Blog
Over the summer, while interviewing a group of campers for our strategic plan, one of them said something that has stayed with me ever since: “Takodah’s superpower is belonging.”
That simple phrase perfectly captured what makes this community so special. In a time when so many people feel disconnected or isolated, Camp Takodah offers something incredibly powerful—a place where people truly feel that they belong. It made me wonder: how can we harness the power of Takodah to help even more people experience that sense of connection? How can we all take our Takodah experience and spread it beyond the shores of Cass Pond?
For the second year in a row, I had the honor of representing Takodah and New Hampshire Ys at YMCA National Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C. In conversations with elected officials and their staff, we kept hearing the same message. In these divisive times, the YMCA is seen as an organization that brings people together to build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities. The Y is trusted. The Y is valued. And perhaps most importantly, the Y is seen as a place that can bring people with different perspectives together.
In many ways, the Y also has belonging as a superpower.
The YMCA’s national priorities—supporting parents and caregivers in childcare and youth development, teaching water safety, addressing the mental health crisis, and promoting healthy lifestyles—are priorities we live out every day at Camp Takodah. At camp, we provide meaningful, screen-free experiences that help combat loneliness and support mental well-being. We teach young people how to live alongside others who may have different routines, habits, or viewpoints. We ensure that campers develop the skills to be safe around water, and we go even further by training dozens of lifeguards each year.
Most importantly, we model what it means to build a community around our shared motto: Friendly to All. Takodah demonstrates how powerful it can be when people choose to welcome one another.
Camp is also one of the strongest partnerships we can offer to parents and caregivers. Every camper experience helps build life skills—resilience, independence, goal setting, and the ability to appreciate and learn from differences. These values may begin at home, but they often take root most deeply when young people step outside their comfort zones and discover who they are on their own.
Too often, we think of camp simply as a fun place to spend a few weeks each summer. While it certainly is fun, I believe camp is much more than that. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. As parents transition from being caregivers to advisors, it becomes even more important that young people develop the independence, resilience, and confidence needed to navigate the world. Those skills are built every day at Camp Takodah.
My time in Washington, D.C., left me energized and proud—proud of the YMCA for serving as a bridge in divided times, and proud of Camp Takodah for modeling what it means to create a community where everyone belongs. As a call to action, Takodians, let’s spread our superpower of belonging to our schools, communities, workplaces, and neighbors. Let’s make sure everyone feels they belong. Whether it’s in a cabin in New Hampshire or a conference room on Capitol Hill. Camp Takodah and the Y show what’s possible when we choose connection and celebrate our differences rather than fear them.
As Takodians, we are fortunate to see that superpower belonging come to life every single day.
In friendship,
Chris
CATEGORY: Takodah Whispers