Leadership Family

John Menendez first came to Camp Timberlake as a 10-year-old camper in the summer of 2001. During his summers as a camper, counselor and program director, camp became a second home to him. John grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Vanderbilt University where he met his wife, Catherine, who shares his passion for summer camp. John and Catherine are thrilled to serve as owners and directors and to welcome both  new and old families to camp each year. Along with their children, Peter, Thomas, Betsy and Frances, John and Catherine are all summer, all the time.

For John and Catherine, Timberlake is home, and they want every boy to feel the same way.

The Boyd family owned and operated Camps Timberlake and Merri-Mac for over forty-five years. Adam and Ann led Timberlake and Merri-Mac for over 30 years and had the opportunity to watch their children grow up at camp as well.

Adam and Ann met while on summer staff at Merri-Mac. After graduating from Wofford College, Adam earned a M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary, while Ann Holds a B.A. from Converse College. Their passion for camping and for seeing children grow through friendship and adventure built Timberlake and our sister camp, Merri-Mac, into two of the premier programs in the country and their commitment to quality and professionalism still permeates every aspect of our program. Enjoying a ‘new season of life’ but still very active, Adam can probably be found our Rock Climbing in Linville Gorge and Ann can be seen just making everything around camp more fun.

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NEXT: Andrew Stearns
Timberlake Office Manager

Katy Ferguson

Katy has been with Camps Merri-Mac and Timberlake since 2018. She grew up in Michigan going to camp every summer, then continued her love of camping by working at various camps throughout her time at Western Michigan University. While working at a camp she met her husband, Branch, and together they have three children, Bella and Gus and Lilly. In her free time, she enjoys kickboxing and being with her family outdoors hiking and playing sports. She believes in the mission of camp and the benefits it brings to each child.

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NEXT: Caleb Owen
Timberlake Property Director

Andrew Stearns

Andrew has been blessed to be Timberlake’s caretaker since 2019. He is a husband to his loving wife, Olivia, and father to three beautiful girls. Camp is an incredibly special time and he looks forward to sharing it with all of our campers and families. His favorite pastime is pelting his fellow maintenance men with paintballs!

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NEXT: Winston Horn
Assistant Director

Caleb Owen

Caleb first found Timberlake and Merri-Mac his junior year at Appalachian State becoming a counselor and has been here every summer since. He now serves as our Assistant Director hiring and developing the summer staff while running our adventure programs here at camp. “I want to develop and encourage the same Christian camp community I found here to equip the next generation.” When he’s not planning and teaching camp adventures, you can still find Caleb out on the trail or river enjoying these western Carolina mountains.

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NEXT: Samantha Hadley
Assistant Director

Winston Horn

Winston first came to Camp Timberlake in the summer of 2015 while he was a student at Ole Miss (Hotty Toddy!). Throughout his years as a summer staff member, Winston has served in virtually every role here at Timberlake, including cabin counselor, Cabin Area Director, Counselor-in-Training Director, Program Director and Evening Activity Director a.k.a The Sultan of Fun. Returning in 2024 to join our full time team, Winston now serves as an Assistant Director focusing on Staff hiring and in-camp programs and camp life. He and Caroline and thrilled to once again call the mountains of Western Carolina home, and they can’t wait for summer!

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NEXT: Patrick Emery
Merri Mac Office Manager

Samantha Hadley

Samantha grew up in Vermont and moved to North Carolina to attend UNC Asheville. After graduation, she married her husband Paul and began working at Camps Merri-Mac & Timberlake. It was such a great fit that she has been in the camp office for over 20 years. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her husband, son Dylan and beloved dog Lacey.

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NEXT: Katy Ferguson
Black Mountain Expeditions Director

Patrick Emery

Patrick joins us with over twenty years of leading, instructing and innovating in the outdoor industry, beginning at Geneva College leading the Pisgah Program and serving as the Challenge Course Coordinator. He then served fifteen years with the Resource Specialist Team and finally as the Assistant Director of the CCO’s Experiential Design Programs. Most recently Patrick served as the site director for OneLife Institute’s Trade and Culinary gap year program. 

Patrick holds a M.A. from Columbia International University and is certified as a WEA Outdoor Educator, WMA Wilderness First Responder, PCIA Single Pitch Instructor, ACA Canoeing L1 Instructor, Coastal Kayaking L2 Instructor and River Rescue L3 Instructor.

He and his wife April have three teenage children and together they are committed to designing custom programs, expeditions and adventures with purpose.