Swimming is a very popular activity at camp. The swim department is headed up by Rick Mandel. Some of his cohorts are Quick Carl Bassewitz, Jim Lynch, and Bob Gassel.

The swimming program is very diversified in programs for the beginner to the Advanced Lifesavers. The beginners work on simple floating, surface diving and stroke exercises. The four basic taught are the crawl, the back, the side, and breast strokes. The Advanced Lifesavers practice recovery assists, escapes, and survival techniques. The Artificial Respiration Swimmers class (Advanced) works on such strokes as the Trenchin Crawl, the Human Stroke, and the Inverted Backstroke.

The swim department sometimes offers latenight swims, and an occasional water-polo game. They also have held swim meets with other camps, and have fared fairly well.

All in all, swimming at Camp Timberlane means a lot more than simply doing the basic crawl...