An Amazing Month!

Hey everyone! The last few weeks have been crazy busy, so I apologize in not being able to update more often. Let me give you a quick summary on what has taken place.

The first three camp weeks were WyldLife weeks here at Timber Wolf Lake. Each camp week is five days long and is packed full of outdoor games, free time opportunities at the blob, zip-line, rope swing, basketball, game room, etc. Also, each cabin gets the opportunity to climb the rockwall, go tubing on the lake, and venture through the ropes course. On top of this is the theme of program (Bear Claw Training Camp) which interacts with the campers throughout the week at clubs, meal times, and a variety of all-camp activities. Through all these events our hope is that kids will be able to have fun, gain trust in their WyldLife leaders and fellow students, and be prepared to listen and talk about the gospel message of Christ.

Somewhere in the mix of these crazy five day weeks, food service comes into the picture. It seems like a minor detail, but being able to serve kids through food is really important in giving each student and leader the energy they need to thrive at camp each day. Plus, we try to make the dining experience enjoyable for these kids with tasty meals. Also, we set up each area with round tables for eight or nine people each, which allows an opportunity for more bonding between campers and leaders through discussion (as opposed to the ever popular method of eating in front of a tv screen at home).

My job in the kitchen has focused on the successful preparation and service of breakfast and lunch to campers. I help lead the charge with our summer staff cooks in making meals such as french toast, ham and cheese omeletes, and pancakes. I have been blessed with an amazing crew of 4 summer staffers (plus 2 more who helped for the first three weeks) and it has been great getting to know each of them and their stories.

The third week of WyldLife I was really excited because the students from my area back home (Eastern Ottawa) were coming up. I really enjoyed being able to see familiar faces and hang out with our group of guys after I finished my work in the kitchen. For sure, I had to be careful not to do too much because a day of work in the kitchen can be exhausting enough even without plans to hang out with kids for six hours afterwards. But, I was able to get some good quality time watching them rock climb, tube, play two-hand touch football, go to a couple clubs, and eat a few dinner time meals with them. I think they all really enjoyed their week and I'm hoping they were able to explore further what it means to live a life walking with Christ.

Following my area's departure on Father's Day, we had our first high school Young Life group arrive for a six-day camp week last Monday. It has been extremely busy this last week with the largest number of campers ever at Timber Wolf Lake being on the property. With more people and bigger stomachs (high school students eat a ton more than middle schoool kids) we have ended up preparing a ton of food for each meal. Also, high school meals are a little more complex in preparation. We cannot just throw chicken fingers in the oven for lunch anymore. With a new menu to cook and more campers to cook for, we have had quite a few long days this past week. I give my summer staff crew a ton of credit for persevering through exhaustion and being able to continue to try their best to serve with their best of ability and have fun.

So, all of this leads to today the last day of this first Young Life camp week. Tomorrow we will get our second high school group in and then one week from now our first session will come to an end. This means that our summer staff, work crew, and assigned team staff will be leaving for home and we will be getting ready for a brand new crew to come in for session two in July. It's crazy that we only have one more week with our current summer staff. It has been such a blessing being able to work with them and get to know them. Pray that we will be able to really make the most of their last week here and serve to the best of our ability.

Week One has arrived!

The campers have arrived! Sunday, after months of anticipation, the first WyldLife summer camp week began here at Timber Wolf Lake. It was fun seeing all of the kids run off their respective charter busses and be welcomed by enthusiastic work crew and program members. As the week has gone on, I have enjoyed being able to watch these middle schoolers enjoy many of the activities, clubs, free time, and of course food that Timber Wolf has to offer.

It's going to take some adjustment for sure now serving over 500 people each week in the kitchen. Long days can be tiring, but I know that it will get easier as I find more of a rythym and get more familiar with our meals' recipees. It has helped a ton having great summer staff serving with me in the AM too. For the most part I have four college aged staff I supervised (Annie, Brett, Nicole, and Mitch). They have been great and have picked up on the ways of the kitchen really fast (sometimes even faster than me, haha ;). I'm looking forward to continue working and getting to know them during the next three weeks.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow evening, because the interns will meet again for the second time this summer for our small group time. The guys are reading Donald Miller's latest book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Just started reading the first four chapters, but it's looking like it should be a pretty good read. Also, on my own time I have been really enjoying Tony Dungee's first book, Quiet Strength. As a football fan, I love reading about Tony's journey through the football world, trying to continue to be a man of integrity and doing things the right way in both his work and family life.

Well, that's all for now folks (cue the looney tunes theme music). Enjoy the above pictures of where I work, the kitchen. And continue to keep in touch!

Brandon Tschirhart

Timber Wolf Lake

4909 North Morey Road

Lake City, MI 49651

Ready, set, ....

The preparations are in high gear right now as we are only four days away before our first wyldlife camp week here at Timber Wolf Lake. This past weekend we hosted over 200 volunteers from Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and beyond who came to help us clean, repair, and do maintainance all around camp. It was definitely a long weekend with an 11 hour day on Saturday and a 9 hour day on Sunday working in the kitchen. Some of the cleaning adventures I led included thorough cleaning in the cooler, the freezer, deep scrubbing grease off the hoods, power cleaning the floors, and cleaning the front line. Fun stuff! But as tiring as it was, we were able to get a lot accomplished because of the great attitudes and work ethic of the volunteers in the kitchen.

After the cleaning marathon was over Sunday I was able to head home for 24 hours to see the family. It was definitely great to hang out, have a home cooked meal, and play some board games together. Also, I was able to go to GR and catch up with some good friends, dominate some bean bag toss and have some delicious ice cream sandwich pie. All in all it was a good trip.

Then back to camp I went, ready to start our new week. It feels a bit wierd here because we are so close to the campers arriving. While we are busy with final preparations, everyone still knows things will change drastically once the assigned team, work crew, summer staff, and over 500 campers arrive shortly. It is easy to get anxious about what things will look like then. However, I have found quite a bit of encouragement from my devotions in Romans this past week. Here's one verse that stood out this morning. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have today.

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6).