It is hard to believe that this was the second to last Lazy Man’s Morning for the summer. A bit of an oxymoron— there’s nothing lazy about any of our mornings at Camp Takajo. We said goodbye to eighteen rookie campers who spent the weekend with us experiencing all of what Takajo has to offer.
What is most gratifying about the Rookie Weekend is the fact that our fourteen-year-old boys chose to devote most of the weekend to showing these guys a fantastic time. So many of our older campers, many of whom have experienced numerous summers at camp, feel that it is a rite of passage to pass on their love of camp to a future generation.
In the late morning, two buses departed for Tripp Lake Camp for their Brother/Sister/Cousin Day. I am always so moved to see the incredible bonds that are displayed among our siblings, especially when they do not have electronics in their hands.
You would be touched to see your sons and daughters arm and arm or holding hands, as they walk around the Tripp Lake Campus. These get-togethers allow our siblings to feel a strong connection to home while experiencing an amazing summer away. And as if our day was not busy enough, our SubSeniors spent the day packing and organizing for their Big Trip to Canada that departs Monday morning. Our fourteen-year-old boys will experience jet boating on the St. Lawrence River in Montreal, tour Olympic Tower, visit two theme parks and the Montreal Biodome Zoo (originally constructed for the 1976 Olympic Games as a velodrome), plus a special extra surprise that has been arranged for them. This could only take place thanks to the leadership and organization of our 24-year veteran, Nick Andreacci.
As the sun set over Long Lake, the entire camp assembled within the MJG Playhouse this time for the Junior campers to take the stage for the Dr. Seuss musical, Seussical. I always chuckle when families consider Takajo the ultimate sports camp without giving consideration to the amazing hobby activities and theater program that we also offer in camp. Our boys spend countless hours rehearsing their lines, and it all came together for a beautiful performance for the entire camp to enjoy.
As with all camp events, we ended the night singing the camp alma matter and bowing our heads to the sounds of Tattoo—nothing lazy about this day.
Junior Big Show, click to enlarge.
