GOOD MORNING TIMBERLAKE PARENTS, TODAY IS A GOOOOOOOD DAY!!!

As every day is, today was a fun and action-packed day here at sunny Camp Timberlake. After our 7am Reveille, we met in the Tuck for a delicious French toast and sausage breakfast. The morning yell helps shake off the rest of the grogginess of a full stomach before we head to chapel. Fran, brave counselor of Little Slaty and instructor of Improv, gave the chapel talk today, relating a personal story to the question of “Who is Jesus?”

After a full morning of cabin cleanup and first and second period activities ranging from kayaking to LEGO building to airsoft, we gathered again at the Tuck to eat a filling lunch of chicken sandwiches. After the best time, rest time, campers enjoyed Free Time, complete with Trading Post and activities open for bars. The day continues with afternoon activities, riflery, archery, basketball, backpacking, beach volleyball, the opportunities are endless. After the end of fourth period, we meet again in the Tuck for our final meal of the day, cheese tortellini with a side of broccoli. As a reward for eating their greens, which are quite delicious, dessert today were ice cream sandwiches, a huge hit with the campers as well as the counselors. 

Finally, instead of a tribal game tonight, we had one of the special ceremonies here at Camp Timberlake. We have three main ones. Initiation, where all new campers are welcomed into their new tribes. Little Chief, where campers are recognized for bars earned, promotions, commendations, and the First, Third, Sixth, and Tenth year Sons of Timberlake are recognized. And the Final Campfire, a final ceremony where campers are recognized for bars earned, promotions, commendations, and memories of the session are shared. Thankfully, we have a little more time together before the Final Campfire, tonight is Little Chief. 

Little Chief begins with a solemn procession into the Council Ring, a sacred place we enter only for the three ceremonies listed above. After the reading of the legend of the first Little Chief, the dozens and dozens of bars achieved by campers in just the past week are read aloud to the applause of their fellow campers. Following bars is the recognition of the counselor and camper commendations.  In each cabin, campers nominate two, sometimes three, cabin mates that they feel have displayed leadership, grit, humility, and empathy both in the cabin and in daily life. Counselors also get the chance to name two to three campers from their cabin they feel have displayed these traits. In the cabin of Finch’s Landing, the counselor commendation went to Gus F. and Hudson P, the camper commendation went to Peter M. and George S. In the cabin of Further Up, the counselor commendation went to Jack H. and Colin G., the camper commendation went to Charlie C. and Connor T. In the cabin of Further In, the counselor commendation went to William H. and Gage S., the camper commendation went to Mason L. and William H. In the cabin of Tiger Tooth, the counselor commendation went to Jack W. and James N., the camper commendation went to Liles F., Chance M., and Todd Michael P. In the cabin of Hawksbill, the counselor commendation went to Henry D. and Mac G., the camper commendation went to Lucas M. and Kai J. In the cabin of Turtleback, the counselor commendation went to Watts G. and Owen H., the camper commendation went to Walker F. and Robert R. In the cabin of Tomahawk, the counselor commendation went to Malachi W. and Liam C., the camper commendation went to Nick Van S. and Harry K. In the cabin of Little Piney, the counselor commendation went to Baine B. and Henry L., the camper commendation went to Richard R. and Kent K. In the cabin of Big Piney, the counselor commendation went to Ben R. and Brooks H., the camper commendation went to Sam H. and Cash K. In the cabin of Stomper’s Knob, the counselor commendation went to Sean A., Liam T., and JonCarlos P., the camper commendation went to Will N. and Stephen G. In the cabin of Little Slaty, the counselor commendation went to Wilson F. and Nick Q., the camper commendation went to Wilson F. and Franklin P. In the cabin of Big Slaty, the counselor commendation went to Eli F. and Henry B., the camper commendation went to Jack S. and Reid S. In the cabin of Greybeard, the counselor commendation went to Oliver G. and Geo P-C., the camper commendation went to Oliver G. and Bay J.

The next portion of the ceremony recognizes the Sons of Timberlake who are here for their first year or are returning for their third, sixth, or tenth year.

Our first year Sons of Timberlake are Ben R., Cole E., Cal T., Gus F., Grant B., Stewart M., Mason L., Maddox H., James E., Mason B., Connor T., Knox P., Hamilton M., Jack H., John F., Charlie C., George C., Sam A., Alden S., Drew G., Connor B., Wesley B., Christian M., Valentino D., Owen C., Banks D., Phoenix U., Cole T., Andre D., and Wyatt B. Every young man receives a “skin” their first year at camp, a physical history of his time at camp. 

Our third year Sons of Timberlake are Jacob R., David L., George S., Matty G., Bo R., John Grady McC., Kai J., Mac G., Matthew R., Nolan O’B., McGinn M., Jack W., Titus W., Ari P., Chance M., Chase C., Malachi W., G S., Sam R., Colin B., Herrick M., and Watts G.  Each third year son of Timberlake receives a gold Timberlake pin. 

Our sixth year Sons of Timberlake are Eli F. and Henry B. Sixth year Sons receive a necklace with a handcrafted silver arrowhead pendant as a reminder of their connection to camp. 

We have only one young man returning for his tenth year this session, Benjamin C. Tonight he received his ten year paddle, which displays his name and the year he started camp, that will be hung in the Tuck for all to see. 

Following the Sons of Timberlake we recognize those who have received promotions in the past week. Promotions are dependent on the Little Chief Mark system, a system that encourages hard work and progression in activities as well as other challenges such as completing the Timber Tri or frog hunting. The first of these promotions is to Scout, achieved by Chase C., Carson D., Abel F., Owen H., Russell M., Peter M., Bo R., and Tommy W. The second is to Guide, achieved by Watts G., Herrick M., Chance M., Ari P., Todd Michael P., George S., Powers T., and Jack W. The third is Pioneer, achieved by Jack C., Henry D., Kai J., Alex McC., and Gage S. Next is the promotion of Tracker, achieved by Oliver F., Kent K., Cash K., David L., Jonas M., Will N., Chase O., Sam R., Tyler R., Armand R., Nick Van S., and Ben W. Following is Hunter, achieved by Henry B. and Liam B. After that is Warrior, achieved by Eli F., Christopher J., and Tommy F. The second highest promotion is that of Pathfinder, achieved by Wilson F. While none of our young men achieved Little Chief this week, success takes time and some of our older campers are very close to being awarded this honor. 

That’s All Folks! The end of a great first week of the wonderful session of 3B. See you tomorrow for another report on the happenings of Camp Timberlake, a Camp for Boys. 

John G

Proud Golden Eagle

Airsoft/Paintball Instructor Extraordinaire

Mandolinist for BMO