Anthony Narvaez came to camp as a General Counselor in 2011 with an open mind and few expectations.  However, he left 2 months later with new best friends and some of the greatest memories that will last him a lifetime.

Reflecting back at his time here, Anthony tells us that he had never been to a place like Timber Lake Camp before. “By the time I left at the end of the summer, my expectations were far exceeded.  I knew I would be impacting other peoples’ lives, but I never would have thought I could have had such a positive impact on the campers I spent time with throughout the summer.  To watch my campers grow in the 2 months that I was with them was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.  I truly believe that my campers left feeling a lot more confident about themselves as well as learning how to interact with each other.”

For someone who’s never been to sleep away camp, either as a camper or counselor, the transition can be life changing. Especially when you are away from home for 2 months to go to a place where you know no one.  However, life takes a lot of turns – sometimes for the good and sometimes for the worse.  At the end of the day, when you are at Timber Lake, the caliber of our staff and campers can make all the difference in a person’s life like it did for Anthony during the summer he was with us. “I didn’t realize I would have such an incredible group of supporters when I lost my mom in the middle of summer 2011.  They were so good to me and were the reason I was able to make it through.  Because of people like Danny Bell, Steve Bocian, and Jay, I was still able to have the summer of my life despite going through an extremely difficult time.”

Last summer, Anthony was unable to return to camp because he got accepted into Carnegie Mellon’s prestigious Public Policy and International Affairs Summer Institute: “Although I was not able to return to TLC, this was a fantastic opportunity and experience for me that I just couldn’t pass up.”

Despite thinking that 2011 would be his one and only summer at TLC, we are so thrilled to have Anthony back with us this summer!  He is truly a role model for our campers and we can all learn so much from him.  “It is going to feel really funny for me to be back with so many new faces. But I can’t wait to rekindle old friendships as well as making brand new ones too.  More importantly, I can’t wait to see my former campers! I hope they didn’t get too old and forget about me!  I missed Timber Lake so much last summer, and quite frankly, I can’t wait until I have kids of my own so that I too can send them to TLC!!!”

On behalf of ALL of the Timber Lake staff, we couldn’t be happier to have Anthony back with us!  (You can read more about Anthony HERE on Heidelberg University’s article on him that was published earlier this month.)

Favorite Book: Harry Potter series
Favorite Color: Orange & Blue
Favorite Song: Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keyes (I also like Jay Z.!)
Nicknames: Kimsanity & JT

My name is Jeremy – I’m on the left wearing the red jersey. I’m 11 years old and I have a younger brother named Ben. We live in Roslyn, NY with our parents and we also have a dog named Duke. I am in the 5th grade and will be starting middle school next year (I’m really excited about that!)

My younger brother Ben will be coming with me to Timber Lake this summer.  It will be his first summer.  Last year was my 1st summer.   I talked about camp so much that I guess Ben wanted in on the same fun that I was having! So Ben is just as excited to go as I am to go back.

I love to play and watch basketball, and I like to just hang out and relax and have fun with my friends.

When I was originally looking at sleep away camps, my family had looked a bunch of different sleep away camps. We finally chose Timber Lake Camp because it was part of the same family of camps as North Shore Day Camp, which is where I went before starting sleep away camp.  I had such a great time at North Shore, that I knew that Timber Lake Camp was going to be the same exact way (but even better because it’s all day, every day!)  I really love EVERYTHING about TLC. I have thought about camp so much during these past few months that I find myself actually missing it. I can’t wait for school to end so that my summer at TLC can begin again!!!

Even though I have only been to Timber Lake Camp for one summer, being a part of it has been great – beyond anything I could have ever imagined. When I went to camp last summer for the first time, I was expecting to meet new people and make new friends. But instead, I found my forever summer family.  TLC is part of me – for now, and forever.  It may be just a place, but it’s the only place for me. It’s where I belong!

Looking for the perfect summer camp for your child? We know that camp is more than just a nice website with some pretty pictures and a video, and the best way to be sure you’re going to get the sleep away camp experience you’re looking for is to see it in action! To that end, we created our Rookie Day program to give prospective campers and parents the opportunity to come and experience a day at TLC first hand.

Your child will begin Rookie Day by meeting some new friends and joining a group of same-aged campers for a day of activities.  They’ll be fully integrated in our athletic clinics, games, electives and swim periods, giving them a chance to truly experience a day in camp.

For parents, Rookie Day starts with a tour of camp, giving you a firsthand look at our facilities and programs.   After your tour, we’ll host a Q&A session with our directors, Mindy & Jay, to tell you more about our program and answer any questions you may have.  We’ll then send you off to lunch (on us!) while your child enjoys the rest of the day at camp.  You’ll head back to camp at 3:30pm to pick up your child and hear all about their day’s adventures before heading back down the mountain on your way home.

Recently, Justin Mayer, Director of our sister camp, Timber Lake West, was quoted in a New York Family article about the importance of visiting summer camps while camp is in session. “We’ve heard parents comment that ‘all camps are alike,’ but camp is about more than the basketball courts, baseball fields, swimming pools, and other facilities.  Choosing the right camp for your child is about the feeling you get when you’re touring it. Do you see your child fitting in here? Do you feel the warmth, spirit, and traditions? Do you feel comfortable with the directors and staff who will be taking care of your most prized possession—your child? This is why touring is so important for families.”

So, if you’re considering Timber Lake for Summer 2014, now is the time to register for Rookie Day, or to schedule a tour.  This year, we’ll be hosting two Rookie Days: Saturday, July 13th and Saturday, July 27th.  You can download the registration form and get more information here.  Space is limited, so register early!

If those dates don’t work with your schedule, we’re also happy to schedule a tour of camp for your family!  Contact the office at 516-656-4200 to set it up!

Sydney is currently a 2nd grader and lives in Upper Saddle River, NJ.  But in just 2 short months, she will be moving to Mahwah, NJ.  She has 4 brothers, (Justin, Brody, Ryan & Cole) and is the youngest – and only girl!  Sydney also has 4 dogs (It’s a very busy house!)

Sydney enjoys swimming and hanging out with her mom.  She also loves going to Ann Arbor, Michigan to watch her brother play hockey for the Wolverines.  Sydney also plays on a travel soccer team.

All four of Sydney’s brothers went to Timber Lake Camp.  So it was only natural for Sydney to follow right behind them in their footsteps! This summer will be her 2nd  summer at camp, and she tells us she just can’t wait!

What you love most about camp?
I loooooooove hanging out with my friends!

Any favorite moment/memory from camp?
My favorite moment from camp last summer was meeting all of my new summer friends for the first time.

Do you have any nicknames?
I have a few! Beenie, “Syd the Kid”, SydneyBean, Syd

What are some of your favorites things?
My favorite book is “No Dogs Allowed”.
My favorite color is Pink.
My favorite song is from the movie Pitch Perfect, “Since you been gone”.
My favorite quote/saying “If you want it… You do it”

Has being part of the TLC family changed you in any way?
I feel more independent, and also gown-up like my brothers. Going to TLC is like becoming part of a really big family.  Bigger than my own family! (I thought having 4 brothers was big!)

The TLC Foundation for Children (supported by Timber Lake, along with our sister camps Timber Lake West, Tyler Hill Camp, North Shore Day Camp & School, Hampton Country Day Camp, Southampton Racquet Club & Camp, its full-time employees and the Jacobs Family) is dedicated to promoting the health, education, welfare and betterment of children throughout the world.

Jay Jacobs, Executive Director of the TLC Family of Camps said “The Timber Lake Foundation was established in recognition of the value of the camp experience to children fortunate enough to benefit from it.  The goal, initially, was to share the benefits of that summer camp experience with children from disadvantaged communities.  Since its inception, the Timber Lake Foundation has enlarged it mission from providing camp experiences to funding programs that help children with a whole host of needs.  We’re proud of the programs we have been able to initiate and participate in and we are grateful for the support of members of our camp family – parents, campers and staff – who have joined with us.”  To date, the TLC Foundation  has donated in excess of $4.5 million to several worthy causes!

Most recently, we attended SCOPE’s (Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education) 2013 Benefit Dinner which helps to fund “camperships” at resident camps where children benefit from a positive, safe and healthy summer camp experience.  Andy Siegel, Director at Tyler Hill, stated “Each year I’m amazed at the generosity of the camping community. Having been a board member of SCOPE for the past 10 years, I’m inspired by the children whose lives are changed by their participation in SCOPE.”

Another stand-out program we support is Project Morry, which is a year-round youth organization that provides each child a multi-year commitment anchored by an amazing residential summer camp experience.  Jennifer DeSpagna, Director at Timber Lake West explained “Each of our camps host a swim-a-thon each summer on behalf of Project Morry.  Through the dedication of all of our campers and the wonderful generosity displayed by our camp families, we have helped send a lot of children to camp. We believe strongly in teaching our campers the importance of giving of oneself to help others who are less fortunate.”

To see a full list our Philanthropic Activities in 2012, click HERE.  We are very proud to know we have made a difference in so many children’s lives.  In the words of Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.”

We’re gearing up for camp this summer, and having just spent an amazing day this past weekend with some of our youngest campers, it’s even more difficult for us to hold in our excitement!!!  Freshmen and Cadets campers, both new and returning, reunited  at Hoop Starz in Mahwah, New Jersey for fun & games!

Everyone got a chance to participate in multiple different fun games and activities. Games included basketball, dodge ball, soccer, and knock-out, working up an appetite that couldn’t be ignored!  So we topped off the activities with some delicious pizza, pasta, chips and salad!

As some of our campers met up with old friends, it was great to meet some of our new campers too. New friends were being made right before our eyes!  We could see the excitement in our campers’ faces throughout the entire event and we all know is that this was just setting the stage for what we can expect for Summer 2013!

Another ingredient into what makes our gatherings so great is not just seeing our campers, but also seeing some of our summer staff there as well.  The connection that our staff have with their campers is so special.  To see everyone come together again right before the summer starts is a sight to be seen. Along with Mindy & Jay, other staff that was on-hand was Blair Longaro, Cameron Friedfertig, Jen Siegel, Romy Diamond, Steve Bocian, Emily Soss, Janie Schwartz, Brett Kotcher, and Robbie Gothelf.

With just 78 days until camp begins, our next TLC event will be on June 1^st when we invite all of our new families up to camp for our Open House event.  Can’t wait to you see all!

Hi! My name is Morgan.  I am from Roslyn, NY.  I have a dog named Tucker and he is one year old.  I have two siblings, Hailey and Dylan.  Dylan is older than me.  He is 11 years old and Hailey is younger than me.  She is 6 years old.  I also have two fish!

I am in 4th grade and my brother Dylan goes to Timber Lake Camp so I followed right in his footsteps and went to TLC too.  Seeing what a great time he was having, I couldn’t wait until it was my turn.  This coming summer, summer 2013, will be my second year at camp where I’ll be a Cadet.

One of my favorite memories from last summer was being in the Talent Show. I loved singing and just having fun.  The musical productions at camp are awesome and being able to perform in front of the whole camp, there’s nothing like it!  I get to be and feel like a star! I also love hanging out with my camp friends.  There’s something really special about them and sharing the whole camp experience with them right along side of me. I’m really excited for this summer, I honestly just can’t wait the 83 days until I’m back at TLC again!

• Favorite thing to do: sing!!!
• Favorite book:  Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
• Favorite color: blue - any shade of blue.
• Favorite thing about TLC: I can’t choose just one thing I love about Timber Lake!!!  I love everything about Timber Lake Camp!!! I love the people, the things we do, the places, the scenery and the games, everything! I know, I know, but TLC is the BEST CAMP!!!! I can’t chose just 1 thing! :)

For many of us in the camp community, the Tri-State Camp Conference is the big event that signals that camp is right around the corner. It’s an opportunity to meet and share information and trends that we are seeing for the upcoming summer and always encourages each of us as camp professionals to learn together and broaden our skills.

The conference had over 150 educational sessions with something for everyone: owners, directors, head counselors, program heads, support staff, volunteers, board members, as well as teachers, after-school programmers and other youth development professionals.

Jay Jacobs, Director of Timber Lake Camp and Executive Director of the TLC Family of Camps, was a featured speaker, leading a session where he spoke about taking a fresh look at camp business decisions and ways to measure their true impact. He spoke about all areas of camp – everything from camper supervision to programming, services and facility management.

Another highlight of the week was when Jennifer DeSpagna, one of the directors of our sister camp Timber Lake West, was awarded the 2013 Tri-State Camp Conference Award.  The award is given every year at the conference to someone that exhibits commitment and dedication to camping in our region. The award recipient is recognized for demonstrating personal integrity and noteworthy contributions to the advancement of camping.

The Keynote Speaker was Jonathan Kozol, a legend in public education and a New York Times bestselling author.  Mr. Kozol has devoted nearly half a century to the complex and urgent issues facing public education and focusses on providing equal opportunities to every child regardless of race or economic level.  Mr. Kozol also spent many of his childhood summers at camp and more recently has worked with summer camps throughout the country that work with low-income children.  With his vast knowledge, it was inspiring to hear Mr. Kozol speak.  Those of us in the summer camp profession know that summer camps make a positive difference on the lives of all children as we help them aspire to a promising future.

Through conferences like these, and sub committees of the American Camp Association such as EPIC (Emerging Professionals in Camping), the power of knowing how to find and use information, generate ideas, develop deep understanding, share stories and create positive human connections is invaluable…  It challenges us to immerse ourselves in a dynamic experience. Just like at camp, we ended each day exhausted and yet invigorated by all that is available to us – from the insight and ideas of the presenters, to the camaraderie and expertise of our other fellow camp professionals.  And with less than a hundred days before camp starts, we’ve got our work cut out for us!

It’s hard to believe that when Justin Mayer (bottom right, 2nd from end) started at TLC as a camper back in 1988, he was one of the most homesick kids in camp, even hiding under his parents’ car on Visiting Day so they couldn’t leave without him!  Nowadays, along with his wife Cassie, Justin is a Director of our sister camp, Timber Lake West.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.  As a camper, Justin rose through the ranks from a Cadet up to his Teen summer in 1994. In 1995 Justin worked in the dining hall, then became a counselor the following summer, moved up to Group Leader the following summer and became the Assistant Program Director by summer 2000.

Justin tells us the rest of the story:  After graduating from Indiana University, I worked as an accountant for three years before realizing my true passion was camp. In 2003, I joined our sister camp, Tyler Hill, as the full-time Associate Director where I learned the ins and outs of the camp “business.”  

I have so many amazing memories from TLC…  It’s these memories that made me want to give back to the many children the type of summers I was lucky enough to have at TLC.  I wanted to help create the kinds of memories that other children could carry on into adulthood.

Some of my favorite moments were the simple ones – like “Running Bases” during Rest Hour every day with Jason Lavitt & David Dombroff.  Others were highlights of my time at TLC: when I was lucky enough to win the Doug Schwartz Award, when I was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and when I was a 2-time General (1998: Titanic White and 1999: Millennium Green). 

Another great memory was back when I was a Cadet and we played in a baseball tournament against a team from Margaretville (a local town, just down Route 28). I remember the entire town coming to what was then known as the “far far field” at TLC, and setting up lawn chairs to watch the game.  The next week, we got to travel to their home field to play on their turf.  I can’t remember if we won or lost, just that my friends and I had a blast.

When I think of all the great memories and fun that I had, the one that tops it all was during the summer of 1990 when heavy machinery had begun work in the forest beyond the “far far field.”  All summer long when each division had their movie night, they watched the Kevin Costner classic, “Field of Dreams.”  Then one night near the end of camp, the entire camp went dark – pitch black – with the exception of the new baseball field.  As everyone headed towards the lights that were situated around the paths of the newly constructed field, music started playing. And just like in the movie, smoke began to fill the woods and we started to see figures emerge, through the lights and smoke.  It was incredible – we were watching real, true to life famous baseball players walk through the smoke and into the outfield! Just like in the movie!!!  That was the 1990 Marathon (aka “Color War”) Break-out, White Wild West vs. 21st Century Green.

It’s memories like these that still stir those feelings of excitement. Memories and experiences that I now get to bring to my campers as a Director at Timber Lake West.  Memories that in ten, twenty years those campers will remember as if it happened yesterday, just like I remember mine from TLC.

But it is true that for the first 2-3 years of camp, I was one of the most homesick campers around.  On Visiting Day, I would hide under my parents’ tires so they couldn’t pull away. Over time, with the help of my counselors and camp friends, along with some infamous time on Jay’s golf cart, camp became my second home.  Instead of missing home, I found myself missing camp and my camp friends during the school year.  As a Director at Timber Lake West, my parents always remind me, “Can you believe that same little boy now works at camp full time?”  During the summer, I now spend a lot of time during the first week of camp working with homesick campers to help overcome the same issues I dealt with as a child.  It’s extremely gratifying to see those campers realize their potential and grow into their summer home.

I know there are some families that are not ready to send their child away for a full summer, either because the child isn’t ready to be away for a full summer, or because families have other summer commitments.  What’s great about West is that I now get to make sure that, in half the time, we power-pack all the fun, excitement and activities of a full session camp into an exciting experience for every one of my campers!

Justin and his wife Cassie are now Directors at our sister camp, Timber Lake West, which  packs all of the excitement of a full summer camp into half the time.  To learn more about their program, visit TimberLakeWest.com or refer a friend by filling out this form.

Favorite Color: is blue
Favorite Food: ANYTHING chocolate!
Favorite Activities: gymnastics, dance and basketball
Nickname: Kar Kar

Hi, my name is Karly (on the left holding the pen)! I am 9 years old and live in Merrick, NY with my parents, my older sister Jaynie and my little brother Jake. My dog is a Golden Doodle named Scout and he is HUGE!  I’m in 3rd grade and so far I’ve had a really great year at school. For the past two years, I competed on a team with my dancing school and it was really hard, but also so much fun.  I keep pretty busy and I don’t have a lot of time to just relax, but when I get a few moments here and there, I like to listen to music – especially to Justin Bieber.  And I also like to watch the TV show Dance Moms too!

This summer will be my 2nd year at Timber Lake Camp and I have been counting down the days until Summer 2013 begins since the last day of camp last summer!  I knew Timber Lake was the camp for me the minute I saw it.  Not only is camp such a beautiful place, but there’s also so much to do there!  Timber Lake has all these unbelievable activities, amazing counselors and really good food!  I love that we are given special times for elective activities each day.  I like to spend time doing the things that I really like doing the most.

One of my favorite things about camp from last summer was the Marathon Break-Out.  All these fire trucks, police cars, ambulances and a group of people in hazmat gear all played a part in the breakout! No one knew what was going on – It was crazy, exciting and so very cool.  It got everyone psyched up!!!

As a camper at TLC I have changed and grown in so many ways.  I’ve become a lot more independent and I realized that I can pretty much do anything if I work hard enough for it.  Being a camper at TLC, I feel more confident now and know what it takes to live and get along with all types of people.  I have made so many friends that I know will last a lifetime. Only 104 more days until I’m back at my home away from home!!!