My Tree House Adventure

When I was a little girl, my dad built us a tree house and we loved spending time up there and occasionally we even slept overnight in it! My dad was a surgeon but he loved designing and building things around our fly-in ranch, and a few of his patients who couldn’t afford to pay their medical bills loved having the opportunity to come and help him out. Those nights in the tree house have always been great memories.

So when summer was over last year and my husband was deciding what winter projects he wanted to undertake at Camp Takajo (his summer camp for boys in Naples, Maine) and told me he was thinking of building tree houses, I thought it was a terrific idea and agreed that his campers would thoroughly enjoy them. Thus the tree house adventure began for Jeff and his year-round facilities staff, who spend their snowy Maine winters repairing bunks and shower houses and building new facilities for Takajo and nearby Tripp Lake Camp (Jeff’s all-girls camp in Poland, Maine).

The idea of building tree houses was met with total glee by the building crew – this rugged group of burly men could barely wipe the grins off their faces! I have often referred to my husband as Peter Pan, at the helm of his very own Neverland – a place where all these grown men never have to really grow up. And certainly during the summer months when camp is up and running, and Jeff and his staff are on the playing fields and basketball courts and roller hockey rinks….and running whacked up relays and “make your sundae” nights, it confirms my “Neverland/Never grow up” theory about all of them.

Mind you I watch all of this with an envious eye! They have managed to create and live a fantasy life that parents everywhere read to their children about at night! Meanwhile the rest of us toil away in the hectic, busy world of suits & ties and emails. While others push paper and have board meetings, they are organizing color wars and swim races. While the rest of the world debates over “efficiency spread sheets” they are planning adventures – white water rafting, hikes & rock climbs, lake swims, and overnights in the tree houses.

Now back to the designing and building of those tree houses. Jeff’s building staff couldn’t have been happier with their assignment. They ventured into the acres of thick forest that Jeff owns which surround the pristine camp ground of Takajo. They forged a path and found the best trees, and then sat down to design three different tree houses.

The first tree house they built was so high up off the ground, that when Jeff and I came up to Maine last Fall to check on the progress, Jeff decided to have them install a LONG enclosed curly slide, to provide a really fun and really safe way back down to the ground.

The second tree house they designed is two-story and has a fire pole for the little campers to slide down. It is just far enough away from the first tree house so that when campers are sleeping out in it, they can’t really see the campers in the nearby tree house and thus feel like they are out there in the woods all by themselves.

My favorite of the three tree houses was the last one to be built by the crew --- it is an Octagon shape and has a “rickety wobbly bridge” you must cross over in order to go inside. Each tree house sleeps about 12 people.

Throughout the summer Jeff sent bunks of his little boys campers out to spend the night up atop the trees in the magnificent woods. There are picnic benches below each tree house—and the campers loved this new outing now available to them.

Jeff has been promising our own children since we arrived up here in June, that they too would get a chance to sleep in “daddy’s new tree houses”. So with camp finally over, Jeff was ready to make good on his promise to our four little ones, Kim and Jack now 4 ½ and Kate and Max now 6.

Last night we all gathered together our sleeping bags and pillows and flashlights and set up our tree house. Before retiring to the tree top abode, Jeff built a roaring fire up near the pioneering building on camp (I didn’t know he had it in him quite frankly). We all roasted marshmallows and made s’mores and the kids absolutely loved it. My only issue with the smore’s was that it made them thirsty, and I didn’t want them downing a bottle of water, because all I could think about was how many times they were going to have to pee during the night high above the ground. Of course Jeff had thought of everything, so there was even a “bucket” out on the balcony which runs all the way around the perimeter of the tree house – just for those kinds of emergencies.

When the time came for our tree house adventure, we piled onto our golf carts (with all of our supplies; sleeping bags, pillows, lanterns and BUG SPRAY, and made our way to our “TREE TOP HILTON”. Lanterns in hand, we carefully navigated our way up the steep steps and set up our sleeping bags. Max brought along his new chapter book called the “Magical Tree House” which I read by flashlight. Then it was time for “Lights Out”! But Jack and Kim at 4 years old were too tickled by the whole adventure and couldn’t stop jumping all over all of us. It was finally decided they would have to go back to the house. Kate chimed in she wanted to go too. So Jeff said he would take them back. That left Max and Mommy alone on the tree house adventure. I actually thought Jeff would leave the kids with the others in our home and return to us, but when I awoke this morning to the sound of several Crows talking, it was only Mommy and Max.

I called our fearless leader who had spearheaded this whole adventure (who was sound asleep in our cushy comfy king size bed) and I queried “What happened to our big overnight group adventure”. He replied “I knew you guys would be fine since I knew what an adventurous soul I married”. I said “Bring me coffee to my tree house please”. He did. We sat there and enjoyed our morning cup of coffee as the sunlight began to stream in through the windows, signifying the beginning of another gorgeous sunny day on Long Lake.

I wish for all of you that you take advantage of the moments that come your way, to enjoy nature, to enjoy each and every opportunity for peacefulness and solitude, to take every chance that comes along to play like a kid. Nature, play, challenge, hiking beautiful mountains, swimming in the lake or ocean, camping out, or just taking a walk with a neighbor or friend is good for the soul.

“Namaste”, as my good friend, trainer and Reveille collaborator, Beth Bielat, always says at the end of each of our workout sessions. It means “I see the goodness in you”. May you all remember to see the goodness in your world!

OUR KIDS CAN AMAZE US, IF WE CAN JUST LET THEM TRY THINGS!

This morning was one of my favorite days of the summer – when the staff here at Camp Takajo on Long Lake in Naples Maine “Break Olympics” for the youngest campers -- the “Warriors”. Breaking Olympics is traditionally a big surprise for campers -- however it has also been a tradition at Camp Takajo to break Olympics for the very youngest new campers the same way every year – and that’s the way it was, this gloriously sunny morning in southern Maine. It began at 7:30 am (little kids all wake up early, and the trick is to catch them by surprise in their jammies) when counselors ran through the Warrior Quad and in and out of their bunks in white Togas calling them all to the waterfront.

As they wiped the sleepy from their eyes and ran to the beach they had quite a surprise awaiting them at the waterfront. Docked and ready for their early morning “Munchkin Cruise” was the Songo River Queen – a tourist attraction staple in this beautiful lake region. The nostalgic 'River Queen II' is a 90-foot-long paddlewheel boat that offers sightseeing cruises on Long Lake, and nearby Brandy Pond and through the hand-operated Songo Lock to Sebago Lake. If you are ever in the area you should check it out. The cruises run daily all summer long (You should call ahead for reservations 207-693-6861).

It’s really quite a sight to see the giant boat tied up to our Takajo dock. I remember the first time I saw it come in, and I really wondered if it was possible to bring such a huge vessel into a swimming dock –I held my breath—but they did it with the greatest of ease. But for this troop of youngsters, believe me it is quite a sight. The Warriors then filed onto the docks and boarded the Songo for their early morning swing around the lake. The top deck is open to see the sights and the bottom deck is enclosed and that is where the campers found boxes of Munchkins and fruit and yogurt and orange juice. Meanwhile they listen to the much anticipated announcement of what team they will be on, and once back on land it is time for the “games to begin”.

But I have a special interest in this year’s games, since my 6 year old Max is right in the middle of it! The youngest campers at Takajo are “finishing first grade, or generally 7-8 years old. However two weeks ago Jeff offered to let Max take a shot at “being a Warrior” for a day. That was two weeks ago and he hasn’t been back to the house since. They set up a bed in the bunk, and he has been having the time of his life for 14 days now-overnight in his own little camp bunk. He did ask us if he could move his bed from the house into his bunk. When we asked why, he said “because that one doesn’t have sand in it.”

I never would have dreamed that he could have participated in all of the activities and hold his own with these older boys. I would have guessed that he would have been back home by nightfall. However the counselors tell me he is completely comfortable, independent, and happy and has never asked once to go back to the house! I don’t know whether I should be excited about his independence or cry. But frankly, I am dumbfounded -- this is the little ‘mommy’s boy’ who I admittedly coddle and protect.

Yesterday he got up on water-skis for the second time (first attempt both times) with his scrawny little 45 pound body. No hesitation, he jumped in the water, grabbed the bar and popped right up behind the boat. He is playing roller hockey with the guys (had never been on roller blades before this) and flag football, basketball, you name it. He’s leading the “bed making” competition – and that’s another thing he’s never done before. Jeff told him yesterday “Enjoy the next couple nights because then you are coming home” to which he said, “But why dad, camp isn’t over yet!”

While I am told not to expect the bed making to necessarily continue we’re back at home, I know one thing will change -- my approach to parenting. I have learned in the past two weeks not to inadvertently set limitations on what my children can do – based on my limited expectations of what they are able to do. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to have my eyes opened to the power of childhood. It reminds me of one of my favorite positive thinking exercises: List all the ways you would end this sentence: “If I were not afraid, I would……………………..” Well guess what, children haven’t been told to be afraid, to put limitations on what they are able to do in life. They try things because they believe they can do them. That is the power of childhood! That is a memory worth recapturing for ourselves, and it is important to remember not to limit our children’s expectations of what is possible.

Getting Ready for Camp Reveille!!!

Some of you may know that as part of my advocacy and passion for women’s health, I started a summer camp for women a few years ago in Naples, Maine called Camp Reveille. I run the 4 day/3 night program on the grounds of Camp Takajo on Long Lake, one of the children’s summer camps that my husband, Jeff Konigsberg, owns and directs. The wooded grounds are serene, the lake is picturesque, and the camp grounds abound with tennis courts and playing fields for every activity imaginable.

Some of my “super” campers want to try every fitness class we offer, hike the grounds, water ski, canoe, and scale the 50 foot climbing wall. Other campers are looking to relax, enjoy ceramics and jewelry making, have a facial at our Murad Health Spa and perhaps read a book in an Adirondack chair overlooking the lake. But they all enjoy the camaraderie of camp life, and sharing stories with each other. We all may live very different lives back home, but when we come together at camp we are reminded that we share many of the same struggles and challenges in this busy world of ours. Women can not only learn a lot from each other but we can inspire each other. My goal for Reveille is to provide a safe nurturing environment where women will reconnect with their sense of play, feel comfortable challenging themselves and renew their commitment to their own health and wellness.

I love hearing from my campers and our Reveille trainers throughout the year on our message board. I learn from them all the time!

There is still time to sign
up for a memorable long weekend to play like a kid, be pampered, and connect with other women like yourself!

Click here view the activities and to sign up.