The first full day of Session 1B has dawned, and what a whirlwind it’s been! The energy
all around camp was high before the sun even rose over the mountains! We loaded up on a
hearty breakfast of fluffy scrambled eggs, golden hash browns, buttery biscuits, and sizzling
sausage links. As always accompanied by the ever-important glass of water to kick-start our
hydration game.

Fueled and fired up, everyone charged straight into the morning yell, which echoed
across Timberlake like a rallying cry you could probably hear all the way down in Black
Mountain. Chapel quickly followed and included the legendary “Banana Song.” A camp classic!
Our chapel message this beautiful Monday morning was given by none other than John
Menedez himself! John shared a story from only a couple of months ago about a rainy camping
trip with his two sons. He shared how just like the tent that protected him and his kids from the
harsh rain, God is a strong and protective fortress for us in times of hardship. This story
connects to 2 Samuel 22: 2-4 which highlights that “the Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my
deliverer; in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation.” These powerful words
helped us continue on with the day with the strength of knowing that the Lord is always on our
side!

With heads and hearts lifted, cabins dove into the fiercest competition on the daily
schedule: cabin clean-up. Taking the cake today was none other than our very own Hawksbill!
Great job cleaning boys!

The boys then continued on to their first activities of 1B. Some highlights from our first
day of classes include David F shooting a 50 in archery today (otherwise known as a perfect
score!) Continuing on to the lakefront, Mason S received his silver in kayaking today! And in
some other great news, Teddy L made his first grouping in riflery and is well on his way to earning
his bronze!

Lunch kept the momentum rolling with delicious pizza, Caesar salad, and fresh fruit!
While the slices disappeared, we also revealed the outcome of last night’s evening game. The
winner of tribal sock war was the great Golden Eagles! Don’t worry Black Bears, for redemption
is only a few short hours away!

Free time consisted of a nice sunny dip in the lake for our Senior campers followed by
some beautiful afternoon showers to keep the rest of the camp cool on this hot summer day.
We also had some epic adventures off-property today. Enjoying a lovely rafting trip were
William C, Holden G, Garrett L, Will Marshall, Grant S, Jude V, Asher M, Tobias C, Jack D,
Owen G, Patrick T, and Henry H. Fly fishing also got the chance to travel out of Timberlake
and Griffin W, Fitch W, Drew R, Mason S, Evan M, and London A had the great honor of
taking the first fishing trip out for session 1B!

As evening settled in, campers recharged over BBQ sandwiches, corn casserole, baked
beans, and of course, the famous campfire cookie before assembling for a camp favorite game:
Super Mario. Tune in tomorrow to find out who reigns victorious in this head-to-head race
against the clock!

Whether conquering rapids, shooting a perfect arrow, or triumphing over the gaga ball
pit, every Timberlake camper pushed personal limits and discovered something new today.
That’s the magic of camp—sharing challenges, victories, and countless laughs with friends who
quickly start feeling like family. Stay tuned for more excitement and constant growth through
friends and adventure!

Until next time,
Enley McCollum
Proud Pottery Instructor