Dear Campers, Parents, Staff, Alums, and Friends,
We hope your February is off to a great start. Ours has been busy, which is why we’re a little late getting this month’s newsletter posted for you. Our travels continued this month with trips to Dallas, Chicago, St. Louis, and Ohio. This is the time of year when the actual act of traveling can start to wear on us a little, although it is ALWAYS big fun having reunions and seeing new kids. But let’s face it, going in and out of airports is not the best hobby in the world. On the other hand, I’ve discovered that I do really enjoy parts of the
February means the start of Spring in Tucson! Our weather this time of year can still get chilly (relatively speaking), but we start warming up with days consistently in the 70s, and by the end of the month we’ll probably be in the 80s. This is why we recommend Tucson for Spring Break much more than for Winter Break. We had a nearly record-breaking rainfall last month, so things will start greening up (again, relatively speaking) soon, and the desert flowers will bloom like crazy. The smell from all the flowers can almost be overwhelming, but it is one of the things we love most about living here.
The other thing we love most is SPRING TRAINING! It starts very soon with pitchers and catchers reporting, and then we’re off! We try to get out to see a few games, but unfortunately, this is the last year that MLB will have spring training in Tucson. The teams are packing up and heading to Phoenix, so we’ll have to drive a bit to catch some games up there next year. We’ll enjoy it this spring while we still have it.
And, of course, if Spring Training is here now, that means SUMMER IS NOT FAR BEHIND! So when you’re bogged down by tests or cold weather, just hang in there!! Camp is coming soon!!
Whenever we post new information to your Parent Keylog Page, there will be a small icon next to that link that looks like this: 
. So look for that image, and 
YO OLD GUYS: If you are in 8th or 9th grade this school year, we are planning to have you serve as a camp “Big Brother” to a new camper this summer. We’ll try to pair everyone up if we can, and we’ll also try to pair as many from the same city as we can. We ask Big Brothers to call (not text or email, please!) their Little Brothers, introduce themselves, and offer to answer any questions that your Little Bro might have about camp. Some guys are even able to get together before camp and talk for a bit, which is awesome! If you would prefer NOT to be a Big Brother, we need to know that as soon as possible. You can email or call us, and that’s perfectly fine. There is no obligation whatsoever, but we think it is a fun thing to be a part of, and we know it really helps our new guys out. Thanks very much.
YO STAFF: If any of you will be in the Chicago area and would like to attend the ACA’s Mid States Camping Conference from March 11th – 13th, please let us know. The Mid States Conference is geared towards counselors (more than towards Directors), and there’s lots of great stuff to learn and great people to meet and share ideas with. We will pay your conference fees for you, so you’ll only have to pay for your food and lodging. Please let us know by February 20th if you’d like to attend. You can learn more about it by clicking here.
Our enrollment has truly heated up this month, and we are looking particularly strong in 1st session, though 2nd session is doing well too. WELCOME BACK TO THE FOLLOWING “OLD-TIMERS” WHO RE-ENROLLED LAST MONTH: ELIOT PADZENSKY of Deerfield, IL; JUSTIN ZASLAVSKY of Glencoe, IL; PARKER DAWSON and, after a summer’s absence, JONAH LANDY of Denver, CO; JARED LIEBMAN of Louisville, KY; BRIAN BARLOW of Red Wing, MN; JOHNNY & MICHAEL GROSS and DANIEL MOLTZ of Chicago, IL; TYLER GELLMAN and BEN & DAVID TAMSKY of St. Louis, MO; BEN & DANIEL FELDMAN, AARON JAFFE, ARI MAZZA, and MICHAEL NATINSKY of Highland Park, IL; JONAH KAPLAN of Tucson, AZ; JONAH HOFFMAN, BEN KUHN, and HOP MATHEWS of Nashville, TN; SAMMY DRAZNER of Northbrook, IL; BEN CHESKIS of Riverwoods, IL; JOSEPH KUPERMAN of Bellaire, TX; KEVIN DAILY of Houston, TX, JACK POLSTON of Winnetka, IL, and after a summer’s absence, DANIEL CALVILLO of San Salvador, El Salvador, and EMILIO MADRAZO of Mexico City, Mexico!
Welcome aboard to the following new campers who will join us this summer: LOGAN SEIDEN of Buffalo Grove, IL; CARTER & COLE ECKEL of Tucson, AZ; ARI ASARCH of Denver, CO; MYLES ROSENTSTEIN and JACK ROSS of Highland Park, IL; IAN SETZER of Orlando, FL; CHAD KAMEN of Louisville, KY; and JASON 
GARLAND, JACK & LIAM O’MALLEY, and BEN REMIS of St. Louis, MO. Glad to have you all with us. How ready are you for the greatest summer ever??!!!!
We have two more JCs to welcome back:
DAVID FINE: David is 17 years old and is a Junior at Deerfield High School in Deerfield, IL. This will be his 7th summer at camp.
DOUGIE MOSS: Dougie is also 17 years old, and is a Junior at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, IL. This is Dougie’s 6th summer coming up.
Welcome back also to:
IAN BROWN: Ian is 23 years old and is currently attending Hocking College in Nelsonville, OH, studying Ecotourism and Adventure Travel, and working as a member of the Outdoor Pursuits staff there. This will be Ian’s 3rd summer at camp, and he will be a Trip Leader.
SIOBHAN CONNELLY: Summer number 2 coming up for Siobhan, who will be 23 years old this summer, and who lives in Portland, ME. Siobhan is currently doing some artwork, working as a Yoga Instructor part-time, and applying to the Maine School of Art for the fall semester. Siobhan will again head up our Yoga program and help out with Arts & Crafts, Pottery, and Horseback Riding.
ALLI DOYLE: Alli is back for her 3rd summer at camp. She is 21 years old and is a Theater major at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. This month, Alli will attend the American College Theatre Festival in Reno, NV, which she’s very pumped about. She also takes every opportunity she can to ride horses over the winter, and this summer she’ll again help out with our Horseback Riding program and our Comedy Improv program.
TOM HOUNSELL: Tom is back for his 2nd summer as our Trips Program Driver. He is spending the cold winter months down in Florida staying warm. He’ll return to his home near Lake Towanda and camp this spring, and will be back behind the wheel of our camp vans driving out trips this summer. He is 62 years young.
MATT KEARNEY: Matt is back for his 2nd summer at camp where he’ll be a cabin counselor, head up our Ropes Course program, and help out with Basketball. Matt will be 22 years old this summer, and he is a Senior at UW-La Crosse, majoring in English and Education.
JAKE KLECKNER: Summer number 5 on deck for Jake. He is 26 years old and has recently moved to Portland, ME where he is the new assistant baseball coach at Southern Maine Community College. Jake returns as a cabin counselor, Senior Village Director, and also head of our Baseball and Golf programs.
KATHY LEVERTON: This will be Kathy’s 5th summer at camp, where she will again be our Waterfront Director. Kathy is 25 years old, and she lives in Cape Town, South Africa. She works part-time as a climbing instructor at a gym, and she’s been hunting for a job in adventure tourism for a few months now. Fortunately she still finds time to do some hiking and 
JUSTIN LOWRY: After a summer away, Justin is back for his 2nd summer with us. He is 20 years old and comes from Yorkshire in the UK. Justin is a university student, and is still playing competitive badminton as well as playing tennis and volleyball. He returns as a cabin counselor, and he will again head up our Tennis program and help out with Soccer and Gymnastics.
JACOB LURIE: Jacob is back for his 9th summer at camp. He is 18 years old and is a freshman at Indiana University. Jacob will be a cabin counselor helping out with Waterskiing and Weight Training.
GRACE MC GOWAN: Summer number 2 coming up for Grace, who is graduating this spring from Denison University in Charlottesville, VA with a degree in Psychology. She also serves as the manager of the school’s soccer team. Grace is studying for the GRE and looking for jobs for the Fall. This summer Grace will fill a new role at camp, helping the nurses as our Nurse Assistant, and also taking and posting photos of y’all’s smiling faces on the website. Grace is 22 years old.
RICH MC GOWAN: This is going to be Rich’s 14th summer at camp! Unreal! Rich will be 38 this summer, and he has recently relocated from the Chicago area where he worked as a school teacher to the island of St. Maarten (east of Haiti – waaaaay east) where he is working on becoming a SCUBA Dive Master. How’s that for a change? Needless to say, Rich is loving life in the tropics, has completed Rescue Diver training, and is now on to Dive Master. This summer, Rich will be in paradise again as a cabin counselor and head of our Digital Photography program. He also helps with Guitar and Swimming.
DEBBIE PURCELL: It is summer number 8 coming up for Debbie. She lives in Denver and currently working as a bus driver at a child-care center, and teaching a cooking class to kids on the weekends. Debbie is 41 years old, and she will again be our Town Run driver and help out in the office, where she has proven to be invaluable!
BRIAN STRAIN: Brian is back for his 9th summer at camp. He will be 29 years old this summer, and lives in Denver where he is currently taking classes and is a computer teacher at an elementary school. Brian is getting around town in his new Ford F-150, and when he’s not driving that, the man drives a Zamboni at an ice arena in Denver. Anyone else jealous? This summer he will be a cabin counselor, Junior Village Director, and head of our Fishing program.
CHAD BYLER: Chad will be 23 years old this summer, and he comes to us from Orwell, OH. He is in his 2nd year at Hocking College studying Ecotourism and Adventure Travel. Chad has worked at another camp for many summers, as a counselor and program director. At Hocking he is part of the Outdoor Pursuits Staff, leading wilderness trips. Chad is a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Life Guard. He joins us as a Trip Leader.
NICK DARLEY: Nick will be 21 years old this summer, and he is a Junior at Southern Utah University, studying Computer Science. If it slides on water or snow, Nick is into it. He has been waterskiing since he was 5 years old, and he’s into slaloming, barefooting, wake boarding, wake skating, and wake surfing. He has also been a snow board instructor at a resort in Utah. Nick will be a cabin counselor and help out with Waterskiing and Rock Climbing.
NADEV GOLAN: All the way from Israel, we are joined by Nadev. He will turn 23 a week into camp this summer. At the moment, Nadev works as a basketball coach, working with 2 boys’ teams and one girls’ team. Like all citizens of Israel, Nadev served in the army where he was an officer. While in the service, Nadev trained other soldiers in the use of several weapons, and was in charge of teaching a riflery class. At camp Nadev will be a cabin counselor, will head up our Riflery program, and help out with Basketball.
BEN GORDON: Although Ben is new to our staff, he is not new to camp. Ben was a camper at Timberlane several summers ago. He will be 19 years old this summer, and is from Northbrook, IL. He is currently a Freshman at Indiana University, studying Public Policy. Ben is into weight lifting and volleyball, and was way into archery when he was a camper. He will be a cabin counselor, helping out with Weight Training, Archery, and Soccer.
NICK MORLEY: Just like Ben, Nick is also new to our staff, but was a Timberlane camper back in his younger days. Nick will turn 19 during Staff Training this summer, and he is a Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – Madison studying Secondary Education with an emphasis on History. Nick plans to become a high school history teacher. He is into long-distance running, and will run in the Madison marathon this spring. Nick is way into archery, and was always at the range when he was a camper. He has kept up with it, and this summer he’ll head up our Archery program while also helping out with Rock Climbing and Weight Training. 
RACHELLE ROSSA: Rachelle will be 20 years old this summer, and she joins us from Brian Head Utah, where she is a Sophomore at Southern Utah University studying Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, on her way to a CSI career. Rachelle comes from a huge family, and has helped feed her siblings for years. When she describes her kitchen at home, it sounds just like camp! She joins us as a member of our Kitchen Staff.
VICKI SETZER, LPN: Vicki joins us from Orlando, FL where she works as a school nurse for 600 students at an elementary school. Vicki is 53 years old, and she is also a health educator with the American Lung Association, teaching kids how to manage their asthma, and she has worked in hospice care and in a dialysis center. Vicki was a Water Safety Instructor at one time, teaching swimming lessons to children. She brings a ton of experience and kid-oriented background with her, and we’re pleased to have her join our staff this summer as a Camp Nurse.
KAYLA WANDSNIDER: Kayla is 20 years old, and she joins us from Milwaukee, WI. She is a Sophomore at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, studying Biology. Since she was little, Kayla has been canoeing and kayaking with her family and at different camps. She has been backpacking and rock climbing on various trips, she is a certified Life Guard, and she has a belay certification. She’ll get her WFR this spring, and she joins our staff as a Trip Leader.
HEATHER WRIGHT: Heather is 22 years old and is from Bellevue, WA. She is a Senior at Central Washington University studying Theatre Design and Technologies. She is currently working on Central Theatre Ensemble's studio project of "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead." Her specialty is set design and construction. Through her work and through school courses, Heather has had a lot of training and experience in arts & crafts, and she will head up our Arts & Crafts program this 
summer.
All sorts of camp folks have been traveling to meet each other recently. CODY CAVALIER made the trip from Houston to Washington, DC to spend some time with SCOTT BREEN (who lives there) and MICHAEL BREEN who was visiting from New York. Together, they took in the Duke – Georgetown basketball game. BRIAN BARLOW showed JOSH KAYNE around the Mall of America in Minneapolis. In Chicago, ARI LACKNER helped RYAN COHEN with his company’s both at the local ORT trade show. In Dallas, JAKE MAZOW is playing “Hercules” in a play at school. He’s also playing indoor soccer and made the high honor roll at school. Way to go Jake! JAKE HOFFMAN also made the honor roll at school (awesome!) and is playing indoor soccer. Bar Mitzvah congrats to SAM KAHN who celebrated at the end of last month. MAX GLICKMAN came in from Chicago to help celebrate. Sam is also playing some tennis. BEN SCHACHTER is playing soccer, basketball, and tennis. Busy guy! In St. Louis, WILL COEN is on a swim team and also playing basketball. And Will is going on a trip to 
Washington, DC with his parents for his birthday this month. JON KIBEL is playing lacrosse and guitar. GRANT KIBEL is also playing lacrosse. CHARLIE TIPTON is managing his school’s basketball team. IZZY MCKENZIE is wrestling and doing a lot of homework. JAKE FLOM is also swamped with homework, and will go to Omaha with his family over spring break. MAX GLICKMAN is on a swim team and busy with practices and meets. DAVID TAMSKY is having some fun at school. RYAN HEARST is playing baseball and working way too hard at school. JACK ROSENTHAL is on a swim team and will go to Hawaii for spring break. MICHAEL STRAWBRIDGE is wrestling. GABE GRAND is playing baseball and basketball. CHARLIE JONAS is playing varsity hockey as a freshman, and also playing lacrosse and golf. TYLER GELLMAN is playing lacrosse. Here in Tucson, STEVE WEZELMAN is auditioning for the high school band for baritone sax. He also volunteers at the zoo and is trying to get a job at a restaurant. Steve recently got together with ROSS KRULISKY at a mall up in Phoenix. JONAH KAPLAN is playing soccer. Congrats to BEN SKRILL who celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in January. Ben is playing piano.
In Tucson, DAVID ARTZI is wrestling in his high school’s 125 lb weight class. DUSTY COHEN has begun spring practice for baseball at his high school. JORDAN HERZ is getting ready for tryouts for the tennis team at his high school. “Old-timer” JARED KAPLAN is a senior and is wrestling at 130 pounds. RACHEL WASZCZAK is busy working as a nurse and is now 6 months pregnant. May should be an exciting month!! Tucson has had a few visitors of the camp variety lately. GRACE MCGOWAN spent a few days here taking in some warm weather. BRIAN “POPPA” STRAIN also came to town to visit and join our Tucson reunion. While he was here, he and JOHNNY WASZCZAK, along with “old-timers” TOMMY WASZCZAK and BILL BERK visited an ostrich farm not far away to do some “ostrich fishing” and go on a monster truck ride. And “old-timer” DAVE JENNINGS spent a little time here on a break from work in Virginia. A few weeks ago, Dusty and I went to see the Packers demolish the Arizona Cardinals, and bumped into JOSH MC GRATH on our way into the stadium. We admired his shirt. Josh is planning to attend Duke University next fall. Congrats!! A little further north, MARA, MELISSA, and MORGAN ZAVADIL, along with CARLY POVLICH, were in the north woods for a stretch visiting their family, doing some snow shoeing, and checking out the snow-covered camp. In the Chicago area, LUCAS BESLOW got a visit from SAM KUSIN (Houston) and ZACK FRIEDENBERG (Nashville) over winter break. Also over winter break, RYAN EISENMAN went to Alabama to complete his WFR certification course. He’s excited about being a tripper this summer! MICHAEL SCRAGG is enjoying the first of his two summers this year down in Australia working and training for triathlons. BÁLINT DEÁK is back in Hungary after studying in the UK. He’s playing soccer on his university team. MERYL PATAKY is in San Francisco, and was selected as a finalist for the Niche Magazine Awards in the Fine Jewelry category for her "Civilian Medals". They are exhibiting the
Camp for All Kids is the not-for-profit organization we work with to help send underprivileged kids to camps like ours and including ours. Last summer we had 11 boys join us thanks to the generosity of those who have contributed to CFAK. If not for that generosity, these boys would never be able to attend Timberlane. This coming summer, 2 of those kids, who have grown up at camp, will join our staff as Junior Counselors. We’re very proud of them and of our community for the support they have shown CFAK.
As you might guess, charitable donations are down these past few years along with the overall economy. We hope the Timberlane community will continue its support of this unequivocally positive cause.
CAMP FOR ALL KIDS has a brand new website! You’ll find it at www.campforallkids.org. One of the most prominent feature on the new site is a short video that was produced last summer by our own Assistant Director, RICK JONES during his time-off from camp. Please have a look and consider making a donation. We thank you very much.
BRAVO TO THE FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY BOYS & GIRLS! Garrett Shuman - 2/2/1999, Kevin Daily - 2/8/1999, Max Glickman - 2/8/1997, Chad Byler - 2/9/1987, Cameron Cavalier - 2/9/1996, Sammy Drazner - 2/10/1997, Jonah Landy - 2/12/1996, Megan Hager - 2/14/1984, David Ringel - 2/15/1997, Ben Remis - 2/16/2000, Daniel Feldman - 2/17/2000, Dillon Gross - 2/17/1998, Eric Thompson - 2/17/1999, Zach Walden - 2/17/2000, Daniel Engel - 2/20/1998, Jared Liebman - 2/20/1996, Ethan Glasberg - 2/23/1999, Jack Gomberg - 2/23/1996, Sam M Kahn - 2/23/1989, Sam Okrent - 2/23/1996, Santi Silva - 2/23/2000, Adam Kaz - 2/24/1997, Grayson Sheena - 2/26/1998, Jack Polston - 2/28/1996, Seth Gross - 2/29/1992.
That’s it for this month, everyone. We’ve got more exciting times ahead as we travel to Denver for the annual American Camp Association Conference. We’ll see lots of camp folks while we’re there, and we’ll tell you all about it when we write you next month. In the meantime, PLEASE SEND US YOUR NEWS SO WE CAN WRITE ABOUT YOU TOO!! Thanks, and have a great February!
Benches up,
