There’s something magical about summer camp. It’s an opportunity for children to put down their phones, give their thumbs a rest, and engage with their peers in healthy play. Despite the grey skies and occasional rain, our boys were eager to get outdoors and run. It’s hard to imagine that just a day ago so many members of our community didn’t know each other, and yet today I witness boys having pizza during lunch, laughing and joking as if they were best friends.
For so many, there’s an instant connection, a chemistry that creates a bond that can sometimes last a lifetime. Those connections are evident for our oldest boys, our “Okees,” finishing ninth grade, and our leaders of camp. Most of these boys have been here seven or eight years and remember that feeling of stepping off the bus for the first time, the pit in the stomach, sleeping in a bunk the first evening, surrounded by strangers, away from home. Yet now, they are a band of brothers embarking on their final summer, intending to soak every ounce of joy they can from this final camp season. The Okees are our leaders, and without even asking, they seem to understand that it’s a right of passage to be leaders of the camp and to make our younger campers feel part of the Takajo family.
We were outside for the majority of the day, organizing for our league sports, which will start tomorrow. It was great to see the soccer fields in use, batting practice on the baseball field, and our college lacrosse coaches on the field with our eager athletes. When the occasional rain brought us indoors, we took advantage of our two indoor sports complexes that enabled our boys the opportunity to play pick-up basketball and dodgeball. Every hobby was in use as each Warrior Camper had the opportunity to explore their creative side.
This evening, the entire camp came together for the first time in the MJG Playhouse, named after our camp’s founder, Morty Goldman, whose vision and inspiration have made a profound impact on countless young men for the past 78 years.
We were entertained by our counselors as they performed an impromptu Talent Show to the delight of all in attendance. As the evening came to a close, we sang the camp alma mater for the first time as one camp family. As our Okees sang with pride, leading the camp, our first-time boys listened inquisitively, in hopes of learning the words and singing along at our next gathering.
As the sound of Tattoo resonated throughout camp, we stood in silence and reflected on the day. We are thankful for this opportunity and are poised to make the most of this experience.
