Daily life — activity program structure and age groups
All age groups have two athletic periods a day plus waterfront, hobbies and skills. Younger boys have instructional swim until age twelve. Hiking and camping trips are available every day in every age group. As boys get older, they have more choice in picking the hobbies and skills in which they want to participate. Our oldest campers have Specialty Camps which give them an opportunity for in depth instruction in sports or other activities in which they want to focus.
Camp Takajo is situated on Long Lake in the picturesque Sebago Lake region of southern Maine, with nearly a mile of shoreline.
Ages
7–15
Accreditations stated by camp
American Camp Association
Activities
Waterfront
Swimming
Canoeing
Sailing
Wakeboarding
Land Sports
Soccer
Tennis
Basketball
Archery
Volleyball
Baseball
Hockey
Lacrosse
Arts & Creative
Painting
Ceramics
Photography
Music
Woodworking
Outdoor Adventure
Hiking
Rock climbing
Camping
Clues to fit
Camper testimonial — lasting impact of Arch Ideals and lifelong friendships
"Every time I step on the field for sports the first thing I think of is the ideals that I religiously live by. I am who I am today because of the morals and ideals that camp has bestowed on me. I succeed in my schoolwork, friendships, and extracurricular activities mainly because I have a solid foundation of meaningful morals. The friends I made through camp are very meaningful to me, and I regularly keep in touch with all 26 of them. The lessons and experience I have obtained will surely stick with me forever and I will continue to follow the arch ideals in every thing I do. I am proud and always will be, to be a Takajo camper." — Jake, 8 Year Camper
Why seven weeks — belonging, relationships, and resilience
The most common theme among our alumni is that Camp Takajo is their 'home away from home.' Being with us for a seven-week season gives a boy a sense of belonging to our Takajo family and lets him gain his own sense that Takajo is his second home. A seven-week season allows relationships to develop naturally over time and fosters an unhurried approach to skill development that promotes deeper learning and infuses confidence. In a time when resilience is such an important trait, a seven-week season allows a boy to deal with the normal ebb and flow of daily life and, at the end, feel a profound sense of accomplishment both in his relationships and in his skill development.
Setting — Long Lake and Maine's natural environment
The rugged, natural beauty of Maine speaks for itself! Epitomized by the expanse of rocky coastline, the towering pine trees, the mountains, and the many pristine rivers and lakes, the surrounding area offers us a wealth of opportunities not only for sheer enjoyment, but also for teaching important lessons in self-reliance, the essence of teamwork, and respect for our natural resources.
Waterfront — Long Lake setting, Red Cross swim program, nearly a mile of shoreline
Camp Takajo is situated on Long Lake, located in the picturesque Sebago Lake region of southern Maine. Along nearly a mile of shoreline, we have designated areas for swimming, water skiing and wakeboarding, sailing, and canoeing. Our waterfront director is a certified Red Cross instructor who trains our staff in an intensive preseason orientation in CPR, water safety and swim instruction. Our swimming program is based on the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program.
Special events — Indian Council Fires, Fourth of July, Family Nights, and more
To promote a fraternal feeling among all the boys, the entire camp joins together frequently for special events such as Family Nights, the Carnival, Fourth of July assembly and fireworks, shows, talent nights, weekly cookouts and Indian Council Fires.
Parent testimonial — camper thriving, confidence, and sense of brotherhood
"Benny is truly thriving at camp. I was amazed to see how the boys have grown together even more and how the confidence is showing all over them all at Takajo. Benny and his friends share like brothers and look out for one another. They were so happy to be involved in everything they did. The perfect balance of structure and freedom makes for a very happy boy, and I can see it in every way, from his growth to his smile, to his interest in everything around him." — Stephanie, Camp Parent
Self-reliance and independence — seven weeks away from home
Sending your son to camp for seven weeks provides him with a rare opportunity to develop self-reliance and independence. Being in a nurturing, supportive environment, but away from the immediate comforts of home and family, a boy gains confidence from learning new skills and navigating new situations — and, yes, occasionally dealing with a little adversity!
Visiting Day: Saturday, July 24. Rookie Day: Thursday, July 22. Camp states it is committed to full-season camping but can in rare cases accommodate families whose schedules don't align.
Program breadth — hobbies ranging from ceramics to WTAK radio station
Hobbies consist of nature study, painting and drawing, crafts, ceramics, music, dramatics, journalism, photography, videography, radio & electronics, and woodworking. Younger campers rotate through all the Hobbies to get a taste of each. As boys get older, they are allowed to choose the activities in which they are most interested. As part of our dramatics program, Junior and Senior campers may choose to participate in their respective Big Show which is typically a well-known Broadway musical.
Sports program — six major sports, no awards, competition in perspective
We offer quality programs in six major sports: baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, hockey and lacrosse. There are no awards given at camp. We strive to help each child develop confidence and self-esteem. To select only a few for awards would defeat what we are trying to accomplish. Within team competition, we make a conscious attempt to reduce the pressure on a youngster. As a result, inexperienced campers are able to develop confidence and a sense of achievement. More experienced players are challenged because they have other boys against whom they can test their skills.
