“When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” – C.S. Lewis

One of the great things about camp, especially as you age, is how it keeps you young. That childlike ability to drop everything and dive fully into the moment—it’s like a muscle—it needs regular exercise to stay strong. Camp is the perfect workout for this. For kids, this immersion makes learning new skills effortless, but as adults, our brains often feel like waterlogged sponges, too cluttered to soak up more information. Camp wrings out that sponge, clearing the noise of screens, schedules, and the constant buzz of the world. Isolated in nature, away from distraction, you tap into a state of flow where you’re fully engaged with what’s right in front of you. That’s just the magic of going phone-free on a stunning property like Camp Timberlake’s. Pair that with expert instruction, a safe space to take on new challenges, and a supportive crew of peers and counselors, and the benefits multiply.

This could easily be a pitch for campers—and it’s a strong one—but with staff hiring season in full swing, I’m focused on what camp offers you, the potential staff member. I didn’t grow up attending camp myself, but now that I work in camping full-time at Timberlake, I’m convinced it can transform a staff member’s life just as powerfully as it does a camper’s. Stepping out of the chaos of college—social media, classes, career stress—into the simplicity of camp is a reset like no other. At 18-23 years old, you’re bombarded with information, leaving little room to breathe. Camp doesn’t just offer an escape—that’s a vacation. Here, you’ll work harder than ever, pouring yourself into campers and activities, but the rewards will echo through your life and theirs for years.

Will a chemical engineering major leave Camp Timberlake knowing more about their field? Probably not. But they’ll walk away with something deeper: professionalism, leadership, responsibility, humility, and confidence—skills no textbook can teach. Think of it like baking a pie: an internship might teach you which ingredients make great fillings, but camp crafts a world-class pie crust. Without a good crust, the whole pie is ruined.  As I mentioned, I didn’t attend camp as a kid, but my summers on staff showed me how leading a cabin group, or a group of my peers could teach me more than any class and help me re-focus on the goals and values that truly mattered to me. It’s not about your past experience at camp (or lack thereof)—it’s about what camp can build in you. That perfect crust sets the stage for everything else to shine, giving you a foundation of resilience and grit to carry into any career. Houses need foundations. Pies need crusts. Careers need the skills camp hones. You can master all the jargon of your field, but without a framework to apply it, it’s just noise.

Come work at Camp Timberlake, where distraction fades and connection thrives. Perfect your crust. Then go out and bake pies that change the world.

Winston

Assistant Director

Michael R. DeNoia staff hall of fame member

Proud Golden Eagle.