There was a mist in the air at Takajo when the Reveille bugle call sounded with a promise of clearer skies later in the day, yet we managed to remain in the full program only modifying some of the activities that take place on the hard courts.
We are fortunate to have two indoor sports complexes. Rain or shine, our boys are always breaking a sweat. Three of our youngest Warrior bunks departed on our first Pioneering trips of the summer. These Warrior Crow campers (first and second grades) departed camp for the Saco District Ranger Station, where they hiked the lower falls. They enjoyed a picnic lunch before returning back to the ranger station where they were sworn in as junior rangers and received a junior ranger badge.
We are fortunate to have an incredible Pioneering staff, all of whom are now certified Maine Trip Leaders, receiving their certifications in CPR, first aid, and emergency rescue training during the preseason. We will be running trips that range from day hikes and one-night overnights for our little guys, to canoeing the St. Croix River and climbing Mt. Katahdin for some of the older boys. We are fortunate to have incredible staff, trained to lead our boys exploring this exquisite part of the country.
We received rave reviews today for our Cesar salad with sliced chicken lunch. We have an incredible food service team that is focused on creating great food options for our boys. For the few that did not partake in the delicious Cesar salad, they enjoyed fresh mac and cheese from the hot bar or deli sandwiches at our salad bar. The dining room is the one activity that everyone in camp partakes in regularly. We understand the importance of finding something nourishing to eat, balancing protein with some yummy carbs, and remaining hydrated throughout the day. These details are not overlooked here at camp, and we feel it adds greatly to a child’s health, wellness, and experience throughout the summer.
As we are nearing the end of the first week of camp, I am overwhelmed by the positive feedback we are receiving about our camp photos and videos. However, there are those that express they wish they saw their child more frequently. Please understand that this is meant to be a snapshot in time and not a proof-of-life photo. Our intention is to give our families a bird’s eye view into what takes place at camp, and that visual may not include your child as much as you would like. Some of you may have told your child to communicate with you in the photo by giving a thumbs up or a wink to let you know that he is in fact okay. By asking your child to communicate with you in a photo, you are taking him away from the spontaneity of the moment, and I would suggest that his focus should be here with his friends and in the moment.
While we ended the day as it began with mist in the air, each age group had a surprise movie night in a separate indoor facility. Yummy movie snacks were shared as the campers settled in for a solid night’s sleep in anticipation of another glorious day tomorrow.
