I’m extremely grateful to be delivering a chapel to you this summer. A chapel I began planning three years ago, while hunkering in a tent with Sam Hollister on New Zealand’s Tasman glacier. This was the last section of our ninety day course in New Zealand with NOLS, a school which teaches leadership in the outdoors. Often while on that glacier I found myself pondering how NOLS and Timanous were so similar which soon led me to think about a concept often touted during our course: Tolerance for Adversity and Uncertainty.

This was a skill I was unknowingly introduced to at Timanous. Through cold instructional swim mornings, cabin clean up, and all the struggles that naturally arise when living in close proximity to eleven other young boys. I also noted the importance of this skill on several past camping trips with Timanous; for instance, my Crows rafting trip, which was four days long that year. All four days it rained constantly and rather consistently, in an effort to void this thought from our minds, we all spent a majority of the time trying to build a fire and then keeping it going, which was not easy. McKenna Douglas stands out in my mind as the beating heart of this operation, providing infinite entertainment as he broke large sticks with his muscles or more often than not, failed to do so. Here at camp, we understand the value in working together through whatever adversity or uncertainty we’re dealt, and laughing all the way.

SONG – Wagon Wheel

Humor and levity are essential tools in lessening the burden felt by uncertainty and adversity. Timanous staff are well trained in the art of goofing off and when to deploy the goof. This is why we often finish camping trips with a handful of new recurring jokes, characters, and sayings.

Most critical to this humor during our most challenging moments is the knowledge that it isn’t how we fail or make errors that defines us but how we recover from those failures. Laughing at one’s self when you’ve made “the most foolish of blunders” is an integral part in letting yourself get back up and continue on.

On that same trip to New Zealand with Sam, we were unexpectedly forced to break camp and move it to higher ground to avoid being flooded out by a rapidly rising river. While moving camp our instructor, Dana Sykora, tried testing a puddle to see how deep it may have gotten during the torrential rains. Instead of timidly stepping in foot by foot, she just jumped right in, thinking it might five inches deep or so. Instead, she sank right in- completely submerged up to her belly button, then looked at us all giving her horrified and sympathetic expressions and burst out laughing.

This is by far the best example of laughing at one’s self and has stuck in my mind to serve me in trying times since.

By the time that Dana was up to her hips in muddy water she couldn’t do anything to take back jumping in. All she could do at that point was wait until camp was set up again and she could change into something drier but because what was done was done and the solution wasn’t immediate, all she could do in the meantime was see the hilarity of the situation and laugh at it like we were while watching.

It is my strongly held belief that at the heart of any good leader is the to understand that what doesn’t kill them makes them stronger.

SONG – Let it Be

Second to humor and humility in combating the challenges that we face; is the friends and companions we surround ourselves while enduring such challenges.

There is something significantly more comforting about knowing there are others suffering with you than going about it alone. For me this is why I would talk to everyone in math class before we handed in our homework, because I wanted to have some comradery in knowing that I in fact had not done it.

Not only is it nice to know others are suffering with you, but even better, to know that they’ll help you through it. Again; I’ll lean on my extensive time with NOLS to demonstrate the value of surrounding yourself with people who you can rely on during hard times.

Imagine lifting the war canoes with your cabin and carrying them down to main dock for some odd reason. When you first set out it will be equal weight resting on everybody’s shoulders, but as you pick your way through the rocks and roots outside hawks. The weight will naturally have to shift to a few people as others step around and over the many obstacles laid out for them and this will constantly be changing as you make your way through the gauntlet depending on which route you take. If your companions are Timanous men then eventually you will indeed make it to main dock without dropping the canoe.

Most likely you’ll shoulder someone else’s weight and they will do the same for you at some point on that journey. Bottom line, you made it to main dock without dropping the canoe because you all trusted the rest of your cabin to help you out if needed, and were willing to do the same for them.

Institutions like Timanous and NOLS have shown me that this concept of “Tolerance for
Adversity and Uncertainty” means more than just making it through challenging times but
thriving on them. In both places we do this by embracing challenges with the understanding that there must be an end to them, an end that will only come quicker through hard work, goofiness, and a strong network of friends to go through it with us.

SONG - Lean On Me

Look to this day. For it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of your existence. The bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of beauty. Yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day. Such is the salutation of the dawn.

Closing Song – What a Wonderful World

It was a banner day at Camp Timanous, with abundant sunshine and packed with special activities! After a late sleep (it was a Saturday, after all) and breakfast, the full camp gathered under the tent for morning announcements. Nick Leyden, our program director, built up the suspense for what the schedule had in store. By the time he announced "We're playing capture the flag!!" the entire camp was already erupting in cheers.

Always a camp favorite, the first set of games we played last week all ended in 0-0 ties between Green and Gray, so there was a heightened sense of urgency for the first team to get the flag across the line. Another fun element was that campers who had just made tie-dye shirts in handicrafts were able to wear them for "C-Flag" uniforms.

We played two very exciting games, with each team winning one. In the first game, Tobin in Crows was able to nab the flag after it was thrown across the line to give Gray the lead 1-0. In the very next game, Green got into the flag circle several times, advancing the flag closer and closer to their line, and finally Jameson in Cardinals swept through and made a dash back to his side and made it! The day's, and now season's, score is knotted up at 1-1.

Usually we're fortunate to have one special event in a weekend. But today, we had a second much-anticipated activity that took place all afternoon: the Timanous Flag Football League! The TFFL, a newer Timanous tradition, attracts a ton of campers each summer to the series of 5v5 games. Each team is comprised of campers across all ages, and inspiration for their names are drawn from where counselors go in the "offeason"; this year we saw the likes of Team High Point, Team Yale, and Team NOLS Gap Year, among many others.

It was a beautiful afternoon with lively commentary across all the simultaneous games from Evan Cummings, Head Counselor of Crogles cabin. Each team played three "regular season" games to determine the 8-team playoff seeding. Even if your team didn't advance, it was still a pretty epic afternoon, and heading for a swim in Panther Pond is a pretty nice consolation prize. As Charlie in Mallards cabin said to Anderson Lynch, a beat reporter on the scene (and one of our Owls this year), "It was real awesome. The kids I played with and everyone else had a really good time."

After some fireworks in the early rounds, the championship game pitted Team Holy Cross (the Crusaders) against Team Hampshire (the Black Sheep) in a defensive showdown. There was stellar quarterback play on each side. A highlight was the brilliant goal-line defense by Chase from Crogles cabin, which was the figurative icing on the cake for his birthday (after he and his cabin mates enjoyed the literal frosting on his cake after lunch). At the end of the day, the Crusaders proved too tough a challenge for the Black Sheep, with a final winning score of 2-0.

This past week has been full of sun and warm summer weather! We have settled into a rhythm of our normal daily schedules. In the morning, each camper signs up for one activity period and goes to instructional swim, and in the afternoon, there is another signup period, a free swim period, and a free time where lots of activities are open and campers can come and go as they please.

​One of the best parts about being a Timanous camper is the ability to make your own choices about what you want to do, set goals, and have the teaching and encouragement to achieve them. A common goal is to earn an award at an activity, like archery, where you can get your Bowman Award by learning about "point of aim", demonstrating knowledge of the safety rules at the range, and successfully getting all six arrows on the target. We also have a series of awards for both land and water-based activities. The Land Jester, for example, has requirements for archery, riflery, handicrafts, woodshop, nature, campcraft, sports, and even writing for our in-camp Timanews newsletter. Progressing through this award is a really great way for campers to try out lots of different activities and take the initiative to develop skills in each of them. Whether they complete all of the requirements or not (sometimes it takes multiple summers!), any boy who goes for his Land Jester can take pride in what he accomplishes in the pursuit of the award.

One of the other best parts about being a Timanous camper is all of the time they have throughout the summer to just relax, be a kid, and enjoy time with friends in a beautiful natural setting. During free time in the afternoon, you can find campers exploring the cove in a rowboat, playing chess by the Barn, and reading in the sun outside the cabin. Each day provides opportunities within a set structure for each camper to pursue their perfect mix of activities, rest, pursuing goals, and down time with friends.

If you take a stroll down the bunkline, you're also likely to come across relaxing campers enjoying a calm, peaceful end to the day. Tuesday evening may have been the nicest yet, with that perfect temperature where you can't say it's too hot or too cold, and a bright orange sun setting behind tall pines in a clear sky.

Good morning. It is an honor to be standing here today at this most esteemed lectern. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to share a few words with all of you in this serene place. And, if I’m not mistaken, this chapel under the tent is a Timanous first. Even 104 years in, Timanous continues to innovate, adapt, and move with the times… Although the time we spend together here at chapel is quite different from the normal hustle and bustle of camp life, I encourage you to appreciate and enjoy this quiet space. See the calm moments we have here together as a chance to relax, to admire the natural beauty and tradition that surrounds us here, to hear the sound of the rain falling, and enjoy the company of your peers. This is a time to reflect, to sing songs, and to reconnect with the present moment—this moment. So, on that note, I invite each of you to take a deep breath, look around, and listen…Take the time to slow down, sit with your thoughts, and simply be at ease.

I love Sundays at Timanous. I think the change from our usual day-to-day schedule gives me a chance to catch my breath, to press the reset button, and to center myself. I look back at the week that just passed by, and I look forward to the days and weeks ahead. Believe me, seven weeks at camp will pass in the blink of an eye. And although I feel sometimes like the days blur together, Sundays remain distinct, marking the passage of the summer. We change our sheets on Sundays. We write letters on Sundays. We sing to the chefs, and we gather together as a whole camp, both here and at council fire. On Sundays, more so than any other day, I think, the T’s on our shirts are a visual reminder that we are all united in body, mind, and spirit.

Let’s be clear: each of us is beyond lucky to be wearing the Timanous T right now. To be a camper or counselor at Timanous is not only a pleasure but also a privilege. As we all learned last year, a summer at Timanous cannot be taken for granted. But, as fate would have it, we find ourselves here at Timanous this summer. Therefore we all have a responsibility to make the most of our time together. We are fortunate to be a part of this—to be included in the best community in the world. As Pineman said last week, many of the people sitting beside you, whether you know it or not, will remain your friends for the rest of your lives. So what are you waiting for? Get involved. Try something new. And don’t forget to enjoy yourself. To quote the great Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

SONG – Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Creedence Clearwater Revival

As I was thinking about what I would say up here today, I realized something: I cannot possibly express everything that Timanous means to me in words. When I first arrived as a heron in 2009 I was a totally different person. Nervous, overwhelmed, and homesick, I remember feeling the whole spectrum of emotions during my first week at Timanous. It took a little while, but I eventually figured out how things work around here. One day, one of my cabin mates with electric blonde hair asked me if I wanted to go out sailing. At the time, I had never been in a sailboat before. And although it wasn’t even a windy day, I was scared. But I decided to go, and floating out there on a sunfish with Jimmy Banta was without a doubt the highlight of my summer.

When I look back at that experience, the first word that comes to mind is gratitude. I am grateful to my dear friend Jimmy for taking me out, for teaching me how to sail, and for introducing me to the spirit of inclusion that exists here at Timanous. The following summer, I had the pleasure of dining in the barn at a table with a young first year camper named Andy Thompson. When I talked with Andy recently, both of us vividly remember meeting around the table—and I am grateful for that experience too. I am grateful to have met Sam Hollister in 2011—even then he was a dedicated Red Sox fan—and I am grateful for the cookouts I enjoyed as a Crow alongside two Mallards named Archer Snell and Griffin Walsh. And in addition I am grateful for all the guys in green here who were once my counselors—Beamer, Dustin, Aidan, Jimmy, and Pat. Put simply, I am grateful to have grown up at Timanous. I am grateful to have been molded by the culture of mutual respect and kindness that campers and counselors cultivate here. I encourage each of you to take a moment now to think about the ways in which you are grateful.

SONG – For What It’s Worth, Buffalo Springfield

I have a message for anyone here wondering about his place at Timanous. Maybe you’re new to camp. Maybe, like I did, you feel overwhelmed by everything we do here. Or maybe, after skipping last summer, you’ve found it challenging to get back into the rhythm of camp life…whatever it may be, here’s my message: if you are willing to approach new things with an open mind, you too will feel gratitude for all of the experiences you will have here. Don’t wait—go for it. Say yes to everything. Ask questions. Dive off the tower. Sign up for beginners waterskiing. Please, gentlemen, do not be afraid to fall. As the Chinese philosopher Confucius wisely said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Now I want to speak to the returning campers. If you think you have this place figured out, if you are thinking to yourself, “nothing scares me anymore…” Well then I have news: it’s on you to be an adventurous, inclusive friend. Offer to take a new friend out in a sailboat and don’t take no for an answer. Ask someone if they want to play knockout one morning or hit dingers on the field during free time. Never let a friend walk up or down the bunk line alone. Say hello to folks as you cross paths between activities. Make it your business to help a new guy enjoy this place. And never hesitate to share your knowledge with those who could use it. And never hesitate to express gratitude to those who have helped you along the way. If you consider yourself a well-versed man of Timanous, then it’s your duty to introduce others to that spirit of Timanous that we all love so deeply.

SONG – Uncle John’s Band, Grateful Dead

Before we leave here, I have a challenge for each of you. Forget about the drizzly weather for a moment—take a second to sit back and observe…I challenge all of you, whenever you find a spare moment, to take a journey to our traditional chapel, lie down on a bench, and admire the tops of the trees. You’ll notice how the trees sway in the breeze. Despite their old age and enormous size, they are willing to move about however the wind chooses. They are flexible. But, if you look at a tree’s trunk back down on the ground, you’ll remember: these trees never lose their grip on the earth. They are sturdy and strong, with deep, deep roots. This sort of flexibility and strength is what I wish for each of you. Let us learn how to be flexible through windy conditions and strong in the face of adversity.

And finally, I want to close by stating the simple and elegant creed of the most righteous Bill and Ted. “Be excellent to each other.” If you are able to carry yourself with a spirit of kindness, inclusion, respect, and excellence, your days here and elsewhere will be filled with adventure and joy.

Look to this day. For it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of your existence. The bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of beauty. Yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day. Such is the salutation of the dawn.

The most exciting news of the week is that we played our first games of Capture the Flag! Every year, "C-Flag" is always one of the most anticipated and fun special events of the entire summer. Every camper and counselor is on either the Green team or the Gray team, so the entire camp gets to play in giant games where almost all of camp is in-bounds. While it's certainly exhilarating and passion-filled, each time after we play the teams cheer each other and head down to the lake to take a dip, getting to share stories of the games no matter which team they were on. No points were scored in this first round, but there are plenty more chances to play as the summer goes on, so we'll see whether Green or Gray comes out on top with bragging rights in 2021...

As the skies cleared a bit this afternoon, a group of hardy campers trekked to the top of Rattlesnake Mountain, our local peak that has a great view of Panther Pond. While we're all looking forward to the return of more summer-like temps very soon, it's clear that no matter the weather, it's always fun to be a camper (and counselor) at Timanous.