We had another incredible day at camp.
It’s hard to pick a favorite, but today is clearly among them this summer.
We began the morning in our Council Fire Ring for the Olympic Song Competition. What makes this event so special is that it’s the only Olympic event where every camper participates simultaneously. Campers from each of the two teams filed silently into the ring, dressed in green or grey, hoping to receive points for style and grace. As they were seated by their Olympic captains, our youngest boys— Warriors and Juniors— were interspersed among our oldest campers, the Seniors.
Each team performed four camp songs, including our sacred alma mater, followed by an original song, written by the team’s Okees, to the tune of a current hit. The lyrics were heartfelt, reflecting on their time at camp, the connections they’ve made, and the lessons they’ve learned. The outcome of this important event was as close as it gets, just a quarter of a point separating the two teams, leaving the judges with an incredibly tough decision.
For lunch, I invited the Okees to my home for a cookout. Over grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, we spent over an hour talking about their fondest memories. This tradition, which started years ago, gives our oldest boys the opportunity to ask me anything they want about camp. I was struck by the thoughtfulness of their questions— about infrastructure, tradition, and hopes for future generations. What stood out most, though, was the connection they shared: the playful banter, mutual respect, and camaraderie built over years of summers spent together living in bunks, playing in intercamp games, traveling as one.
And yet, just an hour later, they were competing head-to-head in their final Whacked-Up Relay— an epic showdown that would determine the fate of their final Takajo Olympics.
This year’s relay was historic: for the first time ever, Juniors and Seniors competed together, giving our 11- and 12-year-old boys the chance to lace up alongside their older camp heroes.
After more than 100 relay events across the campus, it all came down to the final challenge, a pie-eating contest between two Okees. Surrounded by a roaring crowd of campers and staff, they dug in, racing to finish their blueberry pies. One Okee managed to finish devouring his just a second sooner, and with that, the Grey team was declared victorious.
All Junior and Senior Grey teammates sprinted down into the lake for a celebratory dip, while the Green team Okee campers made their way to their comrade, who was slumped in his chair, to pick him up from his moment of defeat. There were hugs, high fives, and deep embraces from both sides— sportsmanship on full display. The Grey team frolicked in the water, celebrating together, while the Green team stood united, supporting one another with grace and pride.
In the evening, we returned to the Council Ring for the Closing Council Fire of 2025, the culmination of all we strive to instill. Gathered around a roaring fire, campers and staff listened to boys from each age group read aloud the camp’s Heritage, which is a series of anecdotes embodying our Takajo ideals. We laughed through a traditional squat dance competition and marveled as counselors performed a flaming hoop dance (after signing a waiver, of course).
As the night drew to a close, the fire gave way to a star-filled sky. We stood together, now as one, and sang the alma mater. Then, as we listened to Tattoo coming from Warren’s bugle, we bowed our heads in silence.
This was a day for the record books.
