I had a lovely call from a parent today, who will be coming to visit her son next week for her first visiting day experience. The thought of the onslaught of so many visitors coming to camp at one time made the mom think about how we deal with visitors in season. To be more specific, the mom said, “I know Camp Takajo is a safe haven for boys, but how do you address security?”
As a parent of two sets of twins, ages 8 and 10, I am preoccupied with their safety and well-being. I asked myself if there is anything I can do to create a safer environment at camp, and the answer was yes. We have installed a welcome gate at the top of our road, where all visitors have to press a call box, which rings in our office and must be answered by our staff in order to let the guest into camp. I have installed security cameras throughout the entire property, (including the gate) that allow for our office staff to monitor the camp grounds throughout the day, and our full-time night watchman to watch over the facility throughout the evening and early hours of the morning. Perhaps the gate and the signs that read, “This camp is monitored by 24-hour surveillance cameras” is all that I needed to deter unwanted guests, but I’m a parent, and I wanted to do everything possible to keep our children safe.
- Today in Senior Camp, our 14-and-under soccer team beat Camp Cedar 3-0 to make it to the finals and proceeded to beat Camp Androscoggin, 1-0. Tonight is the 13-and-under basketball tournament at Camp Wildwood, and Wildwood is coming here for 15-and-under soccer and 14-and-under baseball.
- Today on the waterfront, Camp Takajo hosted its Invitational Swim Meet. A number of visiting camps came in to compete with one another at Long Lake. Takajo did great today, and we proved we can swim.
- In Warrior camp today, our boys had a full day of regular scheduled events. There was a lot of inter camp going on with neighboring camps as well as camps here for the swim meet. Many Indians participated in the competition today and did very well. Tonight is our weekly weekend movie night, with popcorn for a snack.
