We woke up this morning to overcast skies and the threat of rain on the horizon. But, almost fittingly, as the busses started to roll down the Camp Takajo road, the sun emerged. The camp burst to life.
There is something magical about seeing a camper’s face as he comes off the bus for the first time; his eyes filled with excitement and yet a bit of nervous anticipation. He simply can’t help but smile as he’s greeted by the cheers from our amazing staff. Watching friends reconnect as if no time has passed is an incredible sight to witness. The friendships that formed while living in a bunk and playing together have grown only stronger with time.
I empathize with how you must be feeling at home. Your last memory of your son is of the emotional hug goodbye that you wish could have lasted a few seconds longer. I would imagine when you returned home, you could not help but enter your son’s room, stare at his unmade bed, and wonder how he was doing without you.
The image at camp is very different. Bright sunshine, eighty-degree temperatures, and a warm breeze coming off Long Lake. Every tennis court is filled with campers and counselors. The Takajo basketball courts are in full-swing with pickup games, while impromptu games are already underway on the soccer and baseball fields.
While it is reassuring to see so many happy campers, we never lose sight of the fact that we can tell how a chid is adjusting by simply watching his body language and looking into his eyes. Over the next few days, we will enter the normal routine of our program while keeping a watchful eye on every child’s individual adjustment. As you put your head to your pillow this evening, please know that we appreciate your trust and confidence and that we will do everything in our power to provide your son a healthy and memorable experience.
Just a reminder, parents can access hundreds of photos from each day of camp by logging into their myTakajo.com accounts. The first set of images is waiting for you now.
