What a wave of great returning staff we are having. I asked each staff to share some of their motivations for coming back this summer. Here are a few of their words:
Chelsea Greenwald, Assistant Director:
“Mambo Timberlake! I’m so excited to be returning to camp this year as the Assistant Director. While it was difficult for me to take a year off from my second home on The Lake last summer, I spent my time working at an elementary school in Tanga, Tanzania, training as a Corps member with Teach for America, and starting my new, post-college life in Houston, Texas. Thanks to my new position as a 4th grade teacher, I am lucky enough to have the summer off, and couldn’t imagine a better way to spend it than with the Farm and Wilderness Community. I am looking forward to a summer of teamwork, adventure, and magic and can’t wait to meet the new staff and campers in a few short months. I have high hopes for a logistically solid, smooth-running summer that allow everyone to really focus on working with our amazing community and soaking up the TL experience. I wish everyone a happy and fulfilling Spring season. See you all in June!”
Mike O’Conner, Cabin Staff:
“I’m looking forward to the special bonds that form between campers and staff through trust, honesty and friendship.”
Gunther Bains, Cabin Staff:
What brings and drives me back to Timberlake?
“The warmth of the cabin cookout fires”
“Laughter always filling the air”
“Life long lasting memories”
“My second home, and playground”
“Renewed friendships”
These are a few things that bring me back to TL.
Susan Kennedy, Head Cook:
“I’m very excited to return to the TL kitchen this year. I look forward to sharing with the campers my enthusiasm for cooking and appreciation for nature – especially spiders!”
Jared Edwards, Cook:
“Gonna cook for the kids, gonna make it delicious, try to keep it nutritious, create wonderful dishes. This summer’s gonna be awesome!!”
Jon Schubert, Cabin Staff:
“I am excited to go back to TL for the summer because its a return to something that I am passionate about… cliché but true.”
Robert Miller, Cabin Staff:
“Timberlake is very special to me because everyone works together and there are strong bonds between everyone. As a result, when I was a camper I experienced major personal transformations because it was a place where I felt secure in who I was and where I could accept myself because everyone else accepted me. As a result of this, I would really like to help campers experience the beauty of TL’s community so that hopefully they can experience some of the joy and comfort that I felt at TL. On a more specific level I am excited to go back to the waterfront and to teach people canoeing. I have always loved canoeing and last year I really enjoyed teaching it. “
Thad Gibson, Work Projects Activity Head:
“I am eager to return to TL so that I can improve on my successes and rectify my shortcomings from years past. Every year working at that TL, I grow personally and professionally and I also see growth in the campers and staff around me. The fact that my first group of campers will now be in Upper Senior Lodge and leaders in the community makes me especially proud and anticipatory for the coming summer.”
Micah Baritt
“I am drawn to work with kids. I miss how much there is too learn from each other. I’m looking forward to kids having a sense of excitement about Barns and Gardens and a sense of ownership… it’s their farm. “