Reveille sounded through the morning mist, and campers shuffled down to The Tuck for breakfast. There’s nothing quite like waking up to breakfast casserole and warm blueberry muffins as we start another great day at Camp Timberlake. With full bellies and bright skies, the men of Timberlake headed into another packed day of epic adventures with the best of friends.

In Chapel this morning, Wells F. shared a powerful story about damaging his car in high school—and the grace that followed. Instead of getting upset, his father made sure he was okay, forgave him, and graciously handed over the keys to his own car for Wells to use. It was a beautiful reflection of the Gospel: Christ takes our place, and we get credit for His spotless record. A perfect message to carry with us into the day.

We had some guys venture out for some epic adventures around the rivers and trails of Western North Carolina. The fly fishing crew hit the water at South Mountain with Grant C., Riggs C., Gabe G., Ayaan M., Dhilan M., and Harris N. Meanwhile, a group of mountain bikers — Christian M., Blake L., Lucas B., Ernest F., Bram O., and Calvin W. — geared up and headed off for a ride at Old Fort. 

Back at camp, morning activities were in full swing: Aidan P. conquered the Spyglass Trail on a mountain bike for the very first time — a huge achievement.

In archery, Teddy M. locked in and shot five groupings in a row — steady hands and solid form!

Lunch today brought us ham & cheese croissants, pretzel bites, and juicy peaches — perfect fuel for a full afternoon. While we ate, something extra special happened: Sibling Day! Campers with sisters at our sister camp, Merri-Mac, got to reunite. We welcomed them to Timberlake with free swim and a picnic — a joyful time of catching up and sharing camp stories from both sides of the mountain.

Cabin clean-up results were a nail-biter, and Finch’s Landing claimed victory. The standings are razor-close now, with only tenths of a point separating the top three cabins. Stay tuned to find out who claims the coveted Golden Plunger. 

Mr. Hydration made his regularly unscheduled appearance — once again asking for a vacation. Thankfully, John stood firm, reminding everyone that hydration never takes a vacation. Despite his unrelenting attempts to persuade John for a day off, Mr. Hydration continues to pour himself into his work, and for that, we are eternally grateful. If I were Mr. Hydration, I’d revisit the idea sometime in late August. 

We weren’t going to let John end the meal without telling us who won the tribal game last night! In a Timberlake classic, the Golden Eagles came out victorious in Counselor Hunt, gaining ground in the tribal race. 

After the best time — Rest Time — free time brought more action: Campers worked toward disc golf bars. The airsoft tournament heated up, and tomorrow will bring an epic three-team final showdown to decide who reigns supreme.

And in an unforgettable moment, Ben P. caught a legendary 11-dot frog — the biggest of the summer so far! Big leaps only.

Afternoon activities were full of action as well. Climbing classes tied in with hands-on knotwork practice. George D. nailed his sitting grouping for Riflery Silver.

In archery, Liam L. showed impressive consistency with five 20-yard groupings. Eyes on Gold!

Dinner tonight hit the spot: cheese tortellini, mixed veggies, biscuits, and a favorite — sugar cookies for dessert. A fortunate few correctly answered trivia questions and earned a second cookie. What a treat! 

The evening caps off the day with a blast: As I type, Senior Camp is battling it out in a high-energy game of Ultimate Basketball (Let’s go Eagles!), while Junior and Intermediate Camp enjoyed Cabin Night around Timberlake: Huckleberry and Finch’s Landing are wearing out the slip ’n slide. Further Up is enjoying some action on the blob and dive tower before roasting some s’mores on the beach.

Tigertooth are also cooling off in Lake Newcombe, and word around camp is they’re going for a Trade Post raid afterward… Hopefully, they’ll save some for the rest of us tomorrow!

Hawksbill and Turtleback are battling it out on the pickleball courts and Battleball arena.

It’s been another classic day at Timberlake — full of laughter, growth, and a whole lot of fun. We’re making the most of every moment here, and we’re so grateful for it all. Until tomorrow!

 

Winston Horn

Assistant Director

Proud Golden Eagle

Former Big Piney Counselor

Hotty Toddy