As the sun rose over Camp Timberlake’s property this Wednesday morning, the campers also rose out of bed determined to finish strong. While there’s still two days until closing ceremony, this day brought the energy of the bell entering the last lap of a race as this is last day to earn bars for the session 1 campers. Though we’re not at the finish line yet, everyone is set on making the most of the precious moments and celebrating their friends earning new bars and striving for new promotions.

We were prepared for this big day after everyone’s favorite breakfast- GEOMETRY!!! consisting of circle shaped biscuits, sausage patties, and eggs, oval shaped hashbrowns, and square shaped cheese. After breakfast it was time to head on out for the morning yell and go to chapel (Stay off the Grass!). At Chapel, Owen, our waterfront director, gave a true story, based on Psalms 119 verses 33-37 and 104. 

At this same time our fly fishing and mountain biking trips were leaving camp to experience growth through adventure by fishing at South Mountain and biking at Bernard mountain trail. 

The Bernard Mountain trail is a challenging gold-level trail that starts with a daunting 5 mile climb with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain before an exhilarating descent. Owen M., Lewis J, John-David A. Harrison C., and Fox S., were all up for the challenge and conquered the climb before shredding the downhole portion of the trail. Up in South Mountain, Case M, McKean K., Liam M, Maxwell C., Will S., and Charles F. all enjoyed a morning of casting and Will S. caught both a brook and rainbow trout. 

Back at camp, we left chapel to “Go clean those cabins” and enjoyed morning activities. In riflery, Reed M. and Wesley S. earned their bronze in riflery while Pace W. earned his silver. Edward S. also earned an elective mark for catching a frog stretching longer than 8 dots on the diving board and it was not even close. The creature was so humungous his fellow campers in senior camp nicknamed it “Frog-zilla”. Climbing also moved with grace and beauty in the words of their instructors. 

 At lunch, we enjoyed another S-tier meal of chicken sandwiches and homemade fries. After the meal and a drumroll, John announced the cabin cleanup scores one by one until there was just Tiger Tooth and Turtle Back remaining. And can I get a drumroll please…….. Your winner today…… with a score of 9.75……. BOTH CABINS! Strong finishes by these cabins bring us into the final day of cabin cleanup with the top 3 cabins separated by just a tenth of a point with others in striking distance. This was followed by the announcement of the winner of Great Escape the night before- THE GOLDEN EAGLES! This announcement was not awaited with the same suspense as the night before the the Golden Eagles celebrated their victory by singing one of their tribal chants “ICKY-LA-BOOMBA” so loudly, it was heard throughout the 200 acres of camp and I personally heard it where I was stationed in the woods behind the backpacking hut. However, there is now heightened suspense for our final tribal game tonight, commando, which the masses believe will decide who takes home the session 1 banner. 

We spent the time after lunch recharging at the best time- Rest time- before enjoying some trading post and a free swim at the waterfront. During free time Eric H. completed his 6th crooked mile trail run to earn an elective mark and Logan D. completed his 5th and 6th crooked mile runs to earn the same elective mark. Edward S. also earned an elective mark for lighting a one-match fire. In the afternoon activities Patrick F earned his gold in improv and Henry L. shot an impressive 3 strokes under par on the front 9 in disc golf before fourth period was met with heavy rain that did not stop the campers from having fun and building friendships as many activities congregated together in the chapel to play cards and in the Chapel and in the Mark to play foosball and a MASSIVE game of knockout. 

The rain settled down in time to head to the Tuck without getting wet for a dinner of chicken parm, bread sticks, and broccoli and a dessert of ice cream sandwiches. After dinner, the two tribes came together for Commando, a tribal game with water balloons so it’s an absolute blast! After another awesome tribal game we returned to cabins to wash off and get ready for bed.

But there was one more surprise before the end of the day….. Fireworks! All the cabins met at the side of the hill across from Spyglass to watch another awesome day at camp end with a bang. 

Until tomorrow,

Ethan Wattles

Proud Golden Eagle

Greybeard counselor

The Pickleball guy

Opener of the Crooked Mile