All age groups at Camp Takajo are feeling the love this week as we have shifted to a creative program that takes us out of our normal routine. Our Warrior Indian campers (finished fourth grade) woke up early and headed to Water Country USA, where they spent the day in the largest water park in New England.
The Junior Grey campers returned home from their overnight white water rafting trip from the Kennebec River and shared plenty of stories about the thrilling ride they experienced in their ten-man rafts. The Okees left Las Vegas, landed in Boston and will return from what was referred to as some by “the trip when we became brothers.” Our Intermediates are loving their last minutes as big men on campus and enjoyed a high-spirited all-star football game this morning and shuttle rides by boat into Naples for ice cream in the afternoon. The Warrior Crows and Braves participated in an all-day Warrior tennis tournament, and our Braves retired to our movie house this evening for their massive sleepover extravaganza.
If you were here to witness camp, you would notice that the energy level and spirit is high with no indication that the end of the season is near. I often reflect that the key to any organization is not the expected, but the unexpected. I have often used water ski instructor Don Matthews and staff member for over forty years as the example of the unexpected. Don takes pictures of our youngest boys getting up on skis for the first time and mails the pictures to parents with a personal note so that they can share in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The fact of the matter is that these moments are happening every day in camp, but many go unnoticed:
- My head chef, who makes a grilled cheese sandwich for a little boy who might not like the meal selection
- The nursing staff, who track down the distracted camper who forgets to come in for his evening medication
- The counselor, who is awakened in the middle of the night by a camper who wets his bed and needs assistance
- The bunk mom, who clips the nails and makes sure that your little boys are showering and using shampoo and soap every evening
The success of our summer relies heavily on our attention to detail, and it is only with a caring, devoted, and loving staff that we can provide a happy experience for your child.
