Reveille blows, and the boys dart out of bed, they make their way to breakfast, they sit shoulder to shoulder with their teammates, they fill up their water bottles before heading back to the bunk to grab their equipment. They lace up their shoes, swipe black face paint under their eyes, and board the bus.
They know exactly what lies ahead, an all-day round-robin tournament. They’re representing their camp.
Our intercamp schedule is in full swing, and boys of all ages are getting the opportunity to put on a Takajo uniform and compete alongside their friends and bunkmates. Yesterday, our Eagle, Junior Grey, and Sub Senior tennis players were on the road, while our Okees competed in soccer and our Intermediates’ baseball team took to the diamond. Today, our Okee lacrosse players also headed out to represent us.
It’s easy to tell how our boys did on the road. When the bus arrives after a victory, the celebration often continues with a mad dash down to the lake, uniforms and all. A loss is a bit more somber. Boys grab their equipment, quietly step off the bus, and reflect on their team’s performance. The thrill of victory is exhilarating. The agony of defeat teaches humility and grace. There is great value in both. While winning builds confidence and creates incredible shared memories, losing provides an opportunity to manage disappointment, learn from mistakes, and come back ready to compete another day.
Some of our Seniors enjoyed an afternoon playing nine holes yesterday. Some of our Warriors headed out today, and tomorrow it will be our Juniors’ turn. We’re fortunate to have some great golf courses just a few miles from camp. While we have an incredible new practice facility that we built in the off-season, there’s nothing quite like stepping up to the first tee and ripping a drive down the fairway… or wherever it happens to go.
Meanwhile, back at camp, our Hobby buildings continue to buzz. Projects are taking shape in Woodworking and Ceramics, music pours out of Radio & Electronics, and I keep running into budding reporters writing about camp for the Tak Talk. Play practice, too, is in full swing, and our Seniors have taken on the challenge of performing Hamilton on the stage of the MJG Playhouse.
The pace of camp, and perhaps our boys’ heart rates, are picking up away from the fields as well, as our Junior Greens made their way to Camp Vega for a social, while our Junior Greys visited Tripp Lake Camp.
Boys go through different stages. At seven or eight, they get props simply for participating, for running up and down the field and having the courage to compete. By nine or ten, athletic ability becomes more apparent, and the best athletes often become the boys their peers look up to.
Then, they start going to socials. Suddenly, the boy with the confidence to walk across the room and ask a girl to dance becomes a king in the eyes of his peers. It doesn’t matter whether he’s the best athlete. A little confidence and swagger can go a long way.
In camp lore, that’s how legends are born.
