Founding
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Our time-honored tradition stretches back to 1886, when Luther and Charlotte Gulick started a children’s camp in Gales Ferry, CT. They were pioneers in the field of youth education and worked toward a goal that camping might become the heritage of every child, including founding the Camp Fire Girls in 1910. Dr. Gulick introduced the first physical education programs for the New York City school system and developed the triangle logo for Springfield College and the YMCA. He adopted it for Timanous where two sides of the triangle of Body and Mind are held together by Spirit, which remain our guiding principles to this day.
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When the Gulicks perceived that the site in Connecticut was too civilized, they moved the camp to Sebago Lake in 1907. The boys moved to a separate site on Sebago in 1917 in order to offer unique programs for boys and girls. We carry on our deep-rooted connection to our sister camp, Wohelo, including an all-camp visit each summer to celebrate our joint founding. Timanous moved to its present location on Panther Pond in 1920. Our weekly Council Fire has been held in the same clearing ever since.
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75 Years of Family Tradition
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Johnny Suitor began his 46-year career at Timanous in 1936 as a young counselor when the camp had 41 campers. He became director in 1942 with wife Marti and bought the camp from Halsey Gulick, director of Wohelo, in 1955. During their 40-year tenure, enrollment increased to over 115 full time campers as Johnny and Marti instilled a passionate loyalty in their staff and campers and made Timanous one of America’s finest camps.
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In 1982 brothers Dave and Jack Suitor took over as directors and 10 years later Dave and wife Linda continued the Suitor legacy, advancing the camp into the 21st century while sustaining the core values established over 100 years ago. After 26 years as directors, their vision to transition the camp into a nonprofit foundation ensured the Timanous experience for generations to come.
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Timanous as a nonprofitThe Timanous Foundation was originally formed several years ago by a group of dedicated camp alumni in order to operate camp as a nonprofit organization, ensuring that Timanous continues to provide boys and young men meaningful summers infused with camp traditions. This effort was completed in September 2018, and since that time, camp has been governed by its nonprofit board. The Board of Trustees supports John in his role as camp's Director and oversees the long-term health of Timanous, including improving the program and broadening access to a greater diversity of boys and families. We truly are one organization aligned in the mission of operating and perpetuating our beloved Camp Timanous. |
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Board of TrusteesWill Cook
Kelly Dietel Vinny Dotoli Fred Hollister Bill Leece, Treasurer Craig MacDonnell, Chair Will Mayer, Secretary Dave McElhinny, Trustee Emeritus Jeanette Michael Tim Morningstar Michael Prior Dave Suitor Linda Suitor Kara Van Norden Alan Washington Bruce Wimberly |
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