timberlake News Updates
Checking in on Timberlake!
A collection of updates from TL Director John Kakapos, organized from most to least recent. Enjoy!
We also post photos about once a week! Check out our SmugMug. We also post very occasionally on Instagram.
Today was our first TL Sunday of the Session! Campers enjoyed a later morning, extended songs and silent meeting, and a visit from Chorelorn, who shared an excerpt from "On Work" by Kahlil Gibran, where our motto "work is love made visible" comes from.
Senior Lodgers and Upper Big Lodgers packed out for their trips which leave tomorrow, and our First Lodgers and Lower Big Lodgers participated in some camper led Afternoon Activities. The day ended with our first Council Fire and Beading Ceremony of Session 2.
Session 2 campers are here! We welcomed a whole new crew of kiddos to TL yesterday and they spent today trying out each of our six Activity Areas, learning a little bit about each one and what activities each would offer over the course of the session.
Senior Lodgers signed up for trips this afternoon and will learn what adventures they will go on in the coming days, and our night ended with another game of Kingdoms.
As our first session winds down, all Farm & Wilderness came together this evening to celebrate each other and our interdependence. Each camp performed a song or skit, with TL sharing a camp-themed parody of Bags by Clairo!
After everyone's performances, everyone joined together on on the BDC soccer field for a camp-wide contradance and bonfire celebration!
There are strangers in camp! Timberlake was overtaken by the evil Society of 39 (S39) once again this evening and campers had to come together to retake camp! Campers evaded Society members and carried precious cargo up to the Upper Lodge from various starting points around camp and then proved their commitment to Timberlake by defeating S39 in a challenge based on our ethics (Creativity, Empathy, and Hard Work), proving that TLers are worthy of camp!
TL and FS joined forces this afternoon for a joint work-afternoon that turned into shared General Swim! Lower Senior Lodgers worked with our Conservation Director, Elisabeth, on some trail work on the Limber Jim trail while Upper Senior Lodgers met at FS to do some work on their new trips building! Everyone came together afterwards for a much needed dip in the lake at TL's Waterfront!
Our First and Lower Big Lodge trips returned today and camp is all back together once again. The night closed with a Council Fire and beading ceremony.
It was an exciting day at Timberlake! Senior Small Camp is in full swing and campers are leading the day. Afternoon Activities were camper led, we had a camper as Poohbah, and we roasted a goat?
That's right, John brought up a spit and roasted a goat outside the Packard Shed for four hours. It was delicious, and the goat came directly from Tamarack Farm! Later that night, we swapped the goats for horses, and played Wranglers, our Wild West inspired All Camp Game.
There were some strangers in camp! Last night, Rangers and Trappers snuck out and swapped cabins with Ruby Bridges and Birches over at Firefly Song. FS campers joined us for breakfast and songs, which included inter-camp renditions of Psycho Killer, Unwritten, You Belong With Me, Kilkelly Ireland, The General, as well as Say It Ain't So and an awesome mashup, courtesy of FS.
Our First Lodgers and Lower Big Lodgers leave for their trips on the 9th and had their trips bonding sessions tonight. Trip leaders led their campers on mini adventures in preparation for their trips that leave in two days!
Camp is whole again! Our Senior Lodgers are back on campus and they've brought wild stories and experiences back from their time on trail. Having the Upper Lodge full again brings such an incredible energy to our community.
Tonight, each lodge got together for our First Session Guy Night. Campers engaged in discussion around gender and masculinity and the night ended with reflections on the topics discussed in the cabins.
Since our Senior Lodgers left on trips earlier this week, we’ve been hosting the ever-exciting Junior Small Camp. This morning, that involved each remaining cabin picking a song to sing; we sang Psycho Killer, The General, Sixteen Tons, and The Boxer.
Tonight we were planning on cabin cookouts for dinner, but the weather unfortunately had other plans. On the plus side, our campers were able to attend the grand opening of The Timberlake Glizzy Shop: a five star hot-dog eating experience. The menu consisted of made-to-order hot dogs with toppings including chili, cheese, caramelized onions, jalapeños, and pickles with chips and apples on the side. For dessert we were treated to S’mores rice crispy treats.
We’re looking forward to our first all-camp council fire tomorrow night after our trips get back!
June 28th - Cabin Cookouts and "Try Before You Buy" Activity selection.
This morning campers cycled through activity areas and worked up a good appetite for a lunch of BBQ chicken (or tofu) , coleslaw, fruit and rolls. Over lunch the nurse team let everyone know about how, when and where to get ahold of our health team and TL’s sword-wielding Trips Coordinator told epic stories of the overnight trips our 12-14 year olds will soon embark on. A masterclass in hype with the crowd call-and-response dialed up to 10. This evening is the all camp game of Kingdoms at the Fairgrounds.
June 24th - Campers Are Almost Here!
Hello Timberlake 2025! We have spent the last 3 weeks getting camp ready for your arrival! With staff training complete, our 14 tables set in the upper lodge and the Monster all set to be put in the lake, we cannot wait for campers to arrive!
Our counselors have been working hard to prepare engaging activities and meaningful experiences for every TL camper. The arts and crafts cabin is stocked with supplies for creative projects, the Packard Shed is ready for bead making, and the trails have been cleared!
Can't wait to see you tomorrow!
-John