In the middle of a fun, hectic day, there is always time to have meaningful conversations with campers and staff. Living in a bunk can be incredibly fun, but often very challenging for some boys.
While people may think the main reason one attends summer camp is to develop athletic skills, the reality is that the greatest skills we teach at Camp Takajo are socialization and other life skills. It is important for children to learn how to interact with their peers. The full-season summer camp experience provides an opportunity for children to learn how to interact and empathize with others.
I often joke about how challenging it would be as adults to live in a bunk for seven weeks. How quickly those cute little mannerisms can become annoying. Learning how to engage others without overstepping one’s bounds, how to let the minor stuff roll of your back, and to think about others’ needs before your own are some of the greatest skills one could learn at camp.
Today, like so many other days, I had the opportunity to sit with a young man who struggles from time to time to pick up on those social cues. This time we spent together was incredibly valuable because we were able to discuss scenarios and appropriate ways to resolve these issues. The continuity of the full-season summer camp experience allows for many teachable moments; and, therefore, provides the opportunity for significant growth and development in a relatively short period of time.
Beyond the walls of my office, there are amazing trips and special moments taking place in and out of camp today. The Warrior Brave division (finished third grade) took their trip to Funtown-Splashtown in Saco, Maine. With hot, humid weather in the mid eighties, it was a perfect day for the campers to enjoy the thrills of a water park. The Junior Green campers (finished fifth grade) took off on a two-day trip to Sunday River Ski Resort, where they will enjoy zip lines, hiking trails, and sleep over in the dormitory at the base of the mountain. The Warrior Indians (finished fourth grade) had a movie night in our playhouse, where the entire group slept in sleeping bags and enjoyed a movie marathon, only to be interrupted by a midnight pizza snack. Our Junior Greys (finished sixth grade) challenged our Senior Intermediates (finished seventh grade) in basketball this evening.
In the last two days, these groups have had head-to-head challenges in soccer, during which the Intermediates defeated the Juniors by a score of 3-2, and in roller hockey, when the Juniors got even with their older counterparts and defeated them 3-2. Tonight’s basketball challenge went to the Intermediates in a hard-fought battle. While the day is full of exciting group events, it is important to recognize the emotional needs of every child in camp.
