It was a beautiful Maine day. Our boys awoke to the sound of Reveille bellowing throughout the Takajo campus. There was a light breeze coming across Long Lake, and the sun was shining. Bunk doors opened on each quad and campers darted down to the lake for their morning dip.
We have a Dippie Club at Takajo, a tradition that was started in our inaugural year in 1947. Founder Morty Goldman developed this club when he was a Head Counselor at Camp Greylock and his oldest campers refused to get out of bed. At Takajo, the Dippie Club has become a badge of honor. It requires commitment and discipline. For, to be a member of the Dippie Club, you must dip every morning at Reveille, rain or shine.
There’s a social component to this group, a fraternity of sorts, where those who make their way out of bed on a given morning when it would feel so good to grab an extra five minutes of sleep know that their friends are also putting their toes on that cold bunk floor in preparation to march down to the lake.
We currently have over a hundred campers and counselors taking that morning plunge. And for those who make it to the end of the season, we honor them with a banquet to celebrate their accomplishment.
As I made my way around the campus today, I was ecstatic to see that every field and court was in use. I witnessed an incredible Senior basketball game where our oldest boys gave one hundred percent and battled to the final seconds in the game. All seventeen tennis courts were in use as campers were receiving incredible instruction from our tennis staff before playing their first matches of the season. I witnessed football drills where boys worked on their footwork and agility, running through obstacles before gearing up for their flag football game.
Our league is in full swing, balanced teams have been made, and land sports will be played twice a day at every grade level. The waterfront was buzzing as our Ski Nautiques’ engines were warmed up and pulled our first skiers of the season. Sails were hoisted as groups of younger campers climbed aboard our Hunters, the largest boats in our fleet, to learn the art of sailing.
After a fun and exhilarating first day of activities, we surprised the boys and turned on game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. Each age group was able to retire to their respective indoor rec. halls to witness the finale of the NHL hockey season.
As my day came to an end and I reflected on what was accomplished, I’m incredibly proud of our staff and how well they have adjusted to their roles as caretakers and role models for your children.
