Even as the years go by and the faces change, character develoment, friendship building, and learning new skills continues to be the foundation that the Camp experience is based on.  This past week, Ockanickon has seen many of its sons assume new responsibilities.  As has always been our tradition, when senior staff move on, someone  steps up to take their place.  With men like Ezra Schwartz, Joe Hurford, Donny Palmer, Dan Rozov, and Rich Rinaldi moving onto the next chapters of their lives and men like James Otwell (Ranger Head) , Rob Rinaldi (Oneida VC), and Brennan Downey (Program Director) accepting new positions at Camp, there have been opportunities for younger staff members to step up.  Matt Geurtsen and Wayne Holmes have assumed the role of Village Chief of the Cherokee and Seneca Villages.  Former camper of many years and Virginia Tech graduate, Rob Giorgianni has returned to Ockanickon to accept the position of Mohawk Village Chief.  Chris Lawson and Brett Patterson have become the new CIT/LIT Directors and Rich Rupert has taken on the responsibility of Challenge Course Director.  Paul Giovanni has been promoted to the position of Ranger Head.  Greg McCrohan, Rob Love, and Sam Kaubin resume their roles as Algonquin VC, Waterfront Director, and CIT/LIT Director. 

It is very reassuring to me to have such fine men leading our Camp and our boys.  These men personify what character and integrity truly means.  Our Session 1 campers were in good hands, as will be the rest of our campers this summer.  As I look at the 2012 CIT’s, I have to wonder which of them will be running Camp in a few years.  It is very satisfying to know that they will be taking up the reigns when their time comes.  May they learn from our experiences  the same way that we learned from those  who came before us. 

There are hundreds of campers that are going to learn from this extraordinary group of young men over the next 7 weeks.  Some of these campers will someday become Ocky counselors and the whole cycle will begin again.  It is a beautiful thing to watch boys at Ockanickon be willing to open up to one another, sing Camp songs, be themselves, and to help out the other fellow.  It is more beautiful to watch these boys become men and pass down this tradition to the next generation over and over again.

Brent Birchler

Boys Camp Director