Most of you who have attended summer camps are probably familiar with the big brother or big sister program. In theory, it is really wonderful when one camper is assigned to your child and takes on the responsibly to visit his bunk at night, throw a ball during free time, and sit with him during an all-camp event. Inherently, girls are much better at following through and maintaining that relationship throughout the summer.
At Camp Takajo, we have created a unique approach to provide a sense of community among our campers. Tonight, our oldest campers who have finished ninth grade, our Okees, were given a list of campers who will become part of their Takajo “family.” Each fifteen-year-old boy went to a bunk of an eighth-grader to meet the first member of his family. The two boys then went to the bunk of a seventh-grader and welcomed him into their family. The family grew as the Okee camper and his younger brothers serpentined through camp, picking up younger boys along the way.
You can imagine the excitement of our youngest campers when seven boys, one from each grade level, came to their bunk to welcome them into their family. Our oldest boys and leaders of the family shared the heritage of our camp and in turn, made every child feel a part of the Takajo community. After an incredibly warm and intimate bonding experience, everyone headed down to the beach to sit together and watch our fireworks as they launched into the starlit sky in celebration of Independence weekend.
