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Today is arguably the best day we have here at Camp Timberlake! Its crazy, wacky, and different than any other day we’ve got and it really gets counselors and campers alike excited like few other things can. It’s Cowboy Joe Day and the theme of the day is backwards. The schedule is backwards, we wear our clothes backwards, we talk backwards, and we even drive our golf carts around backwards. It is organized chaos in the truest sense, and it is glorious.

The best part of the day is in the morning, where campers are treated to an extra hour of sleep. Little do they know, they are about to be woken up in a way they never have before. Myself, Director John M., Program Director Davis B., CIT Director Houston M., Head of Climbing Colby S. and Cabin Area Director Danny N. begin our rampage through the cabins armed with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, chocolate milk, and a megaphone. This is how it goes down: the five of us charge in blowing whistles, yelling out of the megaphone, and throwing doughnuts and milk cartons at each and every camper and counselor. In keeping with the backwards theme, we scream “DAY JOE BOY COW HAPPY!!!” It is truly a sight to behold and it is so fun to see the combination of excitement, bewilderment, and a tinge of fear on the camper’s faces as they realize what is happening.

Once the rampage is over, campers get to enjoy their nut doughs and milk chocolate (catch the backwards words there?) in peace before putting on their backwards clothes and heading down to the evening activity (in the morning).

Spencer G., Preston B., Connor G., Nathan G., Wait M., Nolan R., Hunter S., and a host of others turned in extremely impressive performances in a great game of morning sock war. What a better way for boys to start the day then to get to throw some socks as hard as they can??

After sock war, it was off to 2nd period, where campers were working hard towards bronze silver and gold bars in each and every one of their activities. There were some great performances to report in activities. Mathew D. earned his bronze bars in wrestling and fencing. Spencer M. fenced his way to silver, and Trey D. shot his way to a bronze bar in airsoft. Earning bars is a great way for a camper to demonstrate proficiency in activities and we are so proud of those boys and many others who have earned bars over the last several days.

Once those activities had finished up, it was time for a great lunch of turkey and stuffing!! Everyone loves Thanksgiving dinner, and the day only got better (at least for the counselors) with the announcement of REST HOUR instead of the usual 30 minutes. Trust me, the extra 30 minutes makes all the difference, especially on Cowboy Joe Day. Some normalcy was restored after rest hour with the customary trading post and 3rd and 4th periods.

After activities, we all got to enjoy a delicious cookout of pulled pork and homemade BBQ sauce. Truly one of the best meals of camp as everyone gets to enjoy the beautiful weather and wonderful food. After dinner, we get to have the evening yell, today led by campers Scott R. and Karl V., instead of the traditional morning yell and then headed up to night chapel and vespers, which is always a great time full of energy. Counselors performed some hilarious skits includging another legendary performance from ACTION JACKSON AND VERTICAL JONES, WHOSE STUNTS ARE GONNA SHAAAAAAAKE YOUR BONES!! Once chapel was over, it was time for a crowd favorite: THE STATE FAIR! There is lawn bowling, bucket tossing, seed spitting, potato sack racing, innertube sumo wrestling and the always popular counselor skeet shoot. That is where we as counselors are moving human targets who run faster than we have ever run before as campers get the chance to pelt us with paintballs from a high-powered paintball gun. If that is not dedication from the staff, I do not know what is.

And as if the day couldn’t get any better from there, we ramped it up another notch and sent our boys to some phenomenal post evening activities where the boys got to further develop relationships with their counselors and fellow campers. What a day is was here at camp! We are sad that this special group of boys will be heading home in a couple short days, but we are incredibly proud and excited about what they have accomplished here in this wonderful and magical place. I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings!

 

 

Brandon Chase

 

Program Director

 

Proud Seminole