Dear Campers, Parents, Staff, Alums & Friends,
It’s April! Baseball is back, spring is here, and someday soon, the weather in the Midwest and up at camp will start warming up a bit. We start watching the calendar pretty closely this time of year as our time in Tucson begins to wind down and we get ready to make the trek up
Last month we had a great meeting in Tucson with our administrative staff. RICK JONES, JEFF MELROSE, and STEVE “HITCH” HITCHENS joined us in person, and MICHAEL BREEN joined us through the magic of Skype. What did we talk about? You name it! We discussed enhancements to some of our activities and evening programs, we talked about ways to improve our support and communication for the staff, and most of all, we talked about and planned our very detailed and progressive training schedule for our staff. We’ve got some great new ideas for training our administrative staff, our first-year staff, and the entire staff during the weeks and days that lead up to the arrival of the campers. It was a busy time, and what really spoke volumes about everyone’s enthusiasm and dedication is how the conversations kept going all weekend long. We had set aside one full day to talk shop, but the ideas and feedback kept going all weekend long. Even while we were hiking in Sabino Canyon, dining on fantastic Mexican food at our favorite restaurant, or catching a U of A baseball game. Camp was at the forefront of our minds, and that kept a smile on our faces.
We also want to share with you some wisdom of a friend of ours in camping. Steve Baskin is a camp director from Texas who we’ve known for years and share a lot in common with. Steve was a presenter a few months back at a TEDx conference in San Antonio, where he spoke about the importance of “unplugging” our kids. We have certainly been cheerleaders for that idea for years, and we find ourselves cheering for Steve’s message. We hope you do too.
First session is totally booked up, as you know, and several age groups are filled up 2nd session as well. Welcome back to the following “old-timer” who re-enrolled this past month: AARON DEMBSKY of Glencoe, IL and AARON JAFFE and MICHAEL NATINSKY of Highland Park, IL.
And welcome aboard to these new campers who will join us this summer: JACK JARVIS of Highland Park, IL; SAM SIWAK of St. Louis, MO; DANIEL & ETHAN ROTHSTEIN of Dallas, TX, and ADRIAN GONZALEZ of Cancun, Mexico. We hope you guys are ready for a ridiculously fun summer!
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.
We have also updated the information about GroupRx’s Pharmacy under the “Required Pharmacy Info” link. Remember, if your camper will take any kind of pill-form medication on a regularly scheduled basis, that medication MUST be filled by the GroupRx Pharmacy. There is no charge from the pharmacy to fill your order, beyond the cost of the medication! 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 14th, you should place your order no later than May 14th for Cloz to be sure to get you your order in time. Thanks.
YO OLD GUYS: Early this month we will mail Little Brother information to most of our returning campers who are finishing 8th and 9th grade this year. Most of our returning kids that age will have a little brother, though not everyone. We have more new campers on the way, and if you do not have a little bro yet, you may still 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! 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 3 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.
Okay, not that we’re counting, but with the addition of these awesome “old-timers,” we are up to 577 Timberlane summers of experience on our staff. C’mon…that’s incredible! Wow!! Welcome back to the following “old-timers” who are back again this summer! (And by the way…..we’re counting!)
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| Emily is 21 years old and this will be her 21st summer at camp! Huh? Emily is a Junior at Indiana University studying Outdoor Education. Her academic year is essentially spent being outdoors, leading trips, and taking classes. She will continue down that path this summer as she embarks on her first summer as a Trip Leader at camp. |
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| Back for summer number 13, Josh McGrath is a junior at Duke University but hails originally from Phoenix, AZ. Josh is 21 years old and looking forward to again being a cabin counselor but taking on the new responsibility of being our Senior Village Director and the director of our brand-new Lacrosse program. He will, of course, also be a major help at Waterskiing again this year. |
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| The Eagle has returned! Back for summer number 3, Jon (or Eagle as he is known around the Northwoods) is looking forward to finishing up the school year in Chandler, Arizona and heading back up to camp. Jon is 28 years old, and will once again be an invaluable part of our maintenance team. |
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| 23 year old Stephen, a recent graduate of Bluffton University with an accounting degree, will be joining us for his 4th summer as part of our kitchen staff. Originally from Clinton, MD, it is always a pleasure to have Stephen at camp and see his smiling face in the kitchen. |
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| After taking a few summers off after his PA year, we’re so thrilled to welcome back Lorenzo for his 8th summer at camp. Lorenzo was born and raised in Chicago where he attends Wilbur Wright College and studies business. When not at school Lorenzo stays busy by working part-time as a barber and as a referee at Whirlyball. Lorenzo will be a cabin counselor this summer and be the director of our Baseball program—he has been playing the game since he was 7 and played on his school’s varsity team all four years of high school. |
 BRITTANY BOLING | Hailing from Dublin, GA, Brittany is 19 years old currently working on her certifications to become a dive master and SCUBA instructor. If the name looks familiar that’s because she’s the younger sister of tripper JOSH BOLING. Well, we’re really excited to welcome her to our family; Brittany will be joining us this summer as the Camp Photographer and Infirmary Assistant. |
 ALAN BOWLES | Alan is 33 years old and is from Eureka, CA. He has a nursing degree and ten years of nursing experience. He is hoping to one day earn an advanced practiced license in Anesthesiology. Alan is adventurous, loves sports, and the outdoors—he will be a perfect fit for camp and we’re thrilled to welcome him as part of our nursing staff this summer. He is especially looking forward to his 2,200 mile road trip from Oroville, CA to Woodruff, WI to kick off his summer. |
 EMILY HARRY | Originally from Baltimore, MD, Emily is 19 years old and is currently a freshman at the University of Florida where she is studying Biochemistry. Emily has years of experience providing swim lessons and managing multiple pool facilities. She also has an ACE Group Fitness Instructor certification, which she will put to good use her first summer at camp as our Yoga Director. |
 SEAN HOGAN | 21 year old Sean is from Llandybie in Wales where he is taking higher education courses to learn how to coach children in sports like rugby, football (aka soccer), and cricket. Sean was part of his high school’s shooting team and refined these skills during his time with the Royal Air Force; he is looking forward to using his lifelong shooting skills to be our Riflery Director. Sean will also be a cabin counselor and he, “just cannot wait to be a part of the family and come over to Timberlane for the summer. It is definitely going to be the best summer ever.” We agree Sean! |
 JUSTIN PARISH | Originally from Oak, Park, IL but now from Murray, KY where he attends school, Justin is an 18 year old Eagle Scout who is looking forward to joining us at camp and spending time with his cousin LAUREN GARDNER. For his first summer Justin will be working as part of our kitchen staff. |
 KATIE TERBEEST | Katie is a 23 year old senior at the University of Wisconsin—Lacrosse where she is studying Communications. When not studying Katie works as an Assistant Manager at Wet Seal and maintains a blog detailing fashion and makeup tips. She is looking forward to her first summer at camp where she will be part of our kitchen staff. |
 MITCHELL THOMAE | Born and raised in Tucson, AZ, 19 year old Mitchell is a freshman at the University of Arizona where he is studying Physiology. Mitchell is an old friend of DAVID LANGEBARTEL and played club soccer with DUSTY COHEN a long time ago. This summer Mitchell is excited to be working as a cabin counselor, director of our Cardio program, and help out with Lacrosse and Waterskiing. |
BEN SCHACHTER, from Dallas, has been a traveling guy lately, most recently on a school trip to Israel for 2.5 weeks! In Denver, JACK KNUETTEL has been nominated for the Junior National Honor Society. That’s fantastic! Here in Tucson, MAX GOOTTER got together with Houstonan AIDAN FELDMAN to talk about camp a little bit with him. Aidan is a first-year camper and he spent part of his Spring break in The Old Pueblo (that’s Tucson, y’all.) JOSH SPAETH and his family paid a visit to the Melrose clan during their spring break trip to Disneyworld. While at the airport in London on their way back from Prague, JONO, JOEY & EDDIE ROSENBLUM bumped into SCOTT MAYER, who 
was on his way back home from a trip to Budapest. Y’all are doing some globe trotting!!
We love hearing about camp people getting around and visiting each other. Last month, LESLIE hopped on a plane to Boston and while she was there, she had a fun visit with MATT RODIN. ERIC BROWN has been making the rounds from Cleveland, and while in Chicago last month he met up with MICHAEL BREEN and SAM “PICKLES” KAHN. JOEY RODIN was just in Tucson where he visited his future college, the University of Arizona, and hung out with DAVID ARTZI and “old-timer” AARON ROSEN. I even got out of the office for a while for a little ski trip to Utah. And in Park City I met up with a bunch of folks of current and past summers, including trippers JOSH BOLING, DAN NEWMAN, CHAD BYLER, KAYLA WANDSNIDER, WES HIEB, and also GRACE MCGOWAN. And while on a business trip to Chicago, DEBBIE PURCELL took in a play at Deerfield High that featured DREW DAVIS, RICKY JACOBSON, and “old-timer” ADAM KAZ. HANNAH JONES continues to wow them at West Point. She was at opening day at Yankee Stadium as a member of the flag corp. And for those of you who enjoy “blasts from the past,” Tucson recently hosted a comedy show featuring Jim Belushi and the Chicago Board of Comedy. I had the good fortune of attending, and one of the players in the company was “old-timer” ROBERT BELUSHI who attended camp back in the late ‘80s. We had the chance to talk afterwards, and he is doing well, living in LA, and pursuing his acting and artistic careers.
THE JUICE
A special section by Michael Breen
Let’s talk about trips at camp. It doesn’t happen too often, but once in a while I hear these words, “But, I didn’t like my first trip.”
Y’know what, that just doesn’t cut it. I do not see this as a reason not to try another trip. I have a little secret for you: I wasn’t crazy about my first trip. I was tired throughout, mosquitos seemed to think my blood was made of sugar, and my canoe mate seemed to think a paddle was to be used as a splashing mechanism instead of a mode of transportation.
But, summer after summer, I kept trying.
This was for one reason: my first summer I remember seeing the group of boys that had just returned from the Quetico (our epic, 12-day canoe trip in Canada). Yes, they were happy to have had this adventure and they had a lot of fun, but that wasn’t what I read on their faces. Their faces told a different tale—they beamed a look of pride. A sense of accomplishment, fulfillment even, that they had set out, tackled, and completed a great adventure. These boys were now men. I could have sworn a once hairless kid grew a beard and chest hair over the course of those 12 days.
I wanted that look. So, I signed up for my first trip and was off on the Wisconsin River overnight (a trip we no longer offer). I didn’t love it. I didn’t even like it that much. But, sitting in the van on the way back to camp, I felt that tingle inside of me. That bubbling sense in the pit of my chest that felt so fulfilling. A feeling that gave me strength. A feeling of accomplishment.
So, I kept trying trips, year after year. And while I loved some more than others, one thing was consistent—on that van ride home I was always overcome with that soothing sense of accomplishment. And, the greater the adventure, the longer the trip, the greater this feeling would become.
I can’t promise you that you will love your first trip. Or even your second. But, I can promise you that you will feel accomplished.
It is easy to do something you like.
It is special to do something you accomplished.
And now, let’s wheeze the juice, trip edition:
You are on your first hiking trip ever. You spend the whole day huffing your way through trails that are a little steeper than expected, although 
you can’t stop looking at the beautiful wilderness that surrounds you. You finish your day, clean the dishes from a delicious meal of deep-dish pizza, and lay down around the crackling campfire. You gaze up at the stars, twinkling like you’ve never seen them before, the smell of campfire wafting through your nose. Shoulders aching slightly, you can’t wait to start all over tomorrow.
You are on Quetico Provincial Park, day 3 of 12 and your tripper feels you’re ready for your first solo canoe portage. And, what a doozy to start on—it is 160 rods, which is about half a mile. With your trippers help, you flip the canoe upside-down, placing the pads on the canoe’s yoke carefully on your shoulders. You walk slowly at first, learning the art of balancing your body while keeping the canoe level at the same time. You feel stronger with each step. You can do this. Ten rods out you see the start of the new lake. You wade into its shallow area and with the help of your trip-mates you hoist it off your shoulders. High-fives and cheers all around. You try your best but you can’t stop smiling the rest of day.
P.S. I would like to announce the new Camp Timberlane Memory Champ. Or should I say Champs. In true Timberlane fashion we have a tie. (Drumroll please) Aaron Glazer and Jacob Rosenstein are the new Camp Timberlane Memory Champs. Way to go guys!! Please find below the answers to the trivia questions:
TIMBERTRIVIA QUESTIONS
1. What country were the following staff members from: 
a. Justin Lowry: ENGLAND
b. Sarahjane Tierney: IRELAND
c. Jakob Scharnagl: GERMANY
d. Tom Murdoch: NEW ZEALAND
e. Jake Kleckner: USA
2. Who was the Intermediate Village Director in 2010? PETER GOLDBERG
3. What is the name of the cabin where the kitchen staff lives? SEMINOLE
4. Who won Pow Wow day in 2007? WICHITA
5. True or False: There was another owner/director of Camp Timberlane in between Harold Hiken and Mike Cohen? TRUE
6. Where did the Arts and Crafts program used to be located? THE INFIRMARY
7. True or False: We used to serve ribs for dinner at camp? TRUE 
8. Name the sibling of the following counselors:
a. Cameron Cavalier: CODY
b. Joey Rodin: MATT
c. Ryan Elias (his older brother): ADAM
d. Ben Levey: JAKE
e. Jordan Taylor: JOSH
f. Colby Sharlin: JORDY
g. Joey Marks: MATT
9. Name two counselors who celebrated their 10-year in 2011? MATT RODIN, JOSH MCGRATH, RYAN ELIAS, JOEY PAWLAN, SCOTT WOLF, COLBY SHARLIN, BRIAN STRAIN
10. Name the UN or Pow Wow teams that the following staff member led:
a. Max Weintraub: ASAKIWAKI
b. Matt Rodin: WALES
c. Kathy Leverton: PERU
d. Ryan Cohen: MANHATTAN
e. Jovan McGee: SPAIN
f. Eric Brown: FOX
11. How many words are in the song Piccolomini? 1
12. Name any horse that used to be at camp: CHAMP
13. Where did the Infirmary used to be located? THE CHALET
14. EXTRA HARD: What was the Chippewa Ranch Camp play in 2008? ALADDIN
15. EXTRA HARD: Name any UN or Pow Wow Day team from 1996: MIAMI, HERSHEY
-Michael Breen
BRAVO TO OUR APRIL BIRTHDAY BOYS & GIRLS: Ke'Mari Rattliff - 4/1/2002, Ben Goelz - 4/2/1999, Michael Gordon - 4/4/2003, Sam Pawlan - 4/5/1999, Chris Pedersen - 4/6/1994, Owen Monieson - 4/8/2003, Brian Baruck - 4/9/1999, Ethan Letwat - 4/10/2001, Jeremy Tubbs - 4/10/1993, Bridget Masur - 4/11/1993, Daniel Solot - 4/11/2001, Matt Mossler - 4/12/2000, James Wood - 4/12/1990, Tyler Ray - 4/13/1992, Nathan Friedman - 4/14/1999, Joey Bursten - 4/15/1997, Henry Lovett - 4/16/2001, Matt Kearney - 4/17/1988, Daniel Friedland - 4/18/2003, Josh Meyer - 4/18/2002, Mhairi Bald - 4/19/1990, 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, Joey Rodin - 4/30/1995.
That’s about it for now, folks. You all have homework to do, so please let us know if you have any questions or need some assistance. We’ll write you again next month.
Benches up,
