2013
05.17
Thank you to former Matolly Staff Member, Danielle Wiest, for sharing this great Thought of the Day. Can’t you picture a 7-year old camper doing this!!!
A little boy went out to the backyard to play with a baseball and bat. He said to himself “I am the best hitter in all the world!” Then he threw the ball up in the air and took a swing at it, but he missed. Without a moment’s hesitation, he picked up the ball and tossed it in the air again, saying as he swung the bat, “I am the best hitter in all the world!” He swung and missed. Strike two. He tossed the ball up again, concentrating more intensely, even more determined, saying “I am the greatest hitter in all the world!” He swung the bat with all his might. Whiff!! Strike three. The little boy laid down his bat and smiled real big. “What do you know? I am the best pitcher in all the world!”
Brent Birchler
Boys Camp Director
Category Matolly for Girls, Ocky for Boys, Stockwell Day Camp |
2013
05.15
Category Matolly for Girls |
2013
05.14
Watching the seasons change our environment is one of the great benefits to living here at camp. I love the sudden change when the leaves grow back and everything is green again. The changing seasons always bring about new families staying here at camp. For instance the geese are raising five babies that follow them around near the lake everyday. Behind Ockenhouse there are two wood ducks named Wilma and Fred waiting on their eggs to hatch. Watching deer in the Matolly field eating with their young is a sight to see. If you haven’t gotten a chance recently to come out and see the place transforming then I encourage you to come to our open house on May 19 or come spend the weekend with your family at our Memorial Day Camp May 24-27. Just as everything at camp grows so do the people who come here. I find it amazing how fast our campers grow up. Even watching my fellow staff member’s children grow is really exciting. This past weekend we had our mother child event and it brought some very familiar faces to camp. I really enjoyed catching up with everyone that I have not seen in many months and also building relationships with so many new people. I look forward to the next opportunity when I get to see all of my friends from this weekend back at camp. Whether that be summer camp, family camps, or the next mother child weekend this past weekend really reminded me of how fortunate I am to be apart of something truly special. Every day is a great day when you are in a place as wonderful as Camp Ockanickon.
Rich
Category Activities, Alumni, Facilities, Matolly for Girls, Ocky for Boys, Stockwell Day Camp |
2013
05.12
Hello all!
I would just like to take a moment out of my busy day, on this very special day, to tell you how blessed I am to have such strong, smart and simply amazing women in my life.
Today is Mother’s Day… but to me, every day should be Mother’s Day. Including my wife, Gabrielle, our very own Matollionequay Girl’s Camp Director, there are 9 working mothers on our immediate staff here on the property at YMCA Camp Ockanickon… and a few others working at our School’s Out sites. That number also increases as we have more working Moms join the staff seasonally.
I am touched by each and every relationship I have with the Mothers in my life. Being a father myself they offer me advice, understanding and support in ways that no one else can.
To have such strong female role models around the children we care for in our various programs here at Camp, either on the front lines or behind the scenes, is surely a benefit to everyone.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my own mother who, with Gab and I both working full time and beyond, is a very involved caregiver to our little one. Without her support and love and strength, I’m honestly not sure where I would be today.
So to Gab, Mom, Monique, Diane, Cindy, Pem, Kimberly, Lynne, MaryAnn, Darleen and Melissa… and to all the other Moms involved with Camp and in our lives… Happy Mother’s Day today and every day… because you deserve to be celebrated more than just one Sunday every year.
Be good…
Chef Jason
(Pictured above: my wife and our Girls Camp Director, Gabrielle and our 3 1/2 year old daughter Charlee… enjoying an afternoon out for some good food and a stroll on this Mother’s Day)
Category Chef Jason, Matolly for Girls |
2013
05.11
Well…yesterday was the final class for the Intro to Mountain Biking program. This class is part of our Discovery Programs that we have offered this past spring. These programs are designed to introduce kids to some of the various activities we have at Camp.
If you are interested in any of our Discovery Programs, please keep an eye out in August for some new and exciting classes!
Category Activities |
2013
05.10
It is a mother’s responsibility to protect her young. To protect her young, she must keep them close to her. I would imagine that it goes against many motherly instincts for moms to send their kids off to Camp without them. Yet they do it anyway. Moms send their kids to Camp because they know it will be an enriching experience full of fun, adventure, challenge, and friendship. Thanks to all of the moms (and dads) who give us the gift of Camp, even though they miss us dearly while we are away. Have a happy Mother’s Day Weekend!
Brent Birchler
Boys Camp Director
Category Matolly for Girls, Ocky for Boys, Stockwell Day Camp |
2013
05.09
As the last children were being picked up on Thursday, May 2nd, from the School’s Out program at Indian Mills Elementary, a hummingbird flew into the cafeteria. He was flying back and forth high up in the ceiling grid. With no outside doors, there was no way for him to find his way out. The custodians did not know how to get him out. One suggested sucking him into the vacuum. Ann and I left feeling worried about his fate.
When I arrived Friday morning, the hummingbird was still flying around the cafeteria ceiling. When Meredith, one of our School’s Out campers, arrived the bird immediately landed on her bright pink backpack. April (School’s Out staff member) suggested a box trap. We used the Frito Lay box from our snacks and a piece of cardboard. We got flowers from outside to attract him. We also used some of our famous School’s Out tissue paper flowers for extra color.
The hummingbird found the flowers right away. He was very hungry. After severed missed attempt, he landed on the flower, began feeding and April pushed the box over him. We all carried the box and cover outside to let him go. After several seconds of hesitation, he took off!
You just never know what kind of cool things might happen in School’s Out. We thank our helpers, Meredith, Alex, Trent and Nicholas!
Ruth Boice
School’s Out Site Supervisor
Category Uncategorized |
2013
05.08
Category Matolly for Girls |
