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Letter from the Executive Director – Spring 2021

Ryan Reed — April 20, 2021

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This year, perhaps more than ever, we were reminded about the power of Camp. I believe we confirmed what we always knew: a summer without camp is no summer at all. We also confirmed something else to be true: the deep connections Takodah fosters stretch far beyond the shores of Cass Pond.

If you’re like me, you leaned on camp friends throughout the stressful past year. I lost count of the number of hours on Zoom and FaceTime. Virtual dinners, concerts, family game nights, and cribbage tournaments helped us get through. I laughed hard and connected with camp people I hadn’t seen for years. Just like at Camp, we picked up right where we left off.

Camp Takodah has taught us to do this, to be resilient, adaptable, and hold tight to the knowledge that after difficult climbs, there is almost always a great view.

For me, talking to Camp friends made me feel good, almost normal. I left these calls with a belly ache from laughing so hard, and my face hurt from all the smiles. It is hard to explain how grateful and safe that all made me feel at the time. Now that we’re starting to see the top of our difficult climb, it got me thinking that these are the kinds of friendships that everyone deserves. The kind of friendships every child should have the opportunity to build.

Our world and our youth are in desperate need of some normalcy, and I cannot imagine a better comfort for campers than the joy of a summer at Camp Takodah. We know that kids need Camp more than ever, and we also know that some of our families will need a little extra help this year. I hope you will help make it possible for more kids to have the opportunity to spend their summers playing with friends instead of scrolling their phones. If your family is in a position to do so and you want to help a camper achieve a sense of normalcy, please consider a gift to Takodah’s 141 Campership fund. Donate now!