Good evening Camp Timberlake! Today was another full day of fun and adventure here at camp. We started things off with a delicious breakfast of biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs and followed that up with a raucous morning yell. In chapel we heard Big Slaty counselor Luke share a true story and then it was time to clean those cabins!

 

While the boys here at camp started to make those cabins sparkle, we had a few intrepid explorers who departed property for a day of off campus adventures. Our first trip was a mountain biking expedition to the G5 trail system in Old Fort. In many ways, this feels like our backyard as Old Fort is only about a half hour from camp. Gus T, Aiden M, Kai L, James W, Parker J and Charlie T crushed it out on the trails. Our second trip of the day was one of the most anticipated of the entire session, and it did not disappoint. David F, McKean K, William L, Robbie G, William F, Nathan W, John L, Pace W, Luke T and David K journeyed towards the center of the earth in our first caving expedition of the summer. The guys spent most of the day sliding, crawling, and squeezing through the Worley cave system, and even got to wade in an underground river. It was an experience that these guys will never forget. 

 

Back at 707 Dink Cannon Road we were munching on some delicious chicken tenders and french fries for lunch. We also had green grapes (the superior grape) as a side and I must admit I filled and refilled my plate three separate times. After lunch we had our usual announcements, but there was nothing normal about Turtleback’s cabin this morning. They earned the first perfect 10 of the summer! With just a couple days to go, it certainly seems like the boys from Turtleback are headed for the pizza party awarded to the cleanest cabin of the session. We also announced the winner of last night’s junior and intermediate camp tribal game…the GOLDEN EAGLES. The birds picked up a big win and are hoping to regain the momentum they had the first week of the session. 

 

Throughout the afternoon, the guys were really showing out in their activities. Edward S got his silver in tennis, while Andrew W and Patterson S got their bronze. Hays W earned his bronze in fencing and Barret G received his gold in Improv. Banks P also received his gold in riflery. Sanders H, Hugh W, Jayse B and Owen M all demonstrated the necessary skills to try out the big air bag in mountain biking and they all nailed it! The big air bag is the top end of our jump skill progression and we are so proud of these guys for getting there. 

 

On the creative side of things, Camp M got his gold in rocketry and Mose C got his silver in guitar. Down at the lake Tobias C, King M, Reed P and Solomon P and Grayson P earned bronzes in kayaking. A little rain late afternoon didn’t slow us down and thankfully the storm had passed by the time dinner (Hawaiian meatballs, a camp favorite) ended and the skies were clear for several tribal games. The junior and intermediate campers are currently playing Bandits Rancheros while the senior camp guys battle it out on Lake Newcomb in Pirate Ball!

 

The last thing to mention this evening is that we had a group of guys take on one of the most famous elective challenges here at camp, the solo 13. The solo 13 is simple, but it is (in my opinion) the coolest challenge we offer here at camp. Boys 13 years old or older opt to camp out for the night completely on their own. They find a spot in our woods on property, set up their tarp and sleeping bag and pad, and hunker down for the night. We have staff sleeping out in the woods within hearing range if anybody needs help, but the idea for the boys to not hear or see anybody for the duration of the challenge. The guys head into the woods after dinner and return for breakfast and I am always very proud of the courage showed by the solo boys. Tonight, David F, Henry L, Stephen J, Ashton M, Gus T, Neil R, Zach W and Andrew I are all taking on the Solo 13 challenge. Godspeed boys!

 

It’s hard to believe our two weekers only have one full day left to be here at Timberlake, but you can believe we are going to make the most of it! 

 

Until next time, 

 

John

Director, Camp Timberlake

Former Big Piney, Big Slaty and Greybeard counselor

Sultan of Fun Emeritus

Proud Golden Eagle