Leadership Family

John Menendez first came to Camp Timberlake as a 10-year-old camper in the summer of 2001. During his summers as a camper, counselor and program director, Timberlake became a second home to him. John grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Vanderbilt University where he met his wife, Catherine. Growing up in Tuscaloosa Alabama, Catherine was already a camp veteran and enthusiast when she met John, though neither could have guessed they would have the opportunity to begin serving as Timberlake directors together in 2016. Ask anybody at Timberlake and they will tell you that Catherine is the ‘glue’ that holds it all together. As a small, family-owned camp, Timberlake operates as a family and John and Catherine are thrilled to share their  passion for summer camp with both new and old families each year. Along with their children, Peter, Thomas, Betsy and Frances, John and Catherine are all summer, all the time.

For John and Catherine, Timberlake is home, and they want every boy to feel the same way.

The Boyd family owned and operated Camps Timberlake and Merri-Mac for over forty-five years. Adam and Ann led Timberlake and Merri-Mac for over 30 years before transitioning ownership and leadership of Camp Timberlake to the Menendez family.

Adam and Ann met while on summer staff at Merri-Mac. After graduating from Wofford College, Adam earned a M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary, while Ann Holds a B.A. from Converse College. Their passion for camping and for seeing children grow through friendship and adventure built Timberlake and our sister camp, Merri-Mac, into two of the premier programs in the country and their commitment to quality and professionalism still permeates every aspect of our program. Enjoying a ‘new season of life’ but still very active, Adam can probably be found our Rock Climbing in Linville Gorge and Ann can be seen just making everything around her more fun.

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NEXT: Andrew Stearns
Timberlake Office Manager

Katy Ferguson

Katy has been with Camps Merri-Mac and Timberlake since 2018. She grew up in Michigan going to camp every summer, then continued her love of camping by working at various camps throughout her time at Western Michigan University. While working at a camp she met her husband, Branch, and together they have three children, Bella and Gus and Lilly. In her free time, she enjoys kickboxing and being with her family outdoors hiking and playing sports. She believes in the mission of camp and the benefits it brings to each child.

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NEXT: Caleb Owen
Timberlake Property Director

Andrew Stearns

Andrew has been blessed to be Timberlake’s caretaker since 2019. He is a husband to his loving wife, Olivia, and father to three beautiful girls. Camp is an incredibly special time and he looks forward to sharing it with all of our campers and families. His favorite pastime is pelting his fellow maintenance men with paintballs!

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NEXT: Winston Horn
Assistant Director

Caleb Owen

Caleb first found Timberlake and Merri-Mac his junior year at Appalachian State becoming a counselor and has been here every summer since. He now serves as our Assistant Director hiring and developing the summer staff while running our adventure programs here at camp. “I want to develop and encourage the same Christian camp community I found here to equip the next generation.” When he’s not planning and teaching camp adventures, you can still find Caleb out on the trail or river enjoying these western Carolina mountains.

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NEXT: Colby Short
Assistant Director

Winston Horn

Winston first came to Camp Timberlake in the summer of 2015 while he was a student at Ole Miss (Hotty Toddy!). Throughout his years as a summer staff member, Winston has served in virtually every role here at Timberlake, including cabin counselor, Cabin Area Director, Counselor-in-Training Director, Program Director and Evening Activity Director a.k.a The Sultan of Fun. Returning in 2024 to join our full time team, Winston now serves as an Assistant Director focusing on Staff hiring and in-camp programs and camp life. He and Caroline and thrilled to once again call the mountains of Western Carolina home, and they can’t wait for summer!

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NEXT: Patrick Emery
Assistant Property Director

Colby Short

Colby is a second generation Son of Timberlake who first came to camp in 2015. Colby was a camper for many years before serving on summer staff for four summers while attending Appalachian State University. He now serves as Timberlake’s Assistant Property director. In describing himself Colby says ” I love the Lord and pretty much anything outside, but snowboarding and rock climbing are definitely my favorites!”.

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NEXT: Katy Ferguson
Black Mountain Expeditions Director

Patrick Emery

Patrick joins us with over twenty years of leading, instructing and innovating in the outdoor industry, beginning at Geneva College leading the Pisgah Program and serving as the Challenge Course Coordinator. He then served fifteen years with the Resource Specialist Team and finally as the Assistant Director of the CCO’s Experiential Design Programs. Most recently Patrick served as the site director for OneLife Institute’s Trade and Culinary gap year program. 

Patrick holds a M.A. from Columbia International University and is certified as a WEA Outdoor Educator, WMA Wilderness First Responder, PCIA Single Pitch Instructor, ACA Canoeing L1 Instructor, Coastal Kayaking L2 Instructor and River Rescue L3 Instructor.

He and his wife April have three teenage children and together they are committed to designing custom programs, expeditions and adventures with purpose.