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Tak Talk Blog- Camp Takajo – July 25, 2016

By July 25, 2016 January 4th, 2019 Tak Talk
Camp Takajo for Boys in Naples, Maine

We take great pride in the fact that we have a very high retention rate from year to year. The friendships that are made in the bunks of Warrior Camp often become so strong that boys can’t wait to live together each subsequent summer. One of the most exciting aspects of our program is the amazing trips that we offer to our boys in Senior Camp.

Camp Takajo for Boys in Naples, MaineThese boys have lived together for an average of six summers. Sharing these incredible trips with best friends makes this experience even more memorable.

Today, our 13-year-olds departed for Cape Cod. They will board a fishing boat from Gloucester to spend the afternoon on the calm water. The trip will also take our boys to Woods Hole to board a tour boat that will take them to Martha’s Vineyard. They will then tour the beautiful Martha’s Vineyard. The next day, they will travel to Boston and tour Fenway Park, the nation’s oldest baseball park. This day will also include a Duck Tour. The Duck is a unique vehicle capable of going on both land and water to tour Boston Harbor, including the historic Old North Church, The Bunker Hill Monument, and the USS Constitution, which is the oldest commissioned ship in the country, nicknamed Old Iron Sides. Then, back Fenway to watch the Red Socks play the Detroit Tigers. Our boys return to camp the next day.

Our Sub Senior boys who finished eighth grade had the option to go on one of three trips. For our campers who love golf,  they chose to play nine holes at Sunday River and have lunch in Bar Harbor. Wednesday they will be playing on the magnificent greens of Kebo Valley Club. Thursday will be more golf at the scenic course at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club. They will also go to the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland Maine. The trip concludes at the Samoset Golf Resort, one of the most beautiful courses in the state of Maine.

Those Sub Seniors who like taking in the sights in Maine made their way to Acadia National Park. Day one, they will be exploring Mt. Desert Island, the largest island on the coast of Maine. On the second day, they will be watching the sun rise on Cadillac Mountain (around 3:45 am) and do some mountain biking in the wilderness of Acadia National Park. The third day, the boys will explore Bar Harbor, and go on an evening whale watching trip. Day four will take our boys on a hike through the imposing cliffs of Beehive Trail in Acadia. The last day will include a stop in Bar Harbor and then home to Takajo.

Other Sub Seniors, who have a real love for the outdoors, are taking on the challenge of climbing Mt. Katahdin, the highest mountain in Maine. Day one of this trip will include traveling to Baxter State Park to make camp. The second day will be white water rafting on the Penobscot River. The Penobscot River is narrow and requires more skill to navigate than most other rivers. The Penobscot will put your son’s abilities to the test. Day three, our boys will wake up at 5:30 am and drive to the trailhead of Mt. Katahdin to hike to the top, 5,267 feet in elevation. The next morning, the campers will be sleeping in and then it’s off to a “moose safari” at night.

Western Trip at Camp Takajo for Boys in Naples, MaineIn just two days, our boys who have completed ninth grade will be heading out west. The Okee’s will be leaving on Wednesday for Salt Lake City. They will go to the Park City Olympic Center for exhilarating zip line rides on Thursday and also challenge the massive alpine slide there. Our boys will spend the next day in the Moab Desert. Here, they will go on an evening Hummer Ride through the desert, a camper favorite. Day four will be a morning to explore the mesmerizing rock formations of Arches National Park and an evening of bowling to cool off. Hiking the Navajo Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park is next on the itinerary– a three-mile loop with a 521-foot ascent surrounded on all sides by massive walls of stone. On Monday, the boys will go to Las Vegas. They will start the day by hiking through Zion National Park, Utah’s oldest and most popular national park. That night, they will go to M&M World and Coke World on the Vegas strip and take a rollercoaster ride on top of the New York, New York Hotel to see the dazzling lights of Las Vegas in their full magnificence. On the final day in Vegas, they will go to the Wet n’ Wild Water Park and then watch the famous Bellagio Fountains that night. They will depart the next morning to return to camp.

While our seniors are out of camp, the remaining campers are engaged in the regular program with some special activities sprinkled in. This evening, I hosted a few bunks of fourth graders at my home for movie night. These boys enjoyed kicking back on the couch, drinking soda, and watching a movie in the comfort of my home. Over the next few days, each bunk in Warrior camp will be invited to my house to share in this experience. As we enter the fifth week of camp, the pace picks up, the excitement level grows, and we continue to make the most out of each day.