Archive for July, 2009

Well, it can’t be sunny every day. Yesterday evening was meant to be a camper-led all camp game out on the field, but instead we did some great indoor activities. First Lodge went to the “Arts Mahal” and re-composed a picture by artist Dindga McCannon. A copy of the original was cut up and each camper enlarged their small piece in their own style.

Senior Lodge spent a relaxed evening in Ken’s Lodge which include an impromtu discussion with myself about different camp policies and ended in getting some of their feedback on paper. I am consistently surprised at the capacity of young people to be articulate when given the possibility of real and meaningful choices.

Big Lodge turned the upper lodge into a tournament of “Angel Soft” - a traditional TL indoor game similar in rules to soccer and played with a roll of toilet paper.

Soon we have cabin overnights and much more to come.

Oh what a beautiful morning

Oh what a beautiful day

I got a beautiful feeling

Everything’s going my way

For circle up at breakfast, this unconventional grace seemed appropriate. We have another day of activities and campers are staff are spreading out into the woods and lake to take advantage of the summer rays.

Two evenings ago we played the all camp game of “Kingdoms” on the hills of the fairgrounds. As I sat with Tupelo cabin they ran through all the other themes we could have for that game and wished to play it again tonight, which is always a good sign.     Last night was a smaller games night for the four First Lodge cabins, and Big and Senior Lodge went through a workshop on Boundaries.

We introduce the topic of “Boundaries”  with the analogy of a rollercoaster. Most everyone loves a good thrill; but we can enjoy that ride only when we know that it’s safe.   So we take a moment this evening to mix up Big and Senior Lodgers into smaller groups and let them get to know each other at the beginning of camp.   We also run through a few skits that illustrate the boundaries between staff and campers that are necessary for everyone to be safe at camp. The Lodge heads are introduced so the campers know where they can go to if they have concerns that are not addressed by their counselors.   We’ve found that after doing these workshops, we really settle into the fun of camp with a strong foundation and good communication between everyone.

Thanks for checking in and reading up on Timberlake 09.   We”ll be back soon with more updates.

Tulio

A few drops of rain keep dripping down this morning, but it doesn’t keep us indoors and we’ve found over the first session we can all be quite happy as the trees and grass are soaking up what they need. We soak it up from each other and the simple enjoyments of living together in the woods here at Timberlake

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”

A camper shared this quote with us a silent meeting. He gives credit to Dr. Seuss.

Have a great year July Campers!

(”You’ll always be a camper….at TL. Oh!”

I look forward to seeing all of you this Friday the 24th. We recognize it’s going to be difficult to show you a typical “day in the life at Timberlake”. Having the majority of our campers departing is thankfully not a normal day but we are excited about singing some songs with you and meeting all of you in person.

We will begin songs at 9.15 am in the upper lodge, followed by Silent Meeting at our meeting area at 10:00 am. When Silent Meeting finishes we will have a general swim until lunch at noon. Tulio will stay in Ken’s Lodge to mingle and talk.

‘No one goes hungry at Timberlake” is something I hear from our head cook Ben Kruse and we are delighted and honored to invite you to lunch.

After lunch our staff will be doing some final organizing and then take time off to be ready for the next session, so please connect with you son’s counselors before the end of lunch.

For Full Season campers there is an extended visiting day until 5pm. You are welcome to spend the afternoon at Timberlake but cabin staff will be taking a break. An excess of junk food can lead to an unhappy evening, so please go easy on the treats. If anyone other than the camper’s parents is planning to take them off Farm and Wilderness property, you will need to advise us ahead of time.

See you on Friday,

Less than a week until the end of the first half. There is a positive swell coming up under us, manifesting itself in counselors holding things tight and campers stepping up for chores.  Week Three was a challenging week with lots of tired people coming back from trips and staff needing days off.   Staff and campers and met those challenges and are now ready to finish up with a lot of work in activity areas, special all camp games like “40 Thieves” and our final Banquet.

This morning a Senior Lodge camper led the morning songs, with first lodgers on stage holding the song cards. Later in Silent Meeting a camper spoke to the theme of “lucky and unlucky”. He felt it was going to be a great day, a lucky day, because the three morning songs had all been favorites. What a lesson to us all, to feel lucky for such simple gifts.

On Tuesday we had only  eight campers with us, which made for a very different group dynamic. Everyone enjoyed the peace and quite around here but today that trip was ready to head to Maine for hiking and canoeing. Many trips are back now, and we are slowly growing back up to our normal size.

It feels good to be in flux, to do chores on a volunteer basis rather than a schedule and to have a quieter dining hall.   I really enjoy the smaller community  but after a few days it can give you a feeling something is lacking.

For all of you reading this who are parents, you may recognize the feeling from the first time you are on the holiday without your children. I find the peace and quiet is lovely, but there’s always a moment when it begins to wear off and I get a strange craving for that missing chaos.

By Saturday afternoon we’ll be back to a full camp and a precious last week together before the 24th.

Yesterday two trips left, and today six more are going out. The two groups staying in camp will be doing a “Build it up, Grow it up” day, with all of us working to improve our trails in the morning, followed by an afternoon in the garden.

Trips are an exciting part of camp, and there is certainly a buzz in the air. Some campers are doing five days of camping, while other three days of trail work or farm service. The thread running through all of them is that we are leaving camp and returning more united, and with stories to tell.

Tonight we have a Council Fire and a final dinner with our J1 campers. It seems like only yesterday they arrived, and we’ll be sorry to see them leave tomorrow.

It’s a regular morning, with a bit of laundry thrown in. In the afternoon we’ll play an all camp game called “Bears”.

The staff hide in the woods pretending to be bears. Campers find these sleepy bears and have to coax/push/tug them back to the trading post for points. I look forward to at least a very short hibernation period!

We had a great awareness training last night with Big and Senior Lodge. We talked about the stereotypes of “real” men and women, and the social pressures that come from that.   In smaller groups checked in on what we like about being guys, and what can be hard about being a guy. My favorite answer to “what do we like about being a boy/young man” was “I get to come to this camp!”

One of the great outcomes of the workshop is that it brings home how hurtful it is to throw around derogatory words and expressions and that we can all do our part to keep that to a minimum and feel safer.

Good job TL!