It was another bright, sunny day at Camp Takajo, packed with tons of fun. While you are awaiting your upcoming phone call with your child, I am sure you hope the call will provide great content. You should keep in mind that you may end up speaking to a child who is more excited to participate in a bunk challenge or game of paddle tennis with a friend. I wanted to share with you a letter that a father recently wrote to his son and shared with me about what he hoped camp would teach his son. I thought this would be appropriate to share with you as you, yourselves, prepare for your first camp phone call of the summer.
Our job as parents is to recognize when we need to push you outside your comfort zone to take on challenges or uncomfortable situations that will help you grow and develop and will help prepare you for the real world as you grow up and ultimately become an adult. You know we would never put you in a situation or ask you to do something that is not in your best interest. This summer is no different. To help you understand, from our perspective, why we send you to camp, what Takajo offers, and what it is all about, we want to share the following. 
As you know, camp is about playing sports, spending time with friends, being in a beautiful place, and having fun, but at the heart of it, it is really about much, much more. The skills you have and will continue to develop are preparing you for life. Camp is an important and valuable influence and is helping you build the foundation of who you are and will become. You are learning to be independent. You are learning to solve problems on your own – and with the help of your peers – in a safe environment. You are learning that life is not always fun or easy. You are learning to build deep – 24 hour/7 day a week – relationships with individuals and with groups of friends, younger and older. You are learning to deal with uncomfortable situations. You are learning to advocate for yourself. You are learning to persevere and deal with difficult situations. You are learning to be a leader AND learning to be a follower. You are learning about who you are, what is important to you, and to work on areas of improvement (both on and, more importantly, off the playing fields). You are learning that you can choose to look for the best in a situation and to find joy and happiness in the hand you are dealt. You are learning how to rely on yourself, how to rely on others, and how to ask for help when you need it – and, sometimes, when you don’t want to. You are learning what you are capable of and what a sense of accomplishment feels like.
These are just a few things that come to mind. Not all of this will happen at once, and not all of it will happen every summer, but I am certain you will learn these lessons over the fullness of your camp experience. My advice is to take a deep breath, reset your perspective, and allow yourself to believe that 2017 is going to be an amazing summer! I know this is easier said than done, but I also know your general approach to life and how you view most things is with great enthusiasm and optimism. Let this opportunity be no different.
Love,
Dad
