Last weekend, the TLC Family of Camps took part in an amazing charity event at the second annual Camp Games for a Cause!  Over 30 different camps in the tri-state area participated with camp staff, camp alumni and camp friends to compete in a day full of traditional “Camp Color War” events including basketball shootouts, tug-of-war, sing-offs, wacky relays, square dancing and much more! This all day fundraising event was filled with games, food and of course, plenty of camp spirit!!!

The proceeds from Camp Games for a Cause will benefit the children of SCOPE by providing at-risk children with a positive summer camp experience.

Thank you to all our camp families, friends and staff that participated and helped support such a worthy cause – You have made a difference in a child’s life this summer!

Hi I’m Jason (on the left) – I am 28 yrs old and I’m from Merry ol’ England.  I have been coming to Timber Lake West since 2008 and from the picture you can tell how happy I am to be at camp!  I started at camp as a General Counselor, and eventually moved into the Fine Arts part of camp.  This summer I will be heading-up the Art Barn with one of my best friends at camp, Erin Samuelsen.

At the time I was accepted to camp, I had just finished university and wasn’t too sure of a career path.  Camp not only gave me a purpose at that time, but it showed me my way to my future profession in becoming a teacher. West shows you how to be a better person, and I have changed for the better because of my time spent TLW. One of camp’s motto’s from the starfish story is, ‘To that one, I made a difference’ and I have taken this away with me and used it for inspiration to teach others in England.

One of the best things at camp is seeing the group of children I started out with as seniors, watching them grow up and become young adults over the years. Camp is about the people, the fun and the memories you create together. For this article, I was asked what my favorite memory of camp was –  Honestly? I cannot reply with just one memory as there are so many good memories; dressing up as “Where’s Waldo”, making costumes for TLW’s production of The Lion King, organizing a HUGE fakeout, making a 7’ foot revolving Oscar at 4am, painting ourselves to look like living statues, seeing Color War for the first time, Zumba dancing…etc.  The list goes on and on…

To anyone new to camp, camper or counselor, I would say just one thing: be yourself. Camp is going to look after you, hold you close and keep you warm when the winter months come around. You will never forget camp, the friends, the fun and the memories.  They will stay with you forever and ever and I only wish every child could experience a TLW Summer.

Hey Everyone! My name is Tylor Boone, I’m 21 years old and currently live in St. John’s Newfoundland and I attend Memorial University where I’ll graduate with a Degree in Law and Society this coming December. When I’m not studying or daydreaming about going back to TLW, I’m an Assistant Manager at Empire Theatres (I actually work with Kyle Kenny, who I first met at TLW!)

Although I only spent the Summer of 2009 at TLW, it ranks up there as one of the best experiences of my life. This summer will be my third summer away from West and almost every day I catch myself saying “when I was at camp in New York…” All of my friends are sick of hearing about Color War, Marble Call, Chicken Tenders, or how saying that you were on OD made no sense although everyone knew what you were talking about.

I loved everything about camp and have so many memories that its hard to pick one memory as “the best.” Jenn and Alice calling me Jim, or Sneaky, because both of us had dark beards sticks out in my mind; as does each of the camper’s faces when I think back on a time when they accomplished something that they thought they couldn’t do or when we were having a laugh before going to sleep at night.

However the single greatest thing about camp is all of the friendships that I made over the course of two months. I met, and continue to be friends with some of the most amazing people from all across the globe that I met at West. I still talk to Laura from the UK, and still have to refrain from calling her Macrame. I’m constantly making plans to go to Brooklyn to visit Erin, and I’m in the process of convincing Carla to come visit me while I’m visiting Toronto in a couple months. Although I know that I haven’t seen these people in almost 3 years, I know that when we do it’ll be like I never ever left 12776.

To anyone who is considering spending a summer at TLW. Do it. It will forever change your life. I spent one summer as a Counselor and I am forever changed. There’s something magical about that spot up in the Catskill Mountains. It doesn’t matter how long I’m away from TLW – I’ll always be part of it, and it a part of me.

This past Saturday, our campers entering 3rd-6th grades met at THE ROCK in Nanuet for our annual Kickoff to Summer!

Close to 100 campers came out to play kickball, soccer and dodgeball and to have some fun in the bouncy inflatables (we couldn’t get enough of it!)  What camp reunion is not complete without delicious cheesy pizza and drinks?!   Everyone had such a great time!

Only 54 days until first session begins and 82 days until second session! Honestly – we just cannot wait!!!

Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Book: Hunger Games Series (at the moment!)
Nickname: ”Lexie”

Hey everyone! My name is Allexie (but everyone at camp calls me Lexie!) and I am from Marlboro, New Jersey. I am 18 years old and currently live in New Brunswick, NJ because I am a freshman at Rutgers University.  I am a Journalism and Media Studies major. I have two older sisters, both of whom went to Timber Lake West, so camp is always a topic of conversation!

During my oldest sister’s first summer at West, I was only two years old! This will be my ninth summer at camp – my second as a general counselor. I skipped one summer of camp to travel around Israel for a month and despite the incredible experiences it gave me, I could not wait to get back to the place that had been my summer home for so many years!

I give Timber Lake West most of the credit for making me the person I am today. West has provided me with the abilities to be more outgoing, responsible, and able to maintain close relationships with friends, regardless of the distance. I don’t know how easily I would have adjusted to college without my prior TLW experience. I don’t think I can name one thing about camp that I am not absolutely obsessed with! At Timber Lake West, there is something for everyone – I am extremely un-athletic, but I always had an amazing time playing sports at camp and it just gave me more motivation to try harder and learn new skills. It is a place that everyone is accepted and embraced.  TLW has given me confidence to be who I am and it is still the place where I know I can always fully express myself.

One of my most treasured camp memories would be one of the last full days of my Teen Two summer as a camper. It was a day that we got to choose any activity that we wanted to do and my division wanted to watch a movie. It was a beautiful day and some of my best friends and I wanted to spend it outside. My group leader decided to take us on a hike and the small group of us hiked up to the upper camp sight. On the way up we talked and laughed and told stories. It was one of the greatest times I had, just because of the people I was with. When we got to the top we looked out on one of the most incredible views. I would never have wanted to spend that day any differently!

My advice for anyone thinking about going to camp for the first time is to simply just do it! Timber Lake West is by far my favorite place in the world and I wouldn’t change my time that I spend there for anything in the world! Four weeks may seem like a long time but once you get there, you will never want to leave. Everyone gets nervous before camp, even I still get butterflies before leaving for my summer experience each year, but once I get there and see the familiar smiling faces, I am at ease and I know that I am once again home!

Nickname: Schotime
Favorite Song: ”Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5
Favorite Book:  ”The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom
Favorite Color: Red (Perfect for camp!)
Favorite Quote:  “Life’s not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”

Hi! My name is Jamie and I am from Warren, New Jersey. When I’m not at school at Salisbury University in Maryland, I live with my mom and dad, my sister Dana who is a junior at Clemson University, and my younger brother Jake who is a freshman in high school. We also have a dog named Dash at home and he is 6 years old.  I am studying Elementary Education with a minor in Athletic Coaching. I absolutely LOVE sports! I am a huge Yankees fan and I played softball in high school. I also love to shop and to hang out with my family and friends.

My favorite thing to do outside of school is to be at Timber Lake West! It’s the highlight of my year, and I am always looking forward to it! This will be my 10th summer at TLW – 7 years as a camper, and now my 3rd as Staff.  The thing that I have loved the most about camp is that it truly is my second home.  I was once a little 9 year old running around camp, and all of a sudden I have grown up and matured into a college student! All of my experiences at camp made me independent, yet care-free at the same time, and it really taught me to hold on to your memories because time moves so fast. I’ll never forget my Collegiate summer when my sister and I were inducted into the Hall of Fame, it was such an honor!

My advice for anyone coming to TLW would be to enjoy every second of it, and to try new things that you don’t think you would because it could actually change your life!  Timber Lake West has changed my life – I can’t wait to get back there for Summer 2012 to begin!

A few short weeks ago, the TLC Family of Camps traveled down to Atlantic City for the American Camp Association’s annual Tri-State Camp Conference.  Camp professionals from all over the country gathered from Wednesday to Friday at the largest conference of its kind to share information with some of the greatest minds in the camping industry.

One might ask; what actually goes on at the Tri-State Camp Convention? Well, let us explain!  There are dozens of different seminars happening simultaneously during any given moment on any given day.  Anything ranging from new programmatic ideas to capital projects to customer service, the seminars’ purpose is to give Camp Directors and their leadership teams new perspectives and ideas for the upcoming summer.  We also enjoy walking through the exhibit hall and getting an opportunity to chat with vendors about different products and services that can help make each summer better for our families – we’re always keeping our eyes open for the next big thing!

We like to say that if we can walk away from the conference with a few things that we learned to improve the upcoming summer, then it was most definitely a success!

The Camp Conference also means one thing: CAMP IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! With only 81 days left until the 1st session of 2012 and 109 days until 2nd session of 2012, we can’t wait to take what we learned at the conference and make the summer of 2012 the best one yet!

My name is Dylan.  I am 12 years old and when I am not at camp I like to hang out with my friends. I like to play golf and I like politics (yes, politics!)  I have 2 birds and I also have a dog named Muffin.

1) What is the number #1 thing you love most about camp?
That would have to be the amazing friends I have made.

2) What was the funniest thing that happened to you at camp?
When I was banana boating and I fell in the water.  I held on to the boat and I realized that my bathing suit was coming off!  I had to hold on to the boat with one hand and the other on my bathing suit!

3) What is your favorite memory from last summer?
When the helicopter broke out Color War.  That was so AMAZING!

4) Describe camp using only 3 words:
Amazing, Fun, Memorable

5) What are you most looking forward to doing this summer?
Going in the lake this summer!

Hi, my name is Ryan.  Last year was my first year at Timber Lake West.  It was so awesome!  I had visited the camp the last few years on Visiting Day to see my cousins and knew that it was the camp for me.  I couldn’t wait for my turn to go to camp!

Going to camp is so great.  It’s great to be part of a bunk and have built-in friends 24-7.  There is freedom to do what you want to do at certain parts of the day and group activities and camp activities that get everyone involved. I made great projects at the Art Barn, a really cool pine car for the race, and had lots of fun at Canteen. I loved all the sports and nighttime activities.  I cannot wait to get back to my home away from home!

1) What is the number #1 thing you love most about camp?
The waterfront. I like that there is volleyball, kayaking, canoeing, the speedboat, water skiing and especially fishing.

2) What was the funniest thing that happened to you at camp?
Being part of the talent show! I put on a comedy act and made the whole camp laugh from my jokes.

3) What is your favorite memory from last summer?
Being awarded my STARFISH Award. It meant a lot to me. I still wear it while I am home.

4) Describe camp using only 3 words:
BEST CAMP EVER!!!!!

5) What are you most looking forward to doing this summer?
Seeing my old friends and meeting new people.  I also can’t wait for the water battle and all the other fun activities.  I have been counting down the days until I go back to camp ever since I got home this past summer!  I really can’t wait to get back to camp – I’ll see everyone soon!