For many years at Timberlane, an outstanding tradition has been to award cabins malt or pizza treats, according to the number of consecutive inspections a particular cabin has won. This incentive sparks enthusiasm in the campers; and, more often than not, campers will do an excellent job of cleaning up their cabins as they attempt to win three inspections consecutively for the malt.

This was the case for one particular cabin during the first week of camp. In fact, this cabin had been awarded two perfect scores (50 is a perfect mark in inspection) in the first two inspections of the season. In attempting to win the third consecutive inspection, these campers ardently and dilligently cleaned their cabin until it was virtually spotless. The inspector examined this cabin very throughly. However, one full point was deducted for a few grains of sand on a shelf (it turned out later that there was merely a scratch made in the wood.) The criteria that same inspector had used previosly had abruptly changed for the third inspection. Why?

This incident so early in the season suggests that outside pressure exists to undermine the tradition of properly awarding inspection victories. The source of such pressure is not clearly known; however, it seems that this pressure insures that no cabin will win the malt treat.

This unwanted pressure must be eliminated. It is a denial to the campers who display so much enthusiasm in attempting to observe the Timberlane tradition. If this pressure is continued, the results could be detrimental to a camper’s experience at Timberlane. Fairness in the inspections will continue to spark camper enthusiasm, but outside pressure will only yield contradictory results.

Jeff Heller