Today is Independence Day! It was a huge day at Camp Takajo on July 4. It is almost hard to recount all that took place in one day, but I’ll try.
Temperatures hit the high 80’s, but the humidity level made it feel like it was well into the 90’s. One might think that would soak the enthusiasm and energy level out of campers, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. We started our morning by taking our individual and bunk pictures, followed by each bunk doing its mini video vignette that takes on the character of each bunk of campers. Those videos will end up on our video yearbook DVD, which you will receive in the fall. Our Warrior Crows and Braves (finishing 2nd and 3rd grades) marched in the Naples Independence Day Parade and were led by our marching band and oldest campers (our Okeechobees). It has become a tradition for our oldest campers to create a bucket list when they come to camp knowing that it is their final season. Somehow, marching in the Independence Day Parade always makes their lists. At the end of the parade, I took all of the Crows (2nd graders and their counselors) out to get soft serve ice cream. As we ate the ice cream on the shores of Long Lake, our fleet of boats pulled up and surprised our boys with motorboat rides back to camp. While this was happening, our Warrior Indians (4th graders) were having a Beach Day, filled with sand castle building, limbo contests, and banana boat rides around the lake.
Our Junior and Senior campers were in full-swing, played their league sports and practiced for a variety of games and tournaments that will take place tomorrow. I think everybody hit the lake at least twice, so we ended our day tired, but cool and refreshed. While we wait one more day to set off our fireworks, because we share the pyrotechnics team with the town of Naples, we give thanks to this amazing country and to all of you who give your children the freedom to grow.
- It was a big day in Warrior Camp. We celebrated Independence Day with a parade through Naples and a beach party at Camp Takajo. There was music, singing, face painting and a lot of celebrating.
- Today on the waterfront, we had our annual Indian Beach Party at Camp Takajo. We had a dance contest, a sand castle making contest, and a sprinkler party. Meanwhile, the Seniors had their qualifying swim meet for the Takajo invitational. There was a big general swim with perfect weather conditions on Long Lake. After the Crows marched through the town of Naples, they were picked up by our boats and got their own personal rides back to camp. What a great Independence Day!
- In Senior Camp today, we held a Frisbee Extravaganza under the sprinklers for all those boys who did not go to the parade. Mike Turtle, our soccer pro, ran more clinics. We were focused on soccer, tennis, and trying some beach volleyball. Also, we are working on our last-minute preps for tomorrow’s 14A basketball tournament here at Takajo, and our climbing competition for our 15-and-unders.
