Camp News

Thanks for reading our blog, friends and loyal followers of Timber Talk. We’ve loved giving you a little window into all things Camp Timber Tops and having you along with us for Summer 2024. Today we packed, enjoyed an award ceremony and screened the camp video yearbook. Tonight we do wishing boats, and tomorrow morning we’re off. We can’t believe it’s time to say goodbye.

Of all the gifts you can give your children, we truly believe that camp is the greatest gift of all. You can’t give your kids independence, resilience, grit, lifelong friendships, a sense of belonging, adventure, but you can give them camp. And you did. Thank you for entrusting us with *your* most precious gift. We have loved having your daughter down the winding road with us this summer for what we think was our best season yet.

Your camper has heard us say it before, but it’s worth repeating now: camp isn’t just a place on a map, it’s a place in your heart. We hope that memories of Camp Timber Tops give your daughter happiness and confidence in every season, through every stage of her life.

As our alma mater goes:

As time goes by like a river, a people alter their ways, we will always remember the joys of Timber Tops days. The friends we’ve made through the summer will be our lasting delight, and the joys and the tears that we’ve known here are the joys of the red and the white.

With thanks,

Missy, Andy, Anna and all of us at Camp Timber Tops

We post a version of this every year, so here it goes!

We know you want to swallow her whole. Here are some tips to help you help yourself (and in doing so, help your camper re-enter the world).

1. Don’t take it personally.

Your camper will be SO happy to see you. She’s also probably sad and conflicted! 

She’s sad to leave camp! She’s sad to leave her friends! She’s sad to leave her counselors! She’s sad to leave her routine, her independence and her camp persona! It’s okay (great actually)! It means you gave her the best gift ever! Don’t take it personally. In fact, pat yourself on the pat. You did it!

2. Remember she’s exhausted.

In the past week alone she’s experienced Pioneer Days, the play, a dance show, a gymnastics show, banquet, wishing boats, packing and more. Over the past seven weeks she’s been living with twelve other people, hanging out with friends day and night, participating in activities from sun up to sun down. She’s going to be exhausted.

3. Be patient.

It might take a few hours or a few days (dare we say a week?) to be entirely “on” and especially to open up. She might even seem a little numb. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you or didn’t miss you. It doesn’t mean that she won’t start gushing in a few days. Nothing is wrong. She just needs time! Things that are normal: wanting to talk to her camp friends immediately, all-day, every day for a few days (yes, she’s just spent seven weeks with them- we know). Wanting to keep on that disgusting arm of camp friendship bracelets (don’t tell her they’re ridiculous unless you want to get hurt). Wanting to spend some time alone before jumping into the deep end of home life. Wanting to sleep sleep sleep. Any combination of the above. Normal. Normal. Normal.

4. Focus on small moments and questions.

Think about your two best friends who live far away.

Friend one: you pick up the phone no matter what, even if you only have a minute. Though it’s been months, you know she’ll cut right to the chase and start where things left off.

Friend two: You love her. Really. You LOVE her as much as friend one. But you only pick up when you have time to sit, totally focused, for an hour-long catch-up. So, no. You don’t always pick up.

The moral? Be friend one. Take baby steps. Try to stay in the moment. You’ll learn more! She’ll start talking!

Good questions:
What was this morning like?
What can I get you for lunch?
Did you sleep much last night?

Less productive questions/statements right off the bat:
Tell me EVERYTHING about camp.
Can you explain your weekly schedule?
What do you want to do next weekend with all of your school friends? Let’s plan on Monday through Friday.

Ask a few, manageable, lighthearted questions every hour on that first day. You’ll open up that can of worms without having to pry, without overwhelming your fresh-off-the-bus camper.

5. Give her wings.

At camp she was the most independent version of herself, and she’s still basking in the glow of those camp freedoms. Advocating for herself, making independent choices— it’s why you sent her to camp! Remember how you felt the first time you came home from college. It was a little weird! Think about small liberties you can introduce to reinforce your camper’s summer growth. If you have an eight-year-old who didn’t make her bed before camp, encourage her to make her bed at home (even if it isn’t as beautiful as you’d like). Though seemingly a “chore,” having your camper do things for herself at home will continue the summer’s momentum and make her feel happy and confident. And isn’t that what this whole camp thing was about from the start?

You got this!

Tonight’s top-secret Banquet theme, brought to us by the 9th graders was… Koa: Beyond the Reef! It’s Moana themed!

Our 9th graders have spent the past number of weeks planning, organizing, and putting together tonight’s banquet which honors the CAs for their leadership this summer. It’s a Timber Tops tradition that we look forward to all summer and take very seriously- from Oaklings to CAs! The entire camp ate breakfast and lunch in the grove to give our 9th graders ample time to prepare in private, and they surpassed all expectations! You would not believe the way our 9th graders transform the dining hall each year, and it’s hard to put into words just how awesome it really is. This is the moment, too, to extend a heartfelt thanks to Ali, head of Arts & Crafts, and Cate, Assistant Head. They are at the helm of so much that happens at camp, and banquet is just the cherry on top of what has been a crafty, fabulous summer under their leadership.

“Koa Beyond the Reef” is truly spectacular. Our 9th graders have made shirts for the CAs with “Koa Beyond the Reef” on the front and a quote from Moana on the back: “There comes a day when you look around and realize happiness is where you are.” And boy does that ring true. Tonight we’re basking in the glow of this moment together and celebrating the awesome summer we’ve had.

It’s our tradition for CAs to get dressed up for banquet while the rest of camp dons their officials. Koa is officially presented one by one,  thanked, presented with awards, and made to feel like the stars of the show. And they really are and have been all summer. Thank you, Koa, for a summer filled with love for camp and each other.

After awards are presented at banquet, we have another tradition. Counselors who grew up as campers at CTT serenade the whole camp with a special song to the tune of “Uncle John’s Band.” The lyrics include “When you leave Timber Tops, friends will still remain. People grow, each year will pass, but the memories never change…” We also recognize a new counselor who feels like she’s been here all along! Our “most sucked in” award is coveted, and its shirt (the prize!) is passed on from year to year when its recipient comes back to camp as a returning counselor and passes it on. That’s right, they’ve gotta come back!  

At the end of the banquet, the 9th graders thank Koa and then, after much anticipation, come together as one to introduce their CA name and CA song for next summer. It’s really an emotional, moving moment every year, and this year was no different. And the CAs next summer are…

Zenia 2025!
Song: Side By Side by Layup

In addition to a big CTT/9th grade (now known as “Zenia”)/Koa love fest, the night was filled with especially delicious appetizers, dinner and desserts. It was like being at a wedding! It’s called Banquet for a reason. Really, ask your camper all about it!

An extraordinary night for extraordinary people in this extraordinary place. There’s a little extra magic in the air tonight at Camp Timber Tops, even though chants of “we’re not leaving” echo through the trees. It’s a bittersweet but awesome moment in the life of every summer, and this summer is no different.

Friends,

It’s been another great day at camp, starting with a wakeup from our CAs announcing a spirit day of sorts: Timber Tops Tuesday! Campers and counselors sported their CTT clothing, their red and white, with pride and a bittersweet joy as we celebrate being here in our favorite place with our favorite people for our final Timber Tops Tuesday. We’ve mentioned it here before, but sometimes our older campers and staff use the hashtag #TimberTopsTuesday on Tuesdays to post and share photos from camp! But there’s just nothing like ACTUAL Timber Tops Tuesdays together in Greeley.

Today was our final day of regular schedule. We also had a visit from Lice Free Noggins who checked each and every camper (they check at the beginning and middle of the summer, too), and we’re thrilled to say we’re lice free! We had health checks at the health center too. Everyone had temperatures taken, big bites looked at and a short once-over from our medical staff.

And we gathered together for the gymnastics and dance show which was awedome!

Speaking of dancing, tonight it’s our big, all-camp social with Lake Owego Camp! The weather held out all day, but even if it storms, we don’t mind dancing in the rain! We’ll be dry in fitness dancing up a storm with a DJ and snacks and all of our summer sisters (oh yeah, Owego, too).

Tomorrow, stay tuned for one of the most highly anticipated events at camp…BANQUET!

Goodnight from Greeley!

Friends and Followers,

We were so happy to get back to our regular schedule today. After a welcomed late sleep and breakfast of french toast, french toast sticks, mixed berries, whipped cream and scrambled eggs we headed out to all the activities we love the most at camp! In addition to business as usual, we also had all-day play practice for tonight’s show (Tangled!), enjoyed a horse show at the ranch for those who ride, and made sure to put the final, finishing touches on our silk screening projects in Arts&Crafts. And our final laundry went out, too! And we took second session sister pictures! And we enjoyed turkey tacos for lunch, Greek night for dinner and canteen for all! Life is good!

Tomorrow is our last day of regular schedule sprinkled with health & lice checks and a gymnastics show. We’ll keep you posted, of course, as we soak up every moment together here in Greeley.

It’s been a great, SUNNY, beautiful DAY 3 here at camp! Flagpole activities this morning (including lemon sucking, watermelon, watermelon seed spitting, licorice eating, butter churning and more!) went off without a hitch. And rope burning was, well, soggy and epic! This afternoon brings another great set of activities including our campsite and meal judging, all while individual activities are taking place. Campers not on the meal or campsite committees are participating in archery, mixed watercraft, adventure elements, the cheese wall, the giant’s ladder, the cargo net, life-size tic tac toe, muscles competition, hula hoop, rock paper scissors, gymnastics, and, of course, banner! There’s so much still left to do here on Day 3 before our final night of competition, TONIGHT at the Timber Theater! The vibes are bittersweet here at camp this afternoon, since the end of Pioneer Days marks the beginning of the end. We’re making every moment count.