Today, we had a prospective family tour Camp Takajo. Sometimes, what we accomplish in a day is hard to fathom if you are not here to witness it. This is the time of the season when our program is clicking on all cylinders.
As this family looked across our magnificent lake, they saw every sailboat in our fleet gliding across Long Lake. They witnessed four ski boats pulling skiers, wake boarders, and wake surfers. They watched a group of eight campers being pulled by another boat as they skipped across the lake on our inflatable banana boat.
Canoes and kayaks were in use, and the water front was in full-swing. When this family reached our playing fields, they observed our amazing Warrior basketball counselor, Shad, teach our little guys fundamentals with unparalleled enthusiasm. All seventeen tennis courts were in use, as Takajo hosted a 15 & under and 13 & under singles tournament, competing against neighboring camps. One of the lacrosse fields was the site of a 14 & under lacrosse tournament– a round robin, that gave our 14-year-old boys the opportunity to play in four games.
Thanks to an expert, visiting coach, Michael Turtle, we ended a week of high-level soccer training. Today, we offered lacrosse clinics for those boys who want to specialize in this fast-growing sport. We flew in JoJo Marasco, an all-American standout at Syracuse University, who now plays professional lacrosse for the New York Lizards. JoJo ran five clinics for our campers at all age levels– teaching fundamentals, stick control, and giving shooting tips.
I have always taken great pride in our coaches. We recognize many boys today are pressured to specialize in sports at a very young age. We see great value in playing multiple sports (cross-training). We bring in high-level players and coaches so our boys can train at a high-level here at camp, while maintaining all the benefits that a traditional summer camp experience offers.
As this family met with me at the end of their tour, they couldn’t possibly comprehend all they witnessed within the few hours they spent here at camp. Camp not only provides a safe haven for children where they can grow socially and emotionally, but it also creates an environment in which they gain skills and self-confidence.
