Playing Hard and Granny's Candy Shop

On the first full day of camp this week the campers were all having a great time. It seemed like where ever I went all I saw was smiles on the kids faces. Campers enjoyed doing things like fishing, tug-o-war........
I have a friend who......

Arts and Crafts...............

and learned about Native American history.

Last nights evening activity was Granny's Candy Shop, where granny had candy that was stolen from her by the Oompa-Lumpas . She needed the campers to go around to her candy makers, play games to receive candy, and bring it back so she could fill her shop again.

Ladies and Gentleman start your............Boxes?

It's the Timbers 500!!!!!! Yesterday cabins were given a box of materials and were to use them to build a race car for the cabin, using only the materials given and the box. Once the cabins were finished we all met up at the upper ball fields where the races were to be held. Campers had to drag, carry or push their driver across the field and back, racing against other cabins. Everyone had a lot of fun cheering, laughing and listening to the music. Afterwards the campers enjoyed a snack in their cabins.

There's Gold in Them Hills!

That's right here at Camp Timbers we have gold! It was up to the campers last night to find that gold that was scattered all throughout camp. After cabins would gather up the gold they had to bring it back to the bank to receive points. Not only was there gold rocks but also silver and green. That's right green rocks, our money people were hidden all over camp and if campers played a game or sang a song for them the money people would paint a rock green and the campers could turn that in for points too. The campers were not the only people who knew about the gold, the robbers also heard about the gold and would come take it from the bank, but our robbers are clumsy and drop the gold. All the campers did such a great job that they were all rewarded with a brownie treat.

Casino Night!

At dinner time staff dressed up and decorated the lodge to make it look like a casino banquet hall. One counselor from every cabin served their cabin for dinner so the campers wouldn't have to get up for anything. After that we played games like three card Monty......
Guess the number.........7-7-7...........
and seeing who could get a higher number with dice.Campers would win money and bring to the bank and exchange the money for points for their cabin, but because EVERYONE is a winner here at camp timbers, everyone was awarded with a pudding snack.

Moving in and Having Fun

Well today the campers moved into their cabins and had the chance to meet their cabin mates and their counselors, while playing games that help get to know each other. After dinner all the cabins were able to walk around the lake for a camp tour, so kids could get familiar with camp.
On the first night of camp we always have a camp fire, where we sing songs and the counselors put on skits for everyone to watch. The campers really enjoy singing and clapping along to the songs as well as laughing at the skits. Pat, one of the counselors here, loves to tell Native American tales to the kids while using his flute to give the stories a more spiritual feel.

Getting Wet, and Warming Up

This week we had some of the members of the Saginaw YMCA Shark Swim Team, along with their coach Chet Swanton, come up to Camp Timbers to train in Piper Lake. This year we had 10 people from the swim team that worked very hard this week on technique and swimming strength.

The last night in camp all of the cabins go down by the fire, sing songs, and watch skits. The campers all really enjoy bonding around the fire one last time, and everyone has a great time. At the end of the fire everyone grabs a stick and we do stick dedications, where every camper has a chance to dedicate that stick to someone or something, like a family member or the people in their cabin, before they throw it in the fire.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Campers at Play!

The CIT's planned a super sweet night activity for the campers last night. It was based on the game Apples to Apples, but a Camp Timbers version. Cabins were given a word on a green card, then they had to go around and find a CIT dressed up as an apple and play a game for them in order to get a red card with a word on it. The better the connection the word on the red card made with the word on the green card the more points awarded. The cabin then came back to the sports court, in a conga line, where our CIT directors Swede and Mike decided how many points they received. There were also apples hanging on trees all throughout camp that were collected and used as bonus points.Red Apples- 10 Points
Pink Apple- 8 Points
Blue Apples- 6 Points
Yellow Apples- 4 Points
Black Apples- 2 Points

Afterward campers all received a snack and prizes.

WATER CARNIVAL

Last night we had a super crazy fun time at the water front with our water carnival! Cabins would move from various stations all over the water front to do different, and fun water activities. Such as volleyball.......bury your counselor.............went down the water slide............and greased watermelon............Everyone also had a chance to get a cookie for snack.