Tonight was our last night together as Timberlake July Session 2013. This group deserves a more descriptive name, a name that weaves all our names, all these identities together into one unpronounceable name that we still know and recognize.
This group has been such an amazingly prefect balance between maturity and youthfulness, between a generator of beautiful noise and quite reflection. Our boys got muddy and tired, kept on going, and seemingly enjoyed pushing through to the other side.
Our big all-camp game was “Society of 39” and there was plenty of cheering and chasing; wild fun in the night. There was a burning Catamount bell, tales of daring and self-sacrifice and finally a camper dance-off. A nice reminder of how we don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we work hard at our fun.
We also had a Barns and Garden afternoon where all campers were working on getting our crops well tended to after all the rain. Lots of work got done and many campers expressed that they wished they chosen to spend more time at the Farm.
We take Art and our community seriously too. Our big art project for the session was a brand-new, regulation height basketball hoop and backboard. The backboard is a TL mural and works GREAT.
Tonight was Banquet. Two astronauts accosted me at Ken’s Lodge (with no visitor’s badges) yelling about aliens. A black space ship arrived (honestly, I almost didn’t recognize our little black flatbed truck) and I was taken to the Mothership of the Upper Lodge. The entry was a rolling doorway, an entry to a white, fog-filled tunnel. Our cooks had become aliens! And these aliens, who had kidnapped me, claimed to be the loudest creatures in the universe. Timberlake sent them back to the library quiet room with loud noises we made together and then everyone feasted.
Ratings followed, with almost fifty awards, included three of our highest climbing ratings and, despite the thunderstorms all session, seven grand circuits (swimming completely around Woodward Reservoir). This group has worked hard for ratings, but has not obsessed about them.
The session’s final Ranger’s skit followed – where the “Power Rangers” took on “Lazy Senior Lodger” who masqueraded as Director Tulio and asked campers to “build support, support our community, build… a bed for Patrick”. Brilliant stuff.
The final part of the evening was a wonderful close to the session. We all silently lit candles and walked to the meeting circle. As I picked my way through the roots on the path, my night vision somewhat obscured by my candle, I met several returning staff who were silently standing vigil with candles on places on the path where there were roots or a tricky step. Once all had gathered in the meeting circle, campers and staff spoke into the silence:
“I am who I am and no one can change me… I am Timberlake”
“I am a crazy bundle of emotions…. I am Timberlake”
“I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel… I am Timberlake”
“I am happy…. I am Timberlake”
“I am living a week every day…. I am Timberlake”
“I am one star in the night… I am Timberlake”
I end this session slightly in awe of the fine group of young men and boys. You know how special this has been.