For first Camp’s first blog post, I felt it was appropriate to reflect on my first summer back at O-AT-KA, this time as our new Executive Director.
I’ve been asked a lot since the summer ended about how my first summer in the role went. I obviously reply “Great!” as it truly was a GREAT summer. With perfect weather, an enthusiastic staff team, and a wonderful group of campers, the summer of 2025 was a special one.
I hadn’t been on staff at O-AT-KA since 2006, so returning in 2025 I wasn’t sure what to expect. I often asked myself how much had changed in almost 20 years? I quickly found out that only the perfect amount has changed: buildings had been updated, programs have been added, and the fields had been improved. More importantly however, most things were unchanged; the Galahad Program was still as lively as ever, the Commons had the same tables, chairs and benches, the dive tower still had to be carried out during staff week, Green Grow the Rushes Ho was still sung, passwords still happened, King’s Day was still the best day of the year, and O-AT-KA was still producing boys and men of character. I could tell from every person I had met, campers and staff, that had been at O-AT-KA for even just one summer prior, was someone who had been impacted by Camp. They represented themselves, and Camp, positively and proudly, and displayed positive attribute after positive attribute. It was refreshing to see that the impact O-AT-KA made on me, was still getting made on everyone who steps foot on campus. All in all, that is what made the summer of 2025 as special as it was for me.
