In a camp setting, there are so many opportunities for a boy to create memories that last a lifetime. These memories can be created when taking an extended camping trip or performing in a camp play; but, on this particular day, they occurred on our playing fields. Today, our Junior Camp (boys finishing 5th and 6th grades) had the opportunity to represent the camp in a full day of inter-camp competition. What is unique about these “field days” is that every single camper in Junior Camp has the opportunity to participate in three sporting events against teams from another camp. Having competitions only for boys who might excel at a particular sport defeats the purpose of what we are trying to accomplish here at Camp Takajo. We feel that every child should have the thrill of wearing the Takajo uniform by representing our camp, competing for the sheer love of the game through the bonding experience of teamwork.
This morning, in a 12-and-under inter-camp baseball game, our team came up for “last licks” in the bottom of the 7th inning in a scoreless game. Because of the time constraint, this nail-biter would potentially end in a scoreless tie if we could not generate a run with our last few at-bats. Our first two batters were unable to advance, and we found ourselves down to our last out. Our final batter had one strike in the count. While the outcome appeared bleak, our lefty batter knocked the next pitch deep over the left field fence. With a mighty roar, the team erupted and waited for their hero to cross home plate in victory. While these boys are only twelve years old, I can promise you that this heroic act will remain with these boys throughout their lives.
Later in the afternoon, our 12-year-old boys found themselves trailing in a flag football game with less than a minute to play. With the opposing team on our goal line, one of our players managed to intercept a pass in the end zone and ran the ball the length of the field for the winning touchdown. You could hear the cheers echo across the campus as this last-second catch managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Over the course of our lives, we have our share of losses, and the bitter defeats will always remain part of who we are. But when you are alongside your friends and representing a community that you hold dear to your heart, you can’t help but create iconic memories that last forever.
