It was a very busy day at Camp Takajo. We were up for our annual accreditation as members of the American Camp Association. We appreciate being held to a high standard which requires us to be evaluated by our peers. Every inch of our facility is reviewed from our kitchen to our health center, maintenance facility, and every location in between to ensure we meet health and safety standards. The inspectors pulled in, in a Subaru, which gave me an indication that they were thoughtful, responsible individuals who had a love for the environment and would hold our feet to the fire. At the end of a long day, we received high marks for the safety and care we provide our campers and staff. We passed with flying colors and were told that we are clear for another five years, not unlike passing a colonoscopy exam.
This afternoon during instructional swim with Crows (boys who have finished first or second grades), I saw one of our little boys sitting on a bench with our counselors. I asked him why he was not enticed to be swimming with his friends on an 80-degree beautiful, sunny day. He told me his foot hurt, which we call instructional swim-itis. The ailment that pops up when a boy does not want to jump in the lake. I sat with this little guy and told him there is no greater therapy for one’s ailing foot than swimming in a lake. I could see his wheels turning as he tried to devise an angle for why he should not go swimming.
“I’m not wearing a bathing suit,” he replied.
The foot was no longer an issue, and we were starting to understand what was troubling this camper. He fears the lake and loves to swim at home but is concerned fish in Long Lake might be swimming around him. Little guys have a lot of anxiety when they must do things outside their comfort zone, but there are ways of compromising so that they have a say in the outcome. Staring at the shallow area of our waterfront, I challenged this camper to play his swim instructor in a game of water basketball. His eyes lit up with excitement, knowing he could incorporate something he loves so much with something that scares him. The game started with our little guy being cautious, moving around the lake as if he did not want the water touching his body.
As he began shooting baskets and swimming after the ball, he became more confident in the lake. At the end of the period, our little guy walked up the beach with no limp, no instructional swim-itis, just a smile from ear to ear.
This afternoon, our eleven-and-under hockey teams were in action. One tournament was away, and we hosted the other at home. Our thirteen-year-olds hosted a lacrosse tournament, while our fifteen-year-old sluggers went to a nearby camp to participate in a baseball tournament. Golfers grabbed their drivers and made their way to the links, and everyone returned home in time for the MLB All-Star Game. The game was on in multiple locations for all boys to enjoy. Our concession stand was open, and refreshments were served while we enjoyed the action.
Finally, two bunks of Crows journeyed to our treehouses, where they enjoyed a campfire, roasting marshmallows, making s’mores, and sleeping in these incredible structures nestled in the woods. It was a day filled with much accomplishment and personal growth.
