Camping is a huge part of western North Carolina, and so it is awesome to be able to show how good camps go above and beyond the state requirements.

Here is the video for you to watch.  They took some beautiful shots of camp for you to see.  They also used a little bit of our camp video that showed some of our former Timberlake staff!

We are getting so excited about this summer.  Our staff is amazing, camp looks fantastic, and camper activity forms are rolling in.  It is happening people!  So awesome.

Happy Camping!

Dan

#1 Camp Picture

#2 Timberlake Sunday Shirt (1 Required)

#3 Timberlake Tribe Jersey (2 required)

#4 Tribal Wayfarers (Oh yes)

#5 New Tribal Yell T-shirts (designed by the Sultan of Fun himself)

#6 Timberlake Flannel (Tribal) Pants

#7 Felt Pennant

#8 Timberlake Hacky Sack!

#9 Timberlake Discraft Frisbee

#10 Timberlake Blanket Graphite (with new logo)

#11 Crazy Creek

#12 Canvas Laundry Bag

#13 BPA Free Nalgene Water Bottle

#14 Navy Timberlake Hoodie

#15 New Camp Shirt (also deigned by the Sultan)

#16 Timberlake Drawstring Bag

Just got a new paint job and a deck off the front.

The Patti-O is already looking awesome!

1. People.  My father used to say that he could run a great camp in the desert, if he had the right staff.  He was right.  Finding the right people is the most important thing we do.  Of course we start with people we know, and most of our staff began with us as campers, so we know them very well.  The others are usually recommended by people we know.  Those who love camp the most find staff ready to love camp the best.

It is worth noting here that we are a traditional camp.  Traditional camps hire staff with the priority of youth development.  We do this though skill development that is stronger than many sports camps, but we are not willing to hire skill apart from character.

2. Policies.  Even though we hire people we know very well, rigid hiring policies are also important.  Of course we run criminal and sex-offender checks on everyone, and we run driving records on any who might drive, but we believe the most important filter is a rigorous and consistent interview process.  We also check references and verify volunteer and work histories as appropriate.  Finally, if you want to work with our campers, you are going to be our friend on facebook.

3.  Procedures.  Depending on their role at camp, our staff training is between six days and two weeks, and it is among the most rigorous we are aware of.  We just posted our staff manual on the website, so you can see for yourself. We also require all of our counselor staff to receive a certificate from www.ministrysafe.com.  You may find this a good resource for your family as well.

Finally, we are very proud of our counselors, we believe we know their character, not just their conduct.  We know many of their families and we stay in touch.  But camp is also a special environment, where we live in a closed community, and see each other’s best qualities.  It is up to you to monitor and determine how much contact you want your camper to have with their counselor in the off season.

As camp parents we wanted to let you know what we do as camp directors to keep our children safe.  We also wanted to encourage you with the reminder that a great camp experience should be one of the most important growing experiences in a child’s life.  We promise to work hard to make that the case for your camper, just as it has been for ours.

Adam and Ann

The back porch (AKA the Patti-O) is getting a beautiful stone fireplace and will be such a neat place to sit and rest.

What I like the most about this building is that it is completely out of the normal flow of camp activities.  It is very nicely “tucked” into a little corner of camp that was never used.  Which I think is pretty cool!

I will keep updating you guys with the finishing touches in the coming weeks.

Go Iroquois!

Director Dan

So after 24 years of running a climbing program at camp we realized that we actually have a fun piece of rock up on our property. Believe it or not, even Bobby had no idea this existed! This will certainly be a nice addition to our daily climbing activities.

Based on this discovery, I have decided to start panning for gold in our creek! Just kidding…but seriously.

Happy Camping!

Director Dan

After camp this past summer Timberlake legend, Mike Denoia, had to leave his post as a year round staff member in order to go do a semester of school back home in Atlanta. I have to admit that (because his office is right next to mine) when this happened my side of the Big House got pretty lonely. There was no one to entertain me by doing copious amounts of push ups, one arm pull ups, or drinking gallon jugs of water anymore. It was way too quiet. But thankfully, his schedule opened up in December so now he is interviewing potential staff and recruiting for us again! It is so awesome to have him back to fill the Mike-shaped void that there was here at Timberlake while he was away.

Oh and the Singletary’s also have a new dog, Boston (shout out to Steven “Sporty” Menendez), that likes to come with me to work. Mike is training it to call references for him. They also run suicides up in the Mike together. It is pretty cute.

Happy Camping!

Director Dan

It was amazing to catch up with folks from the summer. I was reminded again of just how blessed we are to have such a great group of people surrounding camp. Check out the Sultan’s sweet beard!

During staff reunion, we also officially hired John Menendez as Assistant Program Director! We are so pumped to have him on board for next year. It will be nice to have another Menendez boy on Program staff!

I am already getting really fired up that we have crossed the Christmas half way point until summer! Camp is just around the corner, can you feel it?

Director Dan

It is a new year and all across the land people are making resolutions to improve themselves. We we pretty much have this resolution for camp going all the time, but it just so happens that our project started now. This will be a beautiful three story building that will house a new infirmary and give other daily camp activities some needed space on the bottom floor.

We need a name. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Happy Camping!
Director Dan

Seminole spirit is still really strong up in Boston this time of year! This was crafted by none other than Assistant Program Director, Steven “Sporty” Menendez. A strong pumpkin for a strong tribe!

Director Dan