Today is arguably the best day we have here at Camp Timberlake! It’s 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 Robbie E., and Cabin Area Directors Danny N. and Charlie R. 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 campers 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).

Ford L, Jack B, Britt F, Charlie C and a host of others turned in extremely impressive performances in battle ball that we play down on the lower tennis courts. What a better way for boys to start the day then to get to throw some rubber balls as hard as they can??

After battleball, it was off to 2^nd period, where campers were working hard towards bronze silver and gold bars in each and every one of their activities.

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 3^rd and 4^th 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 instead of the traditional morning yell and then head up to night chapel, which is always a great time full of energy. Once chapel was over, it was time for a crowd favorite: redneck games! There is lawn bowling, bucket tossing, seed spitting, potato sack racing, inner tube 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 broke out 100 cans of shaving cream and an incredibly long and fast slip n’ slide so the boys could soak each other with shaving cream and then wash it off on a high-speed slip n’ slide. And then to top it all off, we all headed up to Spencer’s Green for an incredible fireworks display that got better with every blast. It is truly an unmatched day here at camp and everyone is now settling in for bed to dream about the unbelievable day it was. The fun never stops here, and we can’t wait for what tomorrow has in store.

Brandon Chase

Program Director

Proud Seminole