fbpx

Tak Talk Blog- Camp Takajo – July 15, 2022

By July 15, 2022 Tak Talk
Warrior Camper Smiles

It’s hard to believe the third week of our season has come to an end. I can feel the momentum building with each passing day. There is a structure and a routine that has helped our boys feel happy and at home, yet it’s always fun to mix things up with some exciting excursions off-property. In the first three weeks, every camper has had the opportunity to go on a fun field trip, and many of our campers have enjoyed exploring some of Maine’s scenic beauty on pioneering trips.

Today, three bunks of Warrior Hawks (boys who finished third grade) spent the day hiking Deer Hill, an entry-level hike that ended with a cold dip in the river before the boys returned home for dinner at camp. Our 15-and-under lacrosse team participated in a local lacrosse tournament that gave our boys who love this sport an opportunity to compete against the best talent represented by other camps.

This is the time of year when I spend a portion of my day focusing on bunk relationships. I often ask parents just to imagine what it would feel like to live in a bunk away from one’s creature comforts with little privacy for seven weeks. It’s so easy when we meet people to be on our best behavior, yet it’s only natural when we live with people for us to drop our guard and show our true personalities and idiosyncrasies.

Bunk life can be challenging. Finding patience and empathy is sometimes easier said than done. Choosing compassion over a need for a laugh and taking the time to notice that someone else’s needs might be more important than your own is an incredibly valuable skill that we hope to teach in camp. My heart breaks when I watch our boys learn these life lessons. It is not always easy to have that teachable moment with an impulsive child who may not have the emotional capability to realize that his actions have consequences. These are incredibly valuable moments that take place in camp for the child who learns how to navigate through some turbulent waters.

Recently I had a bunk of boys in my office, and we were having a discussion about inclusion and the importance of making everybody feel like a member of our community. One of the boys made the suggestion to continue the conversation without me up at our council fire ring. Admittedly, I was speechless. It was reported to me later that the bunk decided to have this conversation at the council ring because this is the most sacred place at camp. This is where the camp community came together on one of the first nights of the summer to welcome all new campers and staff to the Takajo family and introduce them to the arch ideals. It’s these kinds of moments that highlight the importance of the summer camp experience. Knowing that our values are being instilled in our campers makes my days in camp incredibly gratifying.