2010
08.28
Hello Friends…
With one week of Day Camp left and the Resident Camp season behind us we’ve jumped right in to our Conference season where we host schools, retreats, speciality camps… you name it… groups of all shapes, sizes and missions.
Camp Little Rock, a speciality camp for the visually impaired, was in this past week.
On Thursday night they participated in one of my favorite activities… COOKING!!
“Pasta Joe” came for a visit and gave everyone a lesson on preparing Garganelli, a hand rolled tube shaped pasta.
My staff and I put the finishing touches on the delicious pasta dinner and served it up. The gang cleaned their plates saving just enough room for dessert.
Pictured below is Pasta Joe instructing the campers and some of the final product.
Thanks for spending the week with us Camp Little Rock!!
Be good…
Chef Jason
Tags: Camp Little Rock Category Activities, Chef Jason |
2010
08.26
We had our last overnight of the summer of 2010 last night. We had 19 campers who participated in the fun and s’more madness 
Check out the photo of our “Stick Dedication Ceremony.” 
Category Stockwell Day Camp |
2010
08.25
The Algonquins have Challenge Course every Wednesday morning. This week, Amanda and Brian asked the group to use short tubes of PVC piping to move a tiny marble to a far away destination. Of course, the campers had to work around a few important guidelines: 1.) the marble must pass through each person’s tube, 2.) campers are not able to move their feet whenever the marble is inside their piece of tubing, 3.) the marble may not touch anything except for the inside of the tube and 4.) if the marble drops, the group must start over. So, as you can see, this was not an easy task! The group worked together, achieved their goal and learned a little bit about planning and the importance of working together!
Category Stockwell Day Camp |
2010
08.23
The Boat Regatta was a perfect way to wrap up Color Wars and Session 8! Each team had two staff representatives who built “boats” out of only cardboard, duct tape and paint. They swam in a relay to capture points for their teams, while the rest of the campers and staff cheered from Bette’s Beach. We made some fantastic banners offering support and encouragement at Arts & Crafts that showed tremendous team spirit! I’ve included a few photos of the teams and race below. Congrats to the BLUE team for taking first place!
Category Stockwell Day Camp |
2010
08.22
In the hopes of adding some closure to our Summer 2010 blog, I decided it would be appropriate to reflect publicly in front of you, the reader.
The sun has indeed risen and set once again on our summer camp program. I couldn’t be more thankful for having been a part of each and every magical moment spent on the grounds of YMCA Camp Ockanickon, Inc. this summer. The amount of pride, passion and accomplishment I feel for our organization is immeasurable. Admittedly, there were days that were hot and nights that were hotter. Swimming never lasted as long as we wanted it to and pulling canoes out of the water never got easier. Early morning bathroom trips always seemed to happen five minutes before the alarm was set to go off, and even if we dosed ourselves in bug spray, bug bites inevitably suffocated our ankles. But we did it. The amount of patience, creativity and spirit exuded by our staff falls short to none, as was shown in our ability to craft an unforgettable experience for our campers and each other day in and day out.
We did a lot this summer. We labored over color choices for our Arts & Crafts projects. We played silly tag games on the Landsports Field. We swam in a cedar lake. We canoed and kayaked beneath the beautiful South Jersey summer skies. We slept on bunk beds. We kept our cabins clean. We ate delicious food. We took long and exciting Nature walks through the Pine Barrens. We shot arrows at the Archery Range. We shopped at the Trading Post. We built fires. We even camped out in tents! But most importantly, amidst all the pre-scheduled activities, we tried new things; we met new people; and we laughed.. harder and louder than any day from September to June could ever promise you. How could I have chosen to be anywhere else?
My last camper to check out of Seneca Village on Friday did so with sparkling tear-stained eyes. Although equally as sad that the final session had come to a close, I attempted to comfort her with the fact that “There’s always next year!” To which her response was, “But that’s 365 days away!” Hand in hand, we both let out a few sniffles as we walked towards her parents. Beaming, their daughter’s belongings in tow, laughing and shaking their heads at the intensity of our emotional circus, I gave their daughter a big hug and turned to them, “Thank you for sending your daughter to us. She was a pleasure to have in our village. I hope I see you again next summer!”
Their response went a little something like this, “I don’t think we have a choice. If we didn’t sign her up, she’d find a way to get here. Matolly has her heart.”
After dropping my heart off eleven years ago at Camp Matollionequay, it is empowering and reassuring to know future generations are still dropping theirs off, too. The events of an entire day are now all a blur, but the distinct memories of all sorts have been painted in my mind in colors that never fade. We did it.
Cristina Lepore
Seneca Village Chief
Category Matolly for Girls |
2010
08.22
Hello everyone!
Here at Camp we like life a little more “unplugged” then most… but that’s not to say there’s not some techies amongst us… and amongst YOU, our visitors, Campers, Alumni and Members. The Internet is a great way for us to keep in touch, hear about news and events, see images of Camp all year around.
If you are familiar with the Internet “game” Foursquare then you will be happy to know that Camp has 3 new “check-in” spots… one at Ockanickon, one at Matollionequay and one at our Stockwell Day Camp. The check-in spots are located near the hubs of activity for each of the three Camps… the Boy’s and Girl’s Dining Halls respectively and one near the Stockwell Pavilion.
Wether you are a Member hiking the trails or you are a guest with one of our many Conference groups, check-in with us when you are here on the property so we know who’s around!! Maybe your visit here will help you unlock a new badge!!!
Don’t forget to find us on Facebook too. Our staff keep the news and events rolling through your News Feed and also put up interactive questions, challenges and requests like a recent post asking you to tell everyone your most memorable moment from our 2010 Summer Camp season!!
And of course there’s our monthly e-newsletter that has all the pertinent information. Sign up for it on our website!! It’s a good read and not something for the junk mail folder!!
Keep in touch and up-to-date with us year-round to keep the Camp spirit alive and well in your hearts and minds!!
Be good…
Chef Jason
Category Activities, Facilities |
2010
08.19
Color Wars has been a great week! All of the teams (red, blue, yellow and green) are demonstrating our Core Values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility to earn points…and the race is close! Yesterday, the blue team captured gold in the flea fly race and we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see which team wins the boat regatta! We’re having a blast playing and we are all keeping in mind that, at the end of the day, we’re a part of the same team 
Category Stockwell Day Camp |
2010
08.19
Greetings Friends of Camp…
It’s approximately 4:30 pm on Thursday. The last full day of our Resident Summer Camp program.
I’m sitting in an empty Boy’s Dining Hall, decorated for tonights final feast… all the tables are set and waiting. “Banquet Dinner” is what we call it and what it has been called well before my time. Green Feather Banquet or Blue Feather Banquet, depending on which Camp you are at, is a special night filled with special songs, traditions and a certain bitter sweet feeling that this is your last dinner together as a “Nation”.
We serve up a rather traditional Thanksgiving style dinner of Roast Turkey & Gravy, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce and everyone’s favorite, Corn Bread. For dessert… the infamous Chocolate Mousse that I mentioned a few blog posts ago.
So here I sit… gravy simmers quietly on the stove… the corn bread is baked and waiting to be sliced in to generous hunks. The strawberries are sliced for the mousse… and the mousse itself is chilled and anxiously awaiting to be scooped into bowls, garnished and devoured by our hungry boys and girls.
I can hear children playing outside somewhere nearby… out of my line of sight but from the sounds of it, in a very different way, they are enjoying this beautiful day as much as I am. Sitting here in a peaceful, vacant Dining Hall, cherishing the last few breaths of our Resident Summer Camp season. The calm before an uproarious Blue Feather Banquet Dinner.
I should go stir the gravy…
Be good…
Chef Jason
Category Chef Jason, Matolly for Girls, Ocky for Boys |
2010
08.18
Each Tuesday, our Explorers take part in a group initiative that focuses on fun, communication and working together. This week’s initiative had the 12 and 13 year olds constructing a safe shelter for the mighty egg drop from the top of the lodge. The campers were given straws, newspapers, tape and plastic water bottles to create a vessel that would lessen the impact of the egg’s fall. Each of the small groups came up with creative and successful ideas! Check out a photo of the actual drop and another of the proud and smiley Explorers:
Category Stockwell Day Camp |
2010
08.16
It’s been a long nine weeks since our staff first came together. The counselors here put in long days. We are up at 7 and are up working most nights until midnight. The days are hot, and if they aren’t hot, they’re rainy. Sometimes the kids can bring us up while other days they can be more challenging than anyone might expect. A counselor has to be mom, dad, doctor, coach, teacher, and psychiatrist, all before lunch. Considering all of this, we expect our staff to be tired, exhausted, and totally drained coming in to the last week of resident camp this summer. Then we ask them to find whatever gas they have left in the tank and leave it all on the field.
What absolutely thrilled me today was that not only have our staff answered this call, they have gone above and beyond what is expected. Playing at camp today had the energy of a fresh group of counselors with the feel of an experienced group of role models. Read the rest of this entry »
Category Ocky for Boys |
