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What’s Happening at Camp Takajo- July 15, 2014

By July 15, 2014 January 4th, 2019 Tak Talk
camper and counselor at Camp Takajo

 

A few years ago, I was asked to give a speech at a camp conference about how to motivate counselor staff when there are no bonuses and little chance of promotions. Being a camp counselor is an incredibly difficult job. Imagine how you feel after your child has his birthday sleepover party with ten of his best friends. Take away the creature comforts of your home. Factor in that you are sleeping on an army cot next to ten others under your supervision rather than in your own king-sized bed.

camper and counselor at Camp Takajo

A little insight can help give great perspective for the amazing job our staff does each summer. I believe that if you are great at being a camp counselor, then the chances of being successful in most professions is extremely high. As a camp counselor, you need to be a highly-motivated individual, something every employer seeks. You need to be adaptable and willing to “shift on the fly” at a moment’s notice. You need leadership skills, but not the kind of leadership that is required to give a speech in the boardroom, but rather has the ability to motivate one child at a time.

I believe that what makes Camp Takajo a wonderful place for boys to spend their summers is that we don’t just do the expected; we do the unexpected. One example that always comes to mind when thinking of this subject is the head of our Warrior Water Skiing Program, Don Matthews. While the expectation is to teach our youngest boys to water ski, the unexpected is that Don photographs this experience, develops the pictures of the campers getting up on skis for the first time and sends that photo to his parents with a hand-written note sharing this remarkable accomplishment. That is the unexpected.

This evening, we had a staff meeting to discuss how we can best help the campers continue to thrive during their time at camp. I believe that when you surround yourself with good people, you will get good results. When I look in the eyes of my staff, I see motivated, hard-working individuals who have your son’s best interests at heart.