It was a gorgeous day in Maine– bright sunshine and temperatures in the mid-80s, the kind of weather that brings a smile.
I get such a kick out of seeing our little guys strutting into the Takajo dining room for breakfast and making their way to one of our four hot bars for a fresh egg sandwich made on toasted English muffins. The line forms for hot chocolate, and the toasters are churning out bagels as our boys grab butter and cream cheese. Little boys that can barely see above the fruit bar grab a spoon as big as their arm and dip in for yogurt, blueberries, strawberries, and granola. These little guys who would have been served breakfast at home just two weeks ago have gained such independence and are becoming so self-sufficient that it warms my heart.
We had a massive day of intercamp. We participated in our first tennis tournament of the year and entered the 10-, 12-, and 14-under brackets at a neighboring camp. As the boys boarded the bus for their matches, I wished the team good luck and told them to have fun, to which one of our boys turned back and shouted, “We are going to crush ‘em.” I emphasized the importance of sportsmanship before their departure, and when that camper returned home with a huge smile, victorious, he assured me he was a good sport.
Our 13-and-under boys participated in two baseball tournaments, allowing more boys to play. Unfortunately, one of our best players decided to participate in extracurricular activities last night after taps and was docked from playing in the first game of the round-robin tournament. His decision last night disappointed him when he learned that his actions would have consequences. But it was even more disappointing to his teammates when they learned that his actions had let down the team and the camp. I love to win, but not at the expense of letting our boys feel that their athletic performance is valued more than their good judgment.
Our Senior and Junior campers returned to Point Sebago for another round of golf. Dressed in country club attire, our boys had a blast playing this picturesque course in Casco, Maine.
This evening, our Intermediates (finished 7th grade) hosted the ladies from Camp Vega for a dinner dance. The Playhouse was rocking, and all had a fun time. Our Sub Seniors (finished 8th grade) made their way to a “mega social” where they mingled with girls and guys from fifteen neighboring camps. Hundreds of campers enjoyed hanging out, talking, laughing, and dancing. As I made my way around to say goodnight to the boys, the bunks were warm, and the fans were oscillating, but our boys were settled and happy after having another terrific day at Camp Takajo.
