Anticipation has been building since the last car rolled down the hill from Visiting Day.  All week campers have been yelling “WHEN??” and “1-2-3-4 We want color war, ” preparing for their favorite part of camp.  Fake-outs have been plentiful throughout the week.  What started as an ordinary day, finished as one for the record books!   Campers woke up this morning to the sun shining and began their day like any other.

After a regular morning of activities, campers were surprised with a lunch line up.  The cheering began and the suspense built up for an excellent fake-out.  The afternoon started with an amazing Carnival full of cotton candy, sno-cones, dunk tanks, water slides and much much more.  As the campers were enjoying their snack, a plane flew up the valley and  soared over the lake causing the anticipation to grow among the camp.  The plane was flying overhead as everyone cheered and chanted “drop the fliers!” “drop the fliers!”   The plane took off into the distance and left everyone speechless at the fact that another fake-out happened!

The real action happened at the finale of  Catskill Game Night (a take-off of Hollywood Game Night).  The final eight teams battled it out in the mystery picture game.  The final four teams then advanced to the next round.  In the end, the teen girls dominated the competition and won the grand prize!  The girls were then given a chance to upgrade their prize in a bonus round.  In the bonus round, a camper had to identify celebrities by listening to clues given by director Cassie.  With the final celebrity being  Glee star Darren Criss,  time had just run out.   Seconds later, a video popped up on the screen with Darren Criss addressing the camp!  This is where he was proud to announce COLOR WAR 2014—RED BIG TOP vs. WHITE PARADISE!!! Check out the video below!

July 2014 Color War Break Video

Watching or playing any type of sport is a fun past time for any person, young or old. It’s is a great form of exercise and also a great way to have fun with friends! It’s one of the easiest ways to have fun rather than sitting on the couch all day long playing video games or watching television. 

Recently in the news, a 2 year old named Titus and his basketball trick-shots video has gone viral.   This made us think back to this past summer, and that we too have quite a few athletic sensations on our hands as well!

Whether it’s basketball, football, soccer or frisbee, our West boys were having a blast showing off their own serious skills! What they did makes basketball, football, soccer and frisbie that much more enjoyable to watch because of their acrobatic shots most of us could never make.  Clearly, watching this video makes us realize that there are just endless possibilities! (As for Justin, well….. Let’s just say he still needs some practice!)

Enjoy the below video of our very own West boys in action!

http://youtu.be/UUtZ-YJpEaQ

“I can’t wait for summer to be over!” said no one ever…

Beautiful days at camp and summertime activities have come to an end for Summer 2013. At this point, early morning school buses are back and memories of good times at camp are still fresh in our minds.

The start of the academic year is an event that not many of our campers look forward to. However, the day arrives much quicker than anticipated and getting back to the school mindset after several weeks of summer paradise at camp can be tough.  So here are a few tips to get back in the swing of school:

• Get involved in activities at school whether it be groups, school shows or athletic teams. Remember what interested you at camp like performing on stage and see if there’s something at school just like it.
• Be prepared and have all the supplies you need. Whatever you put in your backpack, make sure you pack it the night before so there’s no rushing around the next morning.
• Sleep – Sleep – Sleep!  Yes, get enough sleep.  Think about all the amazing things you did this summer at camp (Click HERE.)  That’s way better than counting sheep and you’re guaranteed to fall asleep with a smile on your face!
• Eat a healthy breakfast and always have an extra snack in your backpack.

Seeing friends you haven’t seen in a while, and being excited about that, can make your 1st few weeks back at school amazing!  Remember how you felt getting off the bus on the 1st day of camp (1st Session / 2nd Session) seeing all your friends and counselors from last summer? Get excited for the next few months that lay ahead.  Before you know it, our 1st camp reunion / gathering will be upon us and then Summer 2014!

Start your countdown now by checking in with us through our Timber Lake West Camp App.  We miss you and we’ve already started planning an amazing Summer 2014 for you!

Dear Campers,

It’s hard to believe that it is time to send this final good-bye.  How is it possible that the summer went by so quickly?  How is it possible that you are now home and we are sitting on the porch of the Main House staring out at an empty, silent camp?  It’s awful. We’re almost waiting for some of you to come to the commons for lineup and begin cheering to be called first to meals.

On Opening Day as all the buses rolled through the gate, we just knew it was going to be the perfect summer.  You walked off the buses sporting crisp red and white shirts, freshly cut hair and we smiled as we thought about what you’d look like when we put you BACK on the buses at the end of your session.  As predicted, your shirts are now spotted with ketchup, Chipwhich drops, Color War paint and baseball dirt.  The stains practically tell their own tales of the summer of 2013.

Thinking back, there are so many memories already instilled in our hearts.  We cooked and ate at our new cooking elective, bounced on the tumble track in the Gymnastics center, putted on the new golf green and even spun and lifted weights in our new fitness center.  Everyone sported fake moustaches, tutus, suspenders, and rainbow loom bracelets.  Remember how we “#” everything??!!  And who can forget…SPOOORRRTS!!!

Who can forget Trip Day, Teen Take Over – Battle of the Sexes,  Erke Erke, dressing up for BBQ’s and Halloween Snack, the new Birthday song and the photo booth at Prom!  We can still hear the songs of the summer “Gangnam Style, Echa Pa’lla, and Live it up” being played before evening activities and over the PA system.

We imagine that you have begun to tell your family about all the great fake outs and Color War break out!   Days of non-stop fun, competition and hatchet hunting (Where was that Red and white Hatchet??).  The Social Hall was awesomely decorated for Sing Night and it was there that victory was announced!

Although the Social Hall erupted with excitement, the win didn’t really matter. What mattered were the friends whose hands you held as you listened for the scores.  What mattered were the teary-eyed embraces that followed the announcement of the winner and the emotional wishes of congratulations from friends on one team to friends on the other.  What mattered were the friends that made you laugh that night when you were lying in bed waiting to fall asleep.

It is an honor watching you all grow up, and an honor to be a part of what matters most to you.  It is a privilege to get to hug you when you’re having a tough camp moment or when you’ve accomplished something incredible here.  We feel blessed that your parents shared you with us– and quite frankly, that they share you with us every summer.  We are thankful to have welcomed new campers into our West family and look forward to them returning year after year.

We’re sure you’re feeling mixed between feeling happy to be home and lonely for your camp friends and our summer family – not an easy balance for your parents to figure out.  Please share with them your stories from the summer and tell them about the fun times we had, the new things you tried and the lifelong friendships you made.  Sing them your Sing songs and your alma maters from Color War. Show your parents how you’ve grown and changed here, and let them be proud of all that you’ve experienced.  And you should know that it’s okay to cry about how much you miss your counselors, your friends and being at camp.

We miss you already and we wish you all the best for a fantastic year – please stay in touch.  Start your countdowns today for the summer of 2014.  Only 317 days until 1st session and 345 days until 2nd session! 🙂

~ Justin, Cassie & Jenn

http://youtu.be/hpMOOkTXOsg

It was a magical day at Timber Lake West yesterday – with an added twist…  After a morning filled with  activities, all campers were called to the commons for snack.  The anticipation was building for COLOR WAR as the big red van drove down the hill into the commons.  All the campers began cheering “1-2-3-4 we want color war” only to realize it was just another FAKE OUT!!

At the end of snack, the entire camp was called to the social hall for the TLW version of “The Dating Game.”  Campers roared with laughter as Owen, our head of ropes, was chosen as the eligible bachelor and asked questions to girls’ upper staff Teri, Carla, and Amanda.  In the second round, the girls middle camp head counselor, Kristina, was chosen as the contestant.  After asking her three contestants, Lee, Double V, and Adam H., many questions, she chose bachelor number three.  Kristina and Adam were brought center stage back-to-back so Kristina could see who she chose when suddenly a voice was heard shouting to STOP!!

The curtains suddenly opened and behind the stage was Kristina’s long time boyfriend, Tony (who is the head of soccer).  Tony was standing under a trellis decorated with roses and lights.  The whole camp began to stand and cheer, as they witnessed Tony declare his love for Kristina and the importance of camp to their relationship.  He finished by getting on one knee and asking Kristina to marry him.  Kristina of course said YES and made Timber Lake West history!

The entire social hall was cheering, screaming!!!  We were so excited for them!!!  To the point of almost not realizing that Justin had also shouted “THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF COLOR WAR AUGUST 2013!!!”  Then the flyers began floating through the air and the banners were unfurled.  Let the competition begin for White Apps vs. Red Board Games!!

http://youtu.be/G24RiowVYMU

This past weekend we had one of our most treasured days: Visiting Day for our 2nd session campers!

It was another extremely successful Visiting Day here at TLW, as campers and parents reunited after 2 weeks of being apart. There were tears of joy all around as parents started running down the hill, and campers jumped into their arms. Once parents and campers were finally together, the Visiting Day festivities began!

Parents and campers took part in some fun in-camp activities such as lake front fun, tennis, golf, basketball, rock climbing, zip-lining and everything else that our campers enjoy doing here at camp every day. It is a day eagerly awaited by both parent and camper and signifies that camp is halfway over (boo hoo!). However, it’s a great time to celebrate our campers and see what they have accomplished here at West over the last 2 weeks.

Everyone also enjoyed some of their favorite foods either in the dining hall or at our outside BBQ (a constant favorite every year – West’s Bread Pudding!) The weather was spectacular and families were throughly enjoying it during this day of fun!

After parents left, campers took part in our annual camp-wide huge water fight that got everybody on their feet, running around with glee. Everyone had a wonderful Visiting Day, and campers are eager to begin what many consider to be the highlight of camp!  Can you say Color War???? Stay tuned!

http://youtu.be/6Yo_DVkt2Zo

One of the most amazing things about going to Timber Lake West has to be that our campers are kept engaged with one another from morning, noon until night in all sorts of social activities.  At night, rather than sitting in front of the TV or immersed in video games, we like to use this time as a way to be creative and enjoy each other’s company by playing various games or participating in group activities that require social interaction amongst one another.

If we had to pick out a centerpiece of a summer night at West, though, it would have to be the campfire. They have a magical way of bringing our campers together, inviting them to laugh, sing, and tell secrets. The sparkling golden hues of the fire, the crackles of the wood popping, the bright constellations above, and the warmth of all of us gathered around a central focus… So much of our life is spent moving in different directions, but our summertime campfires grabs our campers by the hand and asks all of us to sit back and relax… together.

Another favorite of our evening activities is playing “The Mostest”.  Here, we challenge our campers to see who has the “most” in a particular quest, dare or challenge.  Whether it’s to see who has the loudest laugh or the farthest jump, they are enjoying the challenge of doing it, and doing it together!

Cooking and baking with our campers is another favorite here.  It’s a wonderful way to spend time with one another.  There are many recipes, easy or complex, that are fun to make with our campers. Using a well-planned recipe, an evening of cooking and baking is a great way to entertain our campers!  However, if truth be told – eating the final outcome of all their hard work is the ultimate pay-off! 🙂

Check out some of our nighttime fun in the video below!

http://youtu.be/_jBsSh92LYk

So as 1st Session came to a close with Red Wonderland winning over White Oz with a final score of Red = 3,367.34, White = 3,362.66, everyone was embracing one another with tears filling-up in everyone’s eyes on the last day of camp…  1st Session was awesome and we miss our 1st Session campers already!  But every ending has a new beginning….

In this case, less than 48 hours later everyone was embracing and tears were filling-up in everyone’s eyes once again. But this time, it was with our 2nd Session campers as they arrived at camp!  The busses rolled in, and as our 2nd Session campers disembarked off the busses, welcome signs were held up high directing everyone to where their bunks would be.  The only thing that could be heard was screaming and yelling and a ton of jumping into the awaiting arms of summer friends and counselors which could be seen from all directions no matter which way you looked.  To witness this was the epitome of pure joy and excitement that was felt by all!

2nd Session is off to a great start!  We’re looking forward to another round of non-stop fun – Onward to a fantastic 2^nd Session here at Timber Lake West!!!

http://youtu.be/vsNEp3TLDFw

The stars were out at Timber Lake West.  And I’m not just talking about the beautiful sparkly ones we see in the sky here every night! I’m talking about our talented campers who had their chance to shine at Timber Lake West’s 1st Session Talent show!

At Timber Lake West, there is nothing more fun or memorable for our campers than to see their friends front and center during one of our Talent Shows!

Participating in a talent show gives our campers recognition and the opportunity to strive for something different – to really stand out in a way that speaks to their individuality. It re-humanizes people you go to camp with in away that connects our campers with one another.  The support and encouragement can be seen as everyone cheers their friends on, holding signs up high in the air – It’s truly captivating and inspiring. It’s a night our campers and counselors never forget.

Our campers showcased their voice, musicianship, dance moves and so much more! This is one of our favorite activities here at Timber Lake West – Check it out and see for yourself!

http://youtu.be/tu3NNVRSgYY

What do you get when you put on display our camp staff’s singing talent up on stage each week and leave it to the campers to decide who was the best at the very end?  WEST FACTOR!

The other night was the start of Timber Lake West’s new show WEST FACTOR, where counselors perform live in front of the entire camp with the hopes of getting voted through to the next round!

On opening night of West Factor, we were entertained by 16 amazing performances. The following day, our campers had the opportunity to reflect on what they saw, confer with their friends, and then vote for their favorite 8 performers to advance to the next round.  Our staff nervously waited to see whether they made it through to the next round with the hopes of going all the way to the final performance! Here at West, we turn this hypothetical fantasy into…uh, real fantasy…disguised as reality! (Plus we threw in a few laughs along the way.)

In the end, West Factor is a lot like what we teach here through our STARFISH Program – Success does not always depend on whether you win or lose. It is about how you look at what you do and what you decide to do with everything you have learned along the way!  So far, our campers are demonstrating extreme thoughtfulness, sensitivity and great sportsmanship throughout the entire voting process and taking their role very seriously as to who makes it to the next round!

We’ve got some pretty serious talent here at West!  Onward to the next round of West Factor!

http://youtu.be/xU0Yi-uuQb8