Years ago, Chris Corona, the Camp Ockanickon Boy’s Camp director at the time, asked me to put together a modern songbook for the staff and campers. To start me on this endeavor, he gave me apiece of camp history that I still hold to this day, the Camp Ockanickon songbook. A Collection of Ockanickon Camp Songs was written by A.J. Ciccone in 1960. The revised copy, which sits in desk, was typed (not printed) in 1963.

There are a number of camp songs that have stood the test of time such as, Sixpence, Silver Paddles, Red Wagon, Taps, Tell Me Why, and the Ockanickon Alma Mater. There are countless other songs that have since been forgotten here at camp and replaced with new traditional songs like Flea Fly, Herman the Worm, and Titanic.

Here’s a taste of a couple I wouldn’t mind making their way back into circulation;

Over Hill
Over hill, over dale, we will hit the greenwood trail, as we campers go hiking along.
In and out, all around, you will never see us frown, as we campers go hiking along.
And its hi, hi, ho, Ockanickon for me! Shout the name loud and strong!
Ockanickon!
Where’er you go, you will always know, that the campers go hiking along.

Ockanickon Fight Song
Ockanickon, Ockanickon, welcome to our shore.
Call the tribes together, let us hear your roar.
Ockanickon, Ockanickon, Chief of love and light,
Show us the way and we’ll fight, fight, fight!

Now, I also thought it prudent to pull out a songbook from Matolly and I was lucky enough to get my hands on the songbook created for the 50th anniversary celebration in 1987. It was very cool to see that songs like Cannibal King and Matolly Girl were heard around camp as far back as 25 years. Most of the campers and staff there this summer would not have been born as these words echoed around Squaw Lake.

That’s all for now.

Dave Kaubin
Outdoor Recreation Director