Tonight’s top-secret Banquet theme, brought to us by the 9th graders was…Lenox in Hollywood! 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. This year the bathroom was turned into a Hollywood-style “dressing room,” there were “posters” lining the walls from past banquets, the entrance looked like the red carpet, paparazzi included and more! Green, rolling Beverly Hills in the background, stars above, a giant Lenox Oscar in the middle, Hollywood centerpieces for each bunk at each table, VIP necklaces for CAs… The list goes on!

It’s our tradition for CAs to get dressed up for banquet while the rest of camp dons their officials. Lenox is officially presented one by one,  thanked, presented with awards, and made to feel like the stars of the show. Thank you, Lenox, for a summer filled with love for camp and each other. We have another tradition at Banquet where our 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…”

At the end of the banquet, the 9th graders thanked Lenox and then, after much anticipation, introduced their CA name and sang their CA song for next summer. And the CA Village next summer is…

ALDER 2018!
Song: “Already Home” by A Great Big World (with some changes lyrics)

In addition to a big CTT/9th grade/Lenox love fest, the night was filled with especially delicious appetizers, dinner and dessert. It was like being at a wedding! 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.