Volume LIV, No. 8, April, 2014

Dear Campers, Parents, Staff, Alums & Friends,

Raise your hand if it feels like spring where you live.  It’s official as far as the calendar goes, but we know some of you are still working your way through some wintery weather.  Camp is the same way…there was a nice little tease of a warm up late last month, and then more

snow came down.  But we know soon enough that will all be over, the lake will thaw, the snow will melt, and the northwoods is likely going to experience a burst of green and summer life it hasn’t seen in a while.  With all that snow on the ground, we’re in for a very vibrant summer.  And let us not forget, with April comes what?   Showers?  Maybe, but who cares?  With April comes baseball season!!  And that’s so nice because for a lot of the time they’re playing baseball, we’re at camp!!  So baseball = camp!  Get it?!  We do get a little excited about that around here.

Nice weather also means it’s time to get your kids outside and playing!  Playing what?  Again…who cares?  It’s time they put the electronics away, go outside, and get dirty.  Peg Smith, the executive director of the American Camp Association, gave a nice little video presentation a while back on the importance of play.  We’ve posted it with this issue and we encourage you to listen to her.

First session is completely filled up, and several age groups are 2nd session as well.  Welcome back to “old-timers” MAX GOOTTER of Tucson, AZ and GABRIEL ADLER of Santa Monica, CA who re-enrolled last month.

And say hello to the following first-year campers who will join us this summer: MAX ORECK of Asheville, NC; JACK ROBINOWITZ of Tulsa, OK; CHARLIE OLESKER of Glencoe, IL; NAVEEN KRISHNAN of Houston, TX; and SANTY ARRIAGA of Chihuahua, Mexico!  We’re so glad to have you all with us!!

YO PARENTS: Lots of stuff for you again this month. First of all, in a few weeks we will send you an email with notice that your balance payment is due on May 15th.  You can always check your current account balance via your Parent Keylog page on our website. 

We have posted a few new things for you on your Parent Keylog Page. New this month are the “April Information,” the “Unplugged Policy,” and the “Packages Policy” links. Please click on them and read all of that important information.  And please be sure to check out the Spring Information that was posted last month.

PLEASE REMEMBER:  If your camper will take any kind of pill-form medication on a regularly scheduled basis, that medication MUST be filled by the CampDoc Pharmacy. This applies to prescription or OTC medication (such as Zyrtek). This policy helps us continue our error-free dispensing of camper medications. We will make no exceptions to this policy, and a charge of $50 per camper will be applied for non-compliance. A more detailed explanation is available via the “General Health Care Info” link on your Parent Keylog page.

And finally, please note that you can order logo’d items as well as many other camp essentials through our approved vendor, The Cloz Company. YOU MUST PLACE YOUR ORDER NO LATER THAN 4 WEEKS PRIOR TO WHEN YOU NEED YOUR STUFF!  So for a first session camper, packing around, say, June 13th, you should place your order no later than May 13th for Cloz to be sure to get you your order in time.  Thanks.

YO OLD GUYS: We have mailed out Little Brother information to all of our PAs (9th grade this year). Because that age group is so large this summer, only a few boys who are in 8th grade this year will have little brothers.  Sorry ‘bout that, but there’s another opportunity next year. We will have a few more new campers on the way, and if you do not have a little bro yet, you may still get one in the coming weeks. It is really important that you CALL (which is different from texting, emailing, Facebooking, etc) your little brother in the next week or so. Please reach out and make a new friend. It may feel a little awkward at first, but you have the bond of camp with each other, you’re just getting it started a little early. Parents, if your son is a Big Brother, please help him remember to make that call. If your son is a new camper, please let us know if you don’t hear from his big brother by the end of this month.

We also want to remind you returning older campers that you can pre-register for some of our longer, more challenging trips, including the Quetico Canoe Trip, the 10 or 6 Day Isle Royale Backpack trips, the Sand River Canoe trip, and the Apostle Islands Sea Kayak trips.  Early this month you will receive an email from us detailing what trips you have completed (if you’re a returning camper) and which trips you’re eligible for.  Have a look, talk it over, and sign up soon!

YO STAFF:
You know how we LOVE paper work!  Here’s what we need from you:

  • If you have any certifications that are relative to camp, please be sure we have copies of those.  If you are a returning staff member, and the copies we have from last year are still valid, you’re set.  If there are any changes, we need a copy of the new card or certificate. If you have certifications that will expire before the end of the summer, please be sure to contact us and either sign up for one of the courses we are offering at camp (Lifeguard Training, Lifeguard Challenge, CPR Challenge, etc), or tell us what course you will take before you arrive at camp.  If you have already taken care of this and informed us, you don’t have to do so again.  REMEMBER, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO BECOME A CERTIFIED LIFEGUARD!  The more, the merrier, and this certification, which lasts 2 years, is FREE!.  Beat that deal!  To see who we have signed up for certification courses at camp as of the publication of this issue, please click here.  Thanks very much.
  • Check your Staff Keylog Page!!  There, you’ll find:
    • Your “official” way to sign up for extra training like Boat Driver, LGT, and LGT or CPR re-certs. 
    • Your Travel-to-Camp plans. It’s definitely not too early to get that sorted out.
    • A Health History form, which you all must complete online on and submit to us. We need a new one every year, in case you returners were curious.  (For the immunizations section, if you have an immunizations card or form from your doctor, just send that to us, and you won’t need to fill in all the little boxes in that section of the form.)
    • Your Tax forms.  Need new ones every year.  W4 and WT4Packing Lists to use as a guideline
    • Child Labor Permit form (a requirement for 1st Year JCs only)
    • NEW THIS YEAR: We have placed PDF versions of our All-Staff Manual (intended for all staff) and our First-Year Staff Manual (if this will be your first time working at camp).  Read, read, read!

 

We are winding down our staff interviewing, and we are so pleased with both the new staff we’ve met and hired, as well as the fantastic returning staff who are back again.  It’s always a challenge to find the right people for the different jobs at camp, and we’re confident we’ve done just that.  Welcome back to the following “old-timers” who will be with us again this summer:

BarlowBRIAN BARLOW

  Brian is back at camp after a 3 year hiatus.  He is a freshman at St. Cloud State University, and he will be 19 years old this summer.  In addition to being a camper for 5 summers, Brian has also participated for years in his home town of Red Wing, MN’s Environmental Learning Center as a student, and then as a leader.  So he’s done trips at Timberlane, and many other trips through the ELC.  We’re delighted that Brian is back for his 6th summer, and he’ll be a Trip Leader.

Boling, BBRITTANY BOLING

  This will be Brittany’s 2nd summer at camp.  She is 20 years old and currently attending Georgia College & State University studying Biology.  Brittany has also gotten into SCUBA diving and is working on her Advanced Diver certification.  She will again be our Infirmary Assistant and camp photographer this summer.

NORM DUDEK

  Norm is back for his 4th summer as our camp driver.  He’s the guy you’ll see pull into camp on his Harley, strut his way to the office to get his keys, and then safely drive our kids and trip leaders all over the north country for their amazing trips.  Norm spends his winters driving a school bus for the local school district.  Norm!!

And say hello to these first-year staff members we’re happy to welcome aboard:

DCIM103GOPROSCOTT BEDNARIK

  Scott joins us from Hocking College in Nelsonville, OH. where he is in his 2nd year studying Ecotourism and Adventure Travel.  He is 23 years old and originally from Cleveland.  At Hocking, Scott is the assistant coordinator of the Outdoor Pursuits program, spending many hours working in the climbing wall area and leading students on trips.  He has led many backpacking, canoeing, and rock climbing trips, and that’s just what he’ll do for us as a Trip Leader this summer.

EVERETT CEDARHOLM

  Everett is 20 years old and is a sophomore at Duke University in Raleigh, NC, studying Mechanical Engineering.  Everett has worked as a rafting guide on three rivers in North Carolina, and also works with the pre-orientation program, leading trips for incoming Duke students.  He has also worked at a soccer camp in his past, and he joins us this summer as a Trip Leader.

CobbCHELSEA COBB

  Chelsea is from Belleville, MI and is in her 5th year at Northern Michigan University studying Art & Design.  She is also a line leader at Mann & Hummel assembly plant, building auto parts.  When she was in high school, Chelsea worked as a nanny on the weekends, and also helped her sister with her twins.  She will be 23 years old this summer, and she will help take care of Andy Melrose. 

CrosbyTOMMY CROSBY

  Say hello to Tommy, who joins us from Denver where he just graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in Geography, minoring in Leadership Studies, Spanish, and Sustainability.  Originally from St. Paul, MN, Tommy is no stranger to the Northwoods.  He also spent ten weeks backpacking through the Chilean region of Patagonia, and spends lots of time hiking and climbing around Moab, UT.  Beyond that, Tommy has worked as a science teacher in schools around Denver, and volunteers at a not-for-profit café.  He is 22 years old, and he will be a Trip Leader this summer.

DevineJOEY DEVINE

  Joey will be 21 years old this summer and she is a senior at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT, studying Environmental Sciences.  At the moment she is a nanny working with kids ranging from 4 – 14 years old.  She has also worked at a wilderness camp near her hometown in New Hampshire.  Not only is she an avid outdoors person, but she also runs marathons.  In case you hadn’t already guessed, Joey will be a Trip Leader this summer.

DoranteCARLOS DORANTES
BAÑUELOS

  Carlos is from Puebla, Mexico where he is studying two different degrees at two different universities.  He’s studying International Relations and Industrial Engineering.  Last summer he was at a soccer camp for girls in Massachusetts, working in their kitchen and learning the ropes.  We’re fortunate to have him and his experience joining us at Timberlane this summer as a member of our Kitchen Staff.  Carlos is 20 years old.

HotalingERIK HOTALING

  Erik is 20 years old, and he joins us from Radnor, PA.  He is studying Mechanical Engineering in his freshman year at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  Erik is into backpacking, canoeing and rock climbing, and he has volunteered as a 4th and 5th grade teacher at local elementary schools.  He joins our staff as a Trip Leader.

IrieIRIE PHETTEPLACE

  Irie is from Imperial Beach, CA and is a sophomore at Southwestern College studying English.  She will be 20 years old this summer, and she’s into biking, kayaking, and boogie boarding.  In addition to taking a full load of classes, Irie works in the deli department of a busy super market, and has achieved her Servsafe California certification.  She joins our Kitchen Staff this summer.

TarrHENRY TARR

  All the way from Redhill, Great Britain, we are joined by Henry, who is 19 years old.  Henry is a salesman at an outdoor retail store, and also works at an infant after school club called the Hokey Cokey Club.  In addition, Henry is a scout leader and has helped run many scout camps over the years.  He holds multiple outdoor certifications pertaining to rock climbing and canoeing, and he joins us as a Trip Leader this summer.

XochiABDEL XOCHIPILLTECATL

  Abdel is 23 years old, and will travel from Monterrey, Mexico to join us this summer.  He is a junior in college in Puebla, studying Architecture.  Abdel has a wealth of kitchen experience, including food prep and sanitation practices.  He is very excited to come to camp as a member of our Kitchen Staff.

Tucson was a happening vacation spot last month for some Timberlane families.  We had the pleasure of catching up with TYLER & MATTHEW JACOBS and their family while they were here visiting the University of Arizona as a possible choice for Matthew for next year.  We had a nice Mexican lunch, and twisted Matthew’s arm as hard as possible to convince him to choose the U of A!  A few days later, ZACH WALDMAN and his family were in for their spring break in the Old Pueblo, and we had a nice dinner with them and watched the U of A basketball team blow past the Sweet 16.  In the Chicago area, JOSH SPAETH made his high school tennis team as a freshman.  In Rockville, MD, WILL SEXTER has been busy with basketball (that’s over now), swimming, and he’s getting ready for baseball to start.  He’s also been doing Israeli dance and Man Cubs, which is a spirit club for boys.  And he spent his spring break in Israel.  In St. Louis, DANNY FISCHER is playing soccer.  Here in Tucson, DAVID BERK is on a swim team, taking guitar lessons, and going on long bike rides. 

In Red Wing, MN. JACK BARLOW is running track and has a job belaying at a YMCA climbing wall.  He spent his spring break on a white water kayaking trip.  DUSTIN COHEN escaped the cold Madison weather for a nice spring break on the beaches of San Diego.  DAVID ARTZI is back on the grid iron working spring workouts as an assistant football coach at our local high school here in Tucson.  JORDAN HERZ spent part of his spring break back here in Tucson, and also hit the California beaches for a bit.  In Santiago, Chile, DOMI BRUNEAU feels the Chilean winter approaching, and is looking forward to her trip to camp in May.  EMILY JONES spent her spring break on a backpack trip in the Appalachian Mountains in South Carolina.  “Old-timer” CADET HANNAH JONES has been selected to be one of the flag bearers at opening day at Yankee Stadium.  Congrats to AARON ZEMACH who has landed an internship with Google for the summer.  We fully expect him to be overlord of the company by mid-July.  MICHAEL BREEN was a world traveler earlier this “off-season” as you probably know.  But did you know that he “borrowed” a Keylog from camp and took it along, snapping photos of it from various amazing locations worldwide?  We didn’t either….that Keylog thief!  If you’d like to check it out, click here

BRAVO TO THE APRIL BIRTHDAY BOYS! Jack Eichner – 4/1/1999, Ke’Mari Rattliff – 4/1/2002, Michael Gordon – 4/4/2003, Sam Pawlan – 4/5/1999, Chris Pedersen – 4/6/1994, Charlie Callen – 4/8/2004, Owen Monieson – 4/8/2003, Ethan Letwat – 4/10/2001, Jeremy Tubbs – 4/10/1993, Brian Barlow – 4/11/1995, Daniel Solot – 4/11/2003, Matt Mossler – 4/12/2000, James Wood – 4/12/1990, Nathan Friedman – 4/14/1999, Zachary Liss – 4/14/2005, Joey Bursten – 4/15/1997, Evan Bloom – 4/18/2004, Daniel Friedland – 4/18/2003, Josh Meyer – 4/18/2002, Santy Arriaga – 4/20/2001, Aaron Berns – 4/21/2006, Brandon Gomel – 4/21/1999, Zach Kallmeyer – 4/21/2001, Alexander Weitzman – 4/21/2000, Matthew Paley – 4/22/2004, Sam Kagan – 4/26/1998, Levi Raskin – 4/26/2002, Hitch Hitchens – 4/27/1957, Bryan Berkowitz – 4/29/2001, David Gaidamak – 4/29/1996, Evan Waldman – 4/29/2006, Joey Rodin – 4/30/1995.

We’ll write you again next month.  Right after that, we’ll be packing up the car and heading for WISCONSIN!!

Benches up,