It’s easy to build a great camp day when the sun is shining. The true test of a program comes when the weather has other plans.
This morning, steady rain greeted our boys as they made their way to breakfast. One of the greatest strengths of our program is that we have the ability to adapt. One might imagine that a rainy day at camp means boys are confined to their bunks, waiting for the clouds to pass, but our campus was humming with activity.
Our Hobby Lane buildings came alive as campers made their way to woodworking, ceramics, crafts, and more. Projects continued to take shape, music echoed from building to building, and there wasn’t a shortage of smiles anywhere on campus.
At the same time, our two indoor sports complexes were packed. Groups competed in dodgeball and basketball throughout the day, allowing the boys to burn off every bit as much energy as they would have outside.
Our Warrior campers gathered in the late morning in the MJG Playhouse for their first bingo game of the summer. There is something wonderfully timeless about watching over 180 young boys become completely invested in a simple game of bingo. Every number was met with anticipation. Near misses produced dramatic groans, and each winner was greeted with cheers from friends who were every bit as excited as the boy collecting his prize. It was another reminder that children don’t need elaborate entertainment to have fun, they simply need adults who know how to create memorable experiences.
That’s what I’m most proud of on mornings like today. Great facilities certainly make a difference, and we’re fortunate to have spaces that allow our program to continue uninterrupted. But, buildings don’t create great camp days, our counselors do. Our staff doesn’t spend the morning wishing the weather were different. They adjust, they improvise, and they bring the same enthusiasm indoors that they bring to the fields and waterfront every other day of the summer.
By lunchtime, the rain had moved on and the skies began to brighten. Before long, the whistles blew, the fields filled once again, and we were right back into our regular program as though the morning showers had never happened.
The summer continues to roll along. Our Junior Greens departed today for their Big Trip, while the Junior Greys will head out tomorrow for their white water rafting trip. Our Senior campers have made some unforgettable memories across New England and Canada and were all back in camp by nightfall, and our Warrior campers are eagerly looking forward to their own trips later this week.
Rain may change the schedule for a few hours, but it never changes who we are. At Takajo, adaptability is part of the program.
