It is hard to believe that week one is in the record books. The magnificent weather has helped our campers to acclimate to camp life and to get off to an amazing start to the summer. I think that as adults, we sometimes discount how major this transition is for our youngest boys.
The change from home to camp is exciting, but sometimes stressful. Connecting with counselors who become immediate caretakers requires trust, but can often be confusing. Learning the names of those in your bunk and age group can be challenging. And, of course, there is acclimating to new environments and learning foreign routines. As adults, we’ve banked a lifetime of experiences (going away to college, etc.) However, these little boys are experiencing multiple challenges for the first time.
I always pull the staff in for a weekly huddle at this time during the season to remind them that while they have time off, access to their phones to check in with loved ones, the ability to grab a snack in the lounge or just chill on the couch, the boys are adjusting to camp without these creature comforts. Transitioning from their safe and comfortable environments to a place that’s unfamiliar.
The reason why the campers are thriving is that we have an amazing, nurturing staff, who have displayed great patience and empathy. Every night when I walk into a bunk filled with our youngest campers, I see counselors sitting on the floor playing knock hockey, pickup sticks, or playing with LEGO. It’s refreshing to think that our boys can thrive without a handheld device and that camp can give them an opportunity to give their thumbs a rest.
The structure and diversity of the Camp Takajo program are also key to creating a smooth transition to camp. Children thrive on structure. When campers are offered choices at an early age, they naturally shy away from the activities in which they have little experience or when they do not think they can succeed. They gravitate towards the activities they have experienced in the past. Introducing children to a wide variety of activities in a structured environment gives them an opportunity to find their niche and enables every child to develop self-confidence.
Our youngest boys ended their first week at a campfire where they were introduced to many of the camp songs. If this week is indicative of what’s in store, then your sons are in for the best summer of their lives.
