Week two is flying by at Takajo, and our boys are fully immersed in camp. Our older boys appreciate the flexibility of our program and the opportunities to specialize in the activities of their choice. Some boys gravitate towards the water and will wakeboard, ski, or sail multiple times a day, while others opt to fast-track in tennis, basketball, soccer, and lacrosse.
The beauty of our program is that it is flexible, and we strive to meet the needs of every camper. Our little guys are thriving with our structure, and while we believe structure is critically important to their adjustment, we always want our campers to know that we are encouraging, not forcing. This is the week that you can see our guys hitting their stride.
They walk around campus genuinely at home, no longer looking over their shoulders for their counselors. Nevertheless, our staff is always just an arm’s length away. The second week of camp is a time when we do have “flare-ups” that occur in bunks. The boys are becoming familiar with one another, and sometimes, the best behavior wears off, and impulsivity gets the best of us. Yet, we always take the approach that while we may “hate the sin,” we “love the sinner.” It is essential in camp to slow down to the speed of life and take the time to address these stressful moments. These are the teachable moments.
This evening, our camp families came together for a cookout. Our Okees rounded up all the boys in their Takajo family, then each group scattered on the beach and on our Commons Deck overlooking the lake. Boys sat together munching on burgers, talking about their day, and getting to know one another. There was great awe amongst our youngest campers and extraordinary pride throughout our oldest age group.
After dinner, we assembled for our Independence Day ceremony, which always takes place on the 5th of July. We listened to three speeches eloquently delivered by a senior camper, an overseas counselor, and an American counselor. Each shared their thoughts about what it means to live in the United States and be blessed with freedom and opportunity, each drawing a connection with how camp creates a welcoming environment for people worldwide. Following the ceremony, our boys made their way down to the beach to enjoy our incredible fireworks show. Dinner started with pockets of families, but as the evening ended, we were all one community, sitting shoulder by shoulder sharing this moment.
