It is difficult to believe that there is just one week left in the camp season. Our Okees, the oldest boys in camp, returned home exhilarated from an amazing trip out west. The Sub-Seniors return tomorrow from Canada as we prepare for our Olympics and other traditional events that occur right up to departure day. As I sit back and reflect on what our boys have accomplished this summer, many would assume that I might feel our greatest achievements occurred on the playing fields. However, the greatest accomplishment that has taken place this summer is how hundreds of individuals, coming from all over the country and the world, have become one united family.
We have cheered for each other’s successes, and we have provided a shoulder to cry on as we work through our disappointments. We sat up at night next to young campers who had trouble falling asleep and needed a little extra TLC. We met on the porch or in a gazebo during rest hour to help the boys who needed a little extra attention in reading or math. We woke up early when the lake was nice and calm so that your son could have the experience of catching a fish and reeling it in for the first time. We gathered together at the opening campfire for our traditional candle lighting ceremony and set our goals to treat one another with kindness and respect.
My greatest satisfaction from the summer came from watching the campers navigate through social situations every minute of each day. Learning how to think before acting, showing compassion for the boy who feels left out or, perhaps, who has dropped a fly ball, and offering him a helping hand are all life skills that we focus on every day during the summer. Throughout the summer months, I receive e-mails and phone calls from our alumni, many of whom sit in corner offices wearing a stuffy shirts and ties. They all share a common theme; they would give up just about anything to relive their youth and spend one more summer at camp. As George Bernard Shaw once said, “Youth is wasted on the young.” Our goal at Camp Takajo is to make sure our campers have a great appreciation for this unique experience.
