Another Happy Friday Here at Camp Timberlake! Today was another fun filled and action packed day at Camp. This independence day started with a bang. Long before reveille sounded a group of fierce competitors left on a dawn patrol trip to represent Timberlake in the Montreat 4th of July 5k race. Jackson M, Gary M, James A, Francesco P, Haran R, Mick L, Jack B, Theo K ,Max G, Matthew G and Harrison D represented Timberlake well and we even had a competitor take second overall! Way to go boys.

 

We started things off her at camp with a big breakfast of sausage patties, waffles and grits. We even had whipped cream and blueberries and strawberries to go with the waffles, a red white and blue breakfast! After a beautiful rendition of the morning yell with our friendly neighborhood camp director John Menendez, and another true story in chapel by John B, it was off to clean those cabins. Today we had a lot of clean cabins which was exciting, but the big news was that the cabin of Big Piney inched one step closer to the golden plunger, with a perfect 10.

We also had a group of intrepid adventurers return from their overnight MTB journey. Michael T, CJ R, Harris N, Teddy M, Grant C, Alexis B, Braxton F, Gabe W, Harrison C, all had the opportunity to go on this amazing trip and enjoy the great outdoors.
We also had a group of kayakers take on the mighty Tuckaseegee river today. Thomas C, Emerson F, Jack G, Carson K and Giancarlo Z had a great time running the rapids all day long.
For Lunch we had Mini corn dogs, or as I like to call them “Corn Puppies” and Mac’n Cheese and, even though dessert is usually for dinner, we had a special 4th of July Popsicle to cool us off, and then it was off to the best time, rest time. today’s beautiful weather was poetic as it led to the most beautiful night, Little Chief.
For all our first year camp parents, Little Chief is a ceremony we hold once a week as an entire camp community to recognize some of the amazing things going on here at Timberlake.
We strongly believe that all of our campers are not only having a lot of fun and making friends here, but that they are also building leadership skills and character traits that will serve them well throughout their lifetime. We see this growth happening in each of them in a variety of areas throughout the week here at camp. The Little Chief ceremony takes place at our council ring and is broken down into several parts. First, all our activity instructors call out the names of campers who have earned bronze, silver or gold bars in their activities. Activity instructors also call out any campers who have earned elective marks. An elective mark is an extra challenge a camper can choose to take on here at camp. These optional challenges are things like: going on three out of camp trips, catching a frog that’s at least 8 dots long, participating in the camp triathlon coming up on Sunday, and much more.
After that, cabin counselors recognize the campers who have earned counselor and camper commendations for the week. Each camper votes for peers in his cabin who they believe have demonstrated the four qualities of servant leadership we seek to encourage here at Timberlake: Courage, Humility, Empathy, and Grit. Each team of cabin counselors comes together to then do the same thing.
We then recognize the campers who have reached the next level as a Son of Timberlake. We believe we are a family here at camp, and as such, we are all Sons of Timberlake. We have certain years that we mark in particular with a recognition and a little gift. Campers who are in their 1st, 3rd, 6th or 10th summer this year all got the chance to stand up and be recognized and receive their gift: a leather skin for 1st years, a gold pin for 3rd years, a custom silver arrowhead pendant necklace for 6 years and a individualized mini canoe paddle and custom Timberlake belt for our 10 years. It’s a really special moment for each of the guys.
The final part of the ceremony is where we recognize campers who have earned promotions towards Little Chief. Promotions essentially take into account all of the parts of the ceremony (Bars in activities, elective marks, commendations, years spent at camp) and all these elements add up to give campers marks, which progresses them towards the top, Little Chief.
Before our ceremony we ate BBQ Chicken, Potatoes and Peas, and as always the salad bar is fresh and diverse, and for dessert we had jelly filled pastries that were crispy and delicious. That’s all form this side, Until Tomorrow.
Briyon McGhee
Finches Landing Counselor
Proud Black Bear
Below are some of the awards we gave out tonight.
Commendations
Huckleberry
Camper: William S
Counselor: Parker C
Finches Landing
Camper: Collier V, Knox C
Counselor: Mason S, Ford F
Further Up
Camper: Silas S, Callen W
Counselor: Henry O, Winton F
Tiger Tooth
Camper: Will C, Charlie G
Counselor: Kess A, Penn dP
Hawksbill
Camper: Brooks S, Jim BrowBn
Counselor: Brooks B, John Martin K
Turtleback
Camper: Charlie H, Alex H
Counselor: Calvin W, Turner M
Tomahawk
Camper: Ernest F, Thomas W, Leo G
Counselor: Thomas W,  Theo K, Jack B
Little Piney
Camper: Witt G, Riggs C, Brady M
Counselor: Witt G, Riggs C, Gabe G
Big Piney
Camper: George dB, Quay B
Counselor: Quay B  Jack G
Stomper’s Knob
Camper: Bobby D, Cannon W, Hayes D
Counselor: Rico E, Hayes D
Little Slaty
Camper: Finley S. Alexis B, Max G
Counselor: Cole R, Will M, Elias W
Big Slaty
Camper: Benjamin P, Levi M Santiago M
Counselor: Benjamin P, Aiden M, Luke H
Greybeard
Camper: Gary M, Jackson M
Counselor: Giancarlo Z
Son Of Timberlake Recognitions
6 Years
Lucas B, Noah B, Jim B, Finley C, Tristan D, Jack G, Luke H, Beau I, Michael L, Blake L, Kolson M, Cam M, Teddy M, Duncan N, Benjamin P, John W.
10 Years
Gary M, Timmy M, Charlie V, Graham W.
Promotions
 
Scout:
Will C, Ford F, Turner M, Mason S, Silas S, Davis T, Calvin W.
Guide:
Brooks B, Samuel C, Knox C Penn Charles del P Winton F, Noah P, Collier V
Ranger: Jim B.
Tracker:
James A, Knox B, Aaron C, Leo G, Levi G, Gabe G, Blake L, Francesco P, Aidan P, Finley S, Owen T, Thomas W, Barnes Z.
Hunter:
Ethan C, Santiago M.
Warrior:
Luke H, Teddy M, Cole R, Giancarlo Z