At our opening staff meeting each summer, I always tell our Takajo counselors, as it relates to caring for children, that it’s always necessary to have a plan B.
Sometimes that simply means arriving at a basketball court after a passing rain shower and realizing the surface is too slippery for a full game. Two teams are standing there ready to play, so you adjust. You change the activity, keep the boys engaged, and move forward. Flexibility is one of the most important skills a counselor can have.
Last night called for a much bigger plan B.
Throughout the day, we were in regular contact with the meteorologist who monitors our exact location. We often say that the weather in our part of Maine is remarkably local. The surrounding mountains protect us from many storms, and forecasts that look ominous on the radar often weaken or split before reaching camp. Even so, as the evening approached, it became increasingly clear that strong winds could arrive after our boys were asleep in their bunks, so we chose to err on the side of caution.
When I made the announcement at dinner that we would be moving everyone into our designated shelter locations, I looked across the dining hall and saw exactly what I hoped to see. Our staff understood the seriousness of the situation, and they were ready.
Many counselors who had been scheduled for a night off immediately chose to stay at camp. Without hesitation, they gave up their evening not only to shelter in place, but also to help keep our boys safe and be there alongside the campers who have quickly become their little brothers.
Within minutes, camp shifted into action. Mattress pads and sleeping bags appeared in the dining hall and its basement. The kitchen staff quickly prepared late-night snacks for nearly 600 people. Our Health Center packed up evening medications and brought them to the shelter locations so no one would need to leave the buildings. Everyone simply stepped into the role that was needed.
Our Juniors and Seniors settled into the dining hall, while the Hawks and Eagles made themselves comfortable in the Media Center below. Some watched last year’s video yearbook, excitedly pointing out familiar campers and counselors, and seeing many of the traditions that still await them later this summer before settling in for a movie.
The Crows came down to my house, where they quickly claimed couches, spread sleeping bags across the floor, munched on snacks, and enthusiastically embraced what they hoped might become the ultimate camp sleepover.
Once everyone was accounted for and safely inside, our counselors did what they do so well. They kept the boys calm, comfortable, and entertained. What could have been an anxious evening quickly became an unexpected adventure. The possibility of what might have been happening outside was completely overshadowed by the laughter, movies, and conversations taking place indoors.
Fortunately, as is often the case in our little corner of Maine, the storm tracked southwest of camp. Around 11:00 p.m., we were able to give the all-clear, and everyone returned safely to their bunks. The only disappointment came from the Crows, who learned that their night at my house would not, in fact, become an overnight sleepover.
Last night reminded me that the strength of a camp community isn’t measured when everything goes according to plan. It’s measured when the plan changes. Watching every department, every counselor, every administrator, and every member of our staff instinctively pull together to protect and care for our boys made me incredibly proud. Because of them, what could have been a stressful evening simply became another memorable camp experience.
This morning, camp was right back on schedule. The Eagles boarded buses for their much-anticipated trip to Funtown Splashtown, and another beautiful summer day at Takajo was underway.
