The Girl Scout Councils that have served the Flint Area have a rich history of resident camping, which dates back to the mid-1920’s. At first, a rented site was used, but in 1930, Camp O’Fair Winds was purchased and first operated. In the mid-1950’s, it because evident that Camp O’Fair Winds was not large enough to provide camping experiences for all of the Girl Scouts who wanted that adventure so the search for a camp site began.
In the meantime, Camp Sakakawea, the Grand Travers Council camp on Bass Lake, Traverse City, was rented to hold special sessions for Junior High Girl Scouts during the summers of 1957-1959. The following two years were spent at Camp Timber Trails near Munising.
The Camping Committee had been looking for an older girls’ camp site before 1958. Nanette Enloe, “Stormy”, the camp director writes, “It takes a lot of looking to find the kind of spot to meet all the wishes of the council. We spent many miles on the road and saw lots of woods before we saw The Timbers. One spot looked just great, but after some investigation, it was discovered that one end of the lake had quicksand and the owner had lost several head of cattle there. Another site had a beautiful birch grove but the lake was receding annually.” It was 1960 when The Timbers site was found.
On December 4, 1962, a 238 acre site seven miles southwest of Traverse City with 1800 feet of frontage on Long Lake and two small lakes was purchased. The caretaker;s lodge was remodeled to be used for a temporary dining hall, kitchen, infirmary, and housing for the camp director, cooks, and nurse. The Timbers, the name of the new camp, opened in 1962.
The first session to be held there was the Regional Roundup, which patterned its program after that of the National Roundup. Girls from the region who had applied for Round-up were eligible to attend.
One and a half units were ready to accommodate 48 girls for each session of the 1962 season. The swimming area was developed and a new dock built. A new water system and septic tanks were installed and a shower house was ready for use before the last session. The barn was used for drama and crafts. 40 girls attended each period. A general program was offered.
A troop camp site was available in 1963 and an additional half unit was built to make the capacity 64 girls per session.
In 1964 The Timbers was used for part of the training for the 75 girls selected for the 1965 Girl Scout National Round-up to be held in Idaho. A primitive outpost (the trip unit) was established and the dining hall and kitchen built. The dedication ceremony was July 18, 1965. The former lodge became known as the troop house.
The following year the cook’s cabin and health center were built and the Whispering Pines unit was developed, increasing the capacity to 96 per session with 4 to a tent.
In July, 1967, the windmill was struck by lightning during a nighttime storm. It and the small house at its base were heavily damaged by the resulting fire.
The Mickey property, purchased in 1971, is a small (5 acres) triangular site with access to Mickey Lake and is located on the southwest side of Long Lake. This property is was used for overnights. Water and latrines were available.
In 1972, a strip of land 350 acres west of the troop house was purchased for security. Ernie’s Place was developed for troop camping the following year.
The variety of programs available to The Timbers increased since its first season. There was always a strong emphasis on adventure programming, including canoe trip and primitive camping. Some Girl Scouts were not so interested in living outdoors so special interest programs were started in 1967. The Gallery emphasized art, the Hayloft emphasized drama (using the barn as a stage) and international culture programs were included.
Bike trips and backpacking were also added in 1967 and continued to be popular and have taken girls to many locations in both the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan.
Experienced sailors have been sailing on Grand Traverse Bay since 1968. The “fleet” at the Timbers increased over the years from one sailboat to many different kinds of sailboats, including windsurfers.
1983 saw the development of a climbing wall program and in 1985 an initiative course was developed to help groups learn to work together. Before the camp closed, a low ropes course, climbing tower, and a high ropes course were also also added to the property.
Primitive camping, waterfront activities and a general program were always included. The Timbers was an excellent area for nature study and Petoskey Stones could be found in Long Lake.
Source
“Timbers Reunion 1987, 25th Anniversary”, Fair Winds Girl Scout Council
8195 Timbers Trail Drive 