181 = Commitments To Christ
God At Work This Summer
We often say, “There is no place like camp.”
Every day at camp, God does something in the hearts of people that takes your breath away. Ask any volunteer, staff member, camp pastor, or youth leader and they will tell you incredible stories of young people experiencing God’s life-changing love. This summer, we had the privilege of hosting 950 young people at one of our summer camps. In total, 3450 people visited Timberlake between May and August, where they experienced outdoor adventure and the hope of the Gospel.
Hanging in the rafters of the Timberlake Chapel are a number of boards, each covered in names and marked by a date for the year it was created. It’s been a long-standing tradition during summer camp for those who make a commitment to Jesus to sign their name on one of those boards. It’s a unique way of celebrating what God has done in that camper’s life and memorializing their experience at Timberlake. This summer 181 young people added their names to the rafters at Timberlake Chapel for the first time! It's an incredible testimony of the work God does at Timberlake each year.
Impact Through Partnership
None of this would have been possible without strong partnerships with the local Church and your support. Summer camp at Timberlake is a unique blend of outdoor adventure mixed together with Biblical teaching and genuine care that allows campers to see God in fresh, authentic ways. We are extremely thankful to the youth leaders who took time away from their home church to serve as our camp pastor for a week this summer.
We were excited to see over 220 local churches across the Midwest represented by campers this summer. At Timberlake, we believe in the power of camp and get excited about making summer camp experiences available to anyone who would like to attend. This year alone, we saw 18 churches make a significant impact by providing scholarships for young people who could not otherwise afford to attend camp.
What’s Coming Next
2023 has been an exciting year at Timberlake. This summer we opened the first of 10 new camping cabins that are designed to provide groups with an incredible space to build connections while surrounded by nature. In March, we welcomed our new program director, Chris Hatton to the team and he hit the ground running, getting connected in the area and helping to guide a successful summer. But...this is just the beginning, and as we look to the fall we have so many opportunities for you to participate in the ministry of Timberlake.
Camping Cabins
This summer, the first of 10 Camping Cabins was completed and is now open for use. It’s the first step in our initiative to increase camper capacity at Timberlake by 50%, creating space for 2,000 plus campers each summer. Over the next five years, our goal is to complete an additional nine cabins along the wetland prairies on the north side of Timberlake. Each cabin will include sleeping for up to 10 people, heat and a/c, a small kitchen, two bathrooms w/showers, a large community space, and a wood-framed deck. We are excited for groups and families to enjoy these beautiful new cabins. If you would like more information on how you can support this project click the button below or call our office at (402) 757-3207.
Fall/Winter Retreats
Timberlake is proud to offer a wide variety of activities for groups of all sizes throughout the fall and winter. Whether you are looking for a quiet cabin to get away, a space for a day of meetings, or a full-blown group retreat our team is ready to help you plan the perfect experience. With meeting spaces, activities, and meal options to suit everyone’s needs, we invite you to check out Timberlake this fall/winter.
Making space for more
When we think about creating “space” for more people to experience the life-changing atmosphere of camp, we often think about the physical spaces like buildings and activities. While we continue to invest in the development of the camp facilities and programs, we firmly believe the people who serve on our team are the most vital part of creating space for more people to come. You may not know that Timberlake utilizes a mixed staffing model in order to maximize resources and staff our programs throughout the year. We employ a small but highly talented team of year-round leaders who work to craft incredible programs, build relationships with the local Church, and share the Gospel with young people across the state. During the summer months, Timberlake will hire over 35 additional seasonal staff members to lead our summer camp and guest groups ministry.
More often than not, we have more people who want to attend camp than we have staff to facilitate programs for them. As we build toward the future, we are investing heavily in our team to create more opportunities for people to experience the love of Christ through a camp experience. If you are interested in being a part of what God is doing at Timberlake, we invite you to explore joining our team in one of the following ways:
2024 Summer Staff - Not just for college students! Each summer we put together an awesome team of people who fill a variety of roles at the camp. Whether you can serve on weekends, for one week, or for the whole summer, we are looking for people who love Jesus and are passionate about sharing the Gospel through camp ministry. Here are a few of the positions we hire for each summer:
Cabin Leaders
Grounds Crew
Wranglers
Activity Team
Kitchen Crew
Camp Store
And more
On-Call and Volunteer Staff - Throughout the Fall-Spring months, Timberlake will see over 5,000 people utilize the facility for group retreats, school outings, family getaways, and more. It is a unique way for Timberlake to share God’s love with those who might not attended summer camp. Oftentimes, we are in need of additional staff to fully support these guest groups during activities (like the high ropes course or swimming). If you have availability and are interested in serving at Timberlake as we minister to these groups, contact our office at (402) 757-3207.
We are committed to crafting unique, nature-based experiences that share the hope of the Gospel and inspire the imagination of young people. Over the years, we have seen the powerful impact of Christ-centered summer camp programming, where every child feels safe and accepted as they build relationships and grow in their faith. As we celebrate what God has done this last summer, we look forward with confidence and expectation for what He is going to do.
Thank you for the continued participation and support of our ministry. We are proud to report that “God Did That!” He went to work this summer and changed the lives of hundreds of young people from across the midwest. What an incredible thing to witness!
In His Name,
The Timberlake Team
For additional highlights and photos from summer camp, you can visit timberlake.org/photos.