Loved and Accepted

I remember being 12 years old when my mom came into my room one day after a baseball game and told me that I was leaving tomorrow for a summer camp in Estes. I was not pleased at all. She had to drag me to that camp kicking and screaming. However, an amazing thing happened in the two weeks while I was at Camp Timberline. For the first time in my life I felt unconditional love and acceptance from a group of people outside my family. Being an overweight middle school kid was not easy for me. I always felt that I had to be athletic, funny, or something else to be loved an accepted by others. But when I showed up to camp I found a group of people that had never met me, that made me feel welcomed, loved and accepted just as I was. Over the course of those two weeks I had the gospel explained to me and lived out in front of me in a way that made it irresistible. The night before going home I accepted Christ into my life for the first time. When my mom came to pick me up, I’m not sure what she expected but I’m sure she didn’t expect to have to drag me away kicking and screaming!! Every year for 5 years I counted down the days until Camp T.

Then 10 years later an amazing thing happened. I was going to graduate from college and had a free summer to do whatever I wanted. I had always wanted to come back to Camp T as a counselor but was never able to because of playing college baseball. But now that I was done!

But after all that time it was amazing to go work with a group of people that created an environment of love for kids to understand Christ. I remember going back to my room after C’s & T’s hangout at around midnight and two of my kids were still up talking to one of my Co’s. They were asking all kinds of questions ranging from creation to revelation. These two kids had experienced the same thing I had as a camper but wanted to know everything there was to know about why we believed what we believed. After that week both of those kids made a decision for Christ!!! That was really the neatest thing about camp for me. I was able to be a part of the same community that guided me to become a follower of Christ. And like a camper said at say-so, "The Camp T section of heaven is going to be huge and rockin’!!!"

-Blake
5 year camper
2 year counselor

Second Home

I remember coming to camp for the first time as a nine year old. I was incredibly shy and very nervous, but the instant that my counselors tackled me after announcing my name and cabin, I immediately felt comfortable and welcome. CampTimberline has been like a second home to me for ten years now. From my first summer there as a camper in Twin Sisters, to my most recent summer there as a member of the T-Crew, CampTimberline has continued to provide me with amazing memories, a firm foundation on which to build my faith, and meaningful relationships that honestly last a lifetime. While being surrounded by the beautiful splendor of our Lord, it is easy to truly feel His presence and fall deeply in love with Him. The Lord has never been more real to me than when I am at CampTimberline. His beauty and grace shines through each camper there, each staff member working, and all the nature that surrounds us. I have enjoyed returning to camp year after year and still gaining a different, yet meaningful experience. As a camper, my counselors had more of an impact on me than I can even explain. Our cabins were always uniquely bonded and came together in most interesting ways. Being apart of the T-Crew last year not only allowed me to explore camp from the staff-side of things, but it also showed me the ways in which the Lord works through the Camp Timberline employees. We are a team. We are a family. I am very excited to finally be a counselor this upcoming summer. I know that this will be a tough job and I will need to rely on the Lord for my strength, but I cannot wait to watch his work unfold within CampTimberline. Thank youCT, for my many years there. See you again this summer.

— Lynnie, camper ten years

Smelly Cats and Guitars

camper days: I remember when I was a camper in Trail Ridge and we had our camp out night with Lily every week. They were always a blast, but I remember specifically one of my last summers as a camper, all of my friends from past summers as well as friends from home were there and all of the boys we had known for so many summers were in our brother cabin. On this particular camp out, my brother cabin counselor, Brian Bales, taught us a game called silent football. This is a game for the books and should certainly be played and taught much more often. I haven’t laughed that hard in my entire life. One of the things that happened if you lost was that they had to do a silly talent. One of my friends and cabin mates, Megan, had to play (on a guitar) and sing, “smelly cat” from friends (in front of the entire camp at lunch the next day) since everyone thought she looked/acted like Phoebe. This might be one of those, “you had to be there,” stories, but it was hysterical. Just trust me.

-Jordy
6 year Camper
5 year Staff

What I Love about Camp T

"There are so many things that I love about Camp Timberline, but here are just a few. First, the camp counselors are awesome! I went to camp without knowing anybody and I was a little nervous about meeting new people. They helped me overcome my fears of meeting new friends and they also encouraged me during the most amazing Adventure time. The gut check, silencer, and zip line are so fun! If you haven’t tried it…..you are missing out! We also hiked the most beautiful trail together. We got to share stories with each other, take in God’s beauty and pray together. That was a fun week. Most of all, Camp T is the best camp ever! I can’t wait to go again this year to meet new friends again and see the ones from last year and meet my new counselors."

-Abbey
Camper