora for an amazing mountain biking trip, Then some went out to upper creek falls for an Day hike to a waterfall and played around in a local swim hole.  Finally, many went to North Toe River where Josh R. Caught a 30 in rainbow trout! 

 All of us here at Camp were thankful that the morning cloud cover did not move away and we were given a cool and relaxing day as gray clouds loomed overhead. During our morning activities, as children’s laughter and smiling faces spread all over camp, Hutton S. and Kaito T. worked on gainers (essentially a backflip while moving forward) in diving class, and Marsall S. Finished his bronze bar in Swimming! 

After the fun times and the challenges in our morning activities, we were pretty hungry. We Devoured some Greek Chicken and Pita bread for lunch (my personal favorite lunch and I’d say my cabin’s too as we got seconds three times!) Before we announced the winners of last night’s Age of Empires game…… The black bears. 

Free time was a blast, but all eyes were on Kaito T. as he battled our very own Caleb Owens in tennis as a part of his gold requirement. As free time turned into our afternoon activities, there was one thing that was on everyone’s mind; what great game are we playing tonight?

As we finished our dinner (and graybeard finished 26 full pitchers of water!) and our tables became clear, we got the answer to our questions, Little Chief! Unlike every other tribal activity we do at camp, Little Chief isn’t a competitive battle where the winning tribe moves one step closer to the banner.  Instead, Little Chief is when we set aside time to recognize and celebrate the growth that we see in campers every single day. When we set aside this time at the end of the week for the entire community, which is camp, to celebrate both the huge accomplishments and the little things that we see in the boys, it is so impactful for the entire community. 

The ceremony is broken up into 4 parts, the first of which is to celebrate bars in activities. 

Airsoft:

Jameson S. – Bronze

Diving:

Eli H. – Bronze

Fitness:

SJ G. – Bronze

Harris R. – Bronze

Walker F. – Bronze

Guitar:

Davis O. – Bronze

Riflery:

Marco L. – Bronze

Ethan C. – Bronze

Thomas R. – Bronze

Swimming:

Alex C. – Silver

Know W. – Silver

Cormic P. – Silver

Parker M. – Bronze

Wrestling:

Landon K. – Silver 

Then we move into commendations where children who excel in cabin life by demonstrating Courage, Humility, Grit and Empathy are recognized both by their cabin with Camper Commendations as well as their Counselors with Counselor Commendations. Tonight The following boys were recognized for their part in Cabin Life. 

Huckleberry

Counselor: Hudson M., Robert D.

Camper: Eddie K., Will L.

Finch’s Landing

Counselor: Charles S., Smith B.

Camper: Patrick H., Brooks D., Jack C.

Further Up

Counselor: Reid L., Stewart W., Liles F.

Camper: Stewart W., Dash W., Beckett A.

Further In

Counselor: Grant C., Kellan P., Theo L.

Camper: Marshall S., Sam N., Grant S.

Tiger Tooth

Counselor: JI H., Brooks B., Hampton C.

Camper: Finley R., Walker F., Charlie C.

Hawksbill

Counselor: Will B., Baine B.

Camper: Will B., Rocco M.

Turtleback

Counselor: Aaron S., Cormic P., Henry L.

Camper: Richard F., Cullen S., Tyler S.

Little Piney

Counselor: Liam T., Arturo B., G P.

Camper: Liam T., Johnny R., Will N.

Big Piney

Counselor: Charlie S., Davis M., Claude R.

Camper: James D., Knox W., Arthur D.

Stomper’s Knob

Counselor: Wilson F., Ethan C., Garrett M.

Camper: Reynolds A., David C., Ian P.

Little Slaty

Counselor: Fisher H., Cooper W., Kaito T.

Camper: Thomas R., Jack S., Theo T.

Big Slaty: 

Counselor: Matthew A., Oliver G.

Camper: Bay J., Benjamin C.

Greybeard

Counselor: Thomas M., Davis O.

Camper: Thomas M., Quinn S.

The third part of this ceremony is only done during the first of our two little chief ceremonies. (Spoilers. I’m Sorry) During this part, we call up a few Sons of Timberlake. We believe that camp isn’t a place but the people around it. Since the people make camp as special as it is, we like to recognize the Sons who return year after year and keep leaving their mark on camp.  Each time we recognize a Son of Timberlake we give them something. First year campers receive their skins, a piece of leather that will become a physical record of everything they achieve at camp. Three year Sons get a gold pin for that skin. Six year sons receive a custom handmade silver pendant. Ten year Sons receive a mini canoe paddle engraved with their name that will hang in the tuck forever. 

First Year Sons:

Arthur D. Sawyer S. Micha A. Pick D. Weston E. Charles S. Grant C. Max C. Wesley G. Theo L. Owen M. Parker M. Colin G. James N. William S. Alex C. Blake M. Luke M. Parker S. Robert D. Chase F. Lawson R. Tripp R. Julian S. Grayson A. Andrew G. Jameson S. Copper W. James P. Ian P. Alec F. Heath B. Henry L. Cormic P. Teddy P. Hampton C. William L. Hudson M. Blake R. Robert R. 

Three Year Sons:

Will K. Keefer M. Claude R. Knox W. Smith B. Jack C. Blake F. Sam H. Samuel N. Kellan P. John S. Max S. Rocco M. Arturo B. Stephen G. Kaito T. Ethan C. Hayden D. Charlie C. Walker F. Fox R. Finley R. Bryson A. Braxton B. Tyler S. 

Six Year Sons:

Boone R. George P. Liam T. Beckett B. Asher C. Zachary M. Henry P. Reid S. Reynolds A. Drew F.

Ten Year Son:

Wes D.

The final part of our ceremony is to recognize promotions in the Little Chief System. These promotions take everything a boy can do at camp into account, these promotions are very rare especially as you go higher up the ladder and are worth celebrating. Below are the promotions for tonight. (Farther Down = Higher Promotions) 

Scout:

Beckett A. Allen B. Will B. Brooks B. Robert D. Brooks D. Richard F. Steven G. Sam H. JI H. Charlie H. Sam H. Reid L. Andrew M. Carson M. Grant S. Aaron S. Tyler T. Dash W. Mac W.

Guide:

Smith B. Sam N. Hagan S. John S. Cullen S. Stewart W.

Pioneer:

Charlie C. Tyler S.

Tracker:

Ethan C. Hayden D. Tommy F. Oliver H. FIsher H. Cameron L. Thomas L. Briggs L. Garrett M. Darby M. Boone R. Thomas R. Claude R. Charlie S. Jack S. Liam T. Knox W. 

Hunter:

Reynolds A. Geo P. Aarson W.

Warrior:

David C. 

Pathfinder:

Theo T.

Little Chief:

None Tonight

While we know that not every child will be recognized during our Little Chief ceremony, we truly do see growth, in every boy, every day. 

As The Sun sets and showers pump to rinse off the sweat from another full day at camp, we go to bed excited and thankful that we get to do it all again tomorrow.

Thank you all for tuning in tonight. I know this post is a long one but it’s days like these that make camp as special as it is. 

May you never lose a sock in the washing machine again.

Garrett Schatt

Tiger Tooth Counselor 

Kayaking Instructor

Proud Golden Eagle