After a brief 365 days, here we are back at Camp Tall Timbers for Second Session 2013! In a mere couple of days, cabins are uniting, campers are exceling at all CTT has to offer, and there isn’t a single sad-looking face in all of camp.
Before I get too deep into all the fun we’re having here at CTT, let me give all of you new readers a brief introduction about me. My name is Alex Fang and this is my tenth summer here at Camp Tall Timbers, after that first bus ride from Pikesville Middle School back in 2004. I have spent close to a full year of my life at this camp (50 weeks and counting!) and every year I look forward to spending my summer vacation with your children and this great camp. You’ll hear a lot from me over the next few weeks so let’s get to the campfire.
Last night, we had our annual tradition of a “Welcome Campfire” complete with the teachings of old CTT traditions like our camp song, “Friends, Friends, Friends,” the signature CTT hug, and of course, s’mores. The campfire began with the classic camp song, “Boom Chick-a Boom,” but instead of passing it with many styles, it was led by counselor Tim Allen and went through underwater, custodial, astronaut, Valley girl, and more styles. Keeping with the new activities at campfire, we had the first ever Camp Tall Timbers Nature Portraits where each cabin had to use what they could find in the surrounding area (sticks, rocks, hay, etc.) and make a portrait of their counselor. Cabin 3 was in third place with their rock portrayal of their counselor Will. In second place, we had Boys Tents who utilized one of the sheds to accurately display their tall counselor Eric. In the end, it was Cabin 78 that won the Nature Portrait contest for using a stick and white bucket to depict their counselor, Aaron “Governor” Walsh.
After the stunning Nature Portraits ™, it was time for cabin introductions. Cabin 2 changed the words of the theme song for The Brady Bunch to talk about how Jacob Sanders, Vance Pallone, and John Barnes have hats and Teddy Geis and Leonard Pasquier do not. Cabin 3 read haikus and Cabin 4 loaded up an imaginary boat and sang opera. Cabin B showed off their new version of the “chief” game whereas Cabin G flaunted how all of them had the best laughs ever and that is why they are the Giggling Girls of Cabin G. Cabin H used their international campers to give their introduction in three different languages. Cabin 78 did a Spongebob Squarepants parody using the names of their campers. Girls Tents did the “Mill” game, but with Melorie “Mel” Jenkins as the leader and Boys Tents talked about how they were all friends before going into the traditional “We Are Boys Tents” chant.
Following the cabin introductions, it was time for songs where tent boys and future rock star Ethan Polk-Trauman played guitar and led the entire camp through “Wagon Wheel,” “Country Roads,” “We Are Young,” and “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane”. By the end of the campfire we were all closer as a camp, singing songs and eating s’mores.
The campfire was not just the only place at CTT where all had fun. Campers have been setting new records and accomplishing new things since day one. Mason Corby, Noah Hayes, Matt Kasoff, Justin “J-Man” Leibow, and Ethan Weinstein won games of knockout. Future potential blogger Carl Lasker made a behind-the-back shot. Julia Stern made a three point shot in basketball as well as joining Carl Lasker, Corinne Polk-Trauman in hitting a soccer ball into a far corner hoop. Emily Smith shot a gun for the first time and hit the black (the second closest thing to a bullseye). Melorie Jenkins, Rachael Cooper, and John Barnes climbed up the new climbing wall. Cabin B has illustrated that they are the closest cabin at this camp by having a hat day (when they all wear hats) on Sunday and yesterday, it was “I wear eyewear” day.
Camp is just starting to get into full swing. Today, we have our first full day of activities and the CTTFFL (Camp Tall Timbers Flag Football League) is in its seventh year and looking better than ever. With an influx of British counselors this year, the CTT futsal tournament will be happening soon as well. All in all, I am 100% positive this will be my, and everyone’s, best summer yet.
Don’t forget to follow CTT on Twitter @camptalltimbers, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube page and you can feel like you are with at camp all the time. Let’s have a great summer!