I’ve spent a good part of this fall on the road. Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to visit more than a dozen summer camps, something I always enjoy doing.
I’m in a rather unique industry. While we may operate different camps, my colleagues and I share a tremendous commitment to providing children with the safest, most enriching, growth-oriented experiences possible. There is a wonderful spirit of collaboration among camp directors, and I’ve always appreciated how willing we are to share ideas and best practices. These visits allow me to stay connected to an industry I love while seeing firsthand what other camps are doing and whether there are new ideas worth exploring for Camp Takajo.
I’ve made several trips up to Maine in recent weeks, where we’re already hard at work preparing for next summer. With the continued expansion of our program and the growing popularity of flag football, we’re looking to create a large multipurpose athletic field, most likely dedicated to our 11- and 12-year-old Juniors. We’ve also begun renovating some of our Warrior bunks, and the first completed interior, with beautiful new pine and improvements to airflow and insulation, looks incredible.
I’ve spent well over fifty years at Camp Takajo, and I still challenge myself to look at our magnificent facility with fresh eyes. I often talk about keeping one foot in the past, honoring the traditions and values that have defined our institution for generations, and the other foot in the future, recognizing that the needs and interests of boys continue to evolve. There is always something we can do to make their experience even better.
I’m also delighted to share that enrollment for 2027 is moving at a record pace. We welcomed an extraordinary number of prospective families for tours this past summer and received a wonderful response from families enrolling immediately after Labor Day. We are still waiting to hear from a select few families about their plans for next summer. I know how busy the fall can be, but we’re already beginning to make reservations for out-of-camp trips and organize next year’s program. If you haven’t yet let us know your intentions, a quick note would be greatly appreciated.
The early enthusiasm we’re seeing with enrollments allows us to devote even more attention to developing our program and assembling an exceptional staff. Bob Lewis, Harrison Manchel, and Bear Davis have been visiting college campuses, attending recruitment fairs, and meeting with young people interested in spending their summer working at Takajo. We place particular emphasis on recruiting college students pursuing careers in education and coaching, including those seeking internship opportunities. These students have a genuine interest in working with children and developing the skills that will serve them throughout their professional lives.
We’ve also been reaching out to last summer’s counselors, and I am encouraged by the number who have already committed to returning in 2027. There is tremendous value in having staff members who know many of our boys, understand our traditions, and take pride in being part of the Camp Takajo community.
When I haven’t been focused on camp, I’ve been fortunate to devote some meaningful time to my family. Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to fulfill a wish of my 91-year-old mother. She had expressed a strong desire to return to the apartment where she grew up and lived until the day she married my father. I accompanied her on the visit, and I cannot begin to describe how moving it was to watch her as we pulled up to the curb.
She immediately recognized her childhood home, and the emotions came flooding back. When she walked up to the door and knocked, a complete stranger answered and warmly welcomed us inside. Watching her walk through the rooms where she had spent her formative years, remembering her parents and brother and recounting stories from her childhood, was an experience I will never forget.
October 21st would have marked my parents’ 70th wedding anniversary. We gathered as a family to celebrate the extraordinary life they built together. It was a bittersweet occasion, particularly as we approach the first anniversary of my father’s passing. On November 27th, we’ll gather again as a family for the unveiling. My mother remains remarkably vibrant at 91, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be able to share these experiences with her.
Much of my year is spent preparing for six-and-a-half weeks when hundreds of boys will make memories that stay with them for a lifetime. In many ways, that’s what we’re in the business of doing. We create an environment where friendships develop, traditions are passed down, and experiences become stories that boys will someday share with their own children.
And then I find myself standing beside my mother in the apartment where her own childhood memories were made, witnessing just how meaningful those experiences remain seventy years later.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself with an extraordinary amount to be grateful for. My family, my health, the wonderful community we’ve built at Camp Takajo, and the opportunity to continue doing something I love with the same enthusiasm I had when I first arrived at camp as a nine-year-old boy.
I wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with beautiful memories.
