In 1925 and 1926, Ockanickon’s leadership was looking for a permanent home for the camp. After finding the Medford site, they designed a pamphlet to share with potential donors. In addition to a description of camp’s first 20 years and why a permanent site was necessary, they included some quotes from previous campers and other prominent YMCA supporters. The pamphlet was dubbed “Acres for Character.” Their words still ring true today.

“The organized summer camp is America’s most significant contribution to the educational system of the world.”
Dr. Charles Eliot
President Emeritus
Harvard Univerity

“The Young Men’s Christian Association through Camp Ockanickon offers to boys an opportunity which nothing but such a camp can give.”
Henry F. Stockwell
Chairman Camp Committee

“The real heart and soul of Ockanickon as I remember it, lay in it’s genuine Christian spirit, and in its atmosphere of honest fun and fellowship. A regular camp with something more. I am sure that I would not think of Ockanickon half so much (for I have been to other enjoyable places) if it were not for something more.”
Alfred Driscoll
Haddonfield, NJ
Future (now past)
Governor of NJ

“I went to Ockanickon the first year because the gang was going. After that I went as often as I could because I wanted to go there more than any other place. I experienced then, and observe now, that the camp does more good for a boy in the allotted time than any other institution I know of.”
Adrian E. Moreau
Freehold, NJ

“Ockanickon is where a real self reliance is created, where fellows get the rough corners smoothed off, and new and inspiring ideas are caught from contact with other fellows. The fun, the discipline and the friendships made it an experience of incalculable value in my life.”
Charles DeHart
Thorofare, NJ

“Ockanickon’s greatness lay in it’s SPIRIT and LEADERSHIP, and as long as they remain, the camp in its new location will continue to be as inspiring to boys of today and tomorrow as it has always been to me. I can never say enough for the good it has done for me, and for the friendships which I formed there.”
William J. Bailey
Collingswood, NJ

“The memories of the summers spent at Camp Ockanickon are so happy, the friendships which I made are so true, the lessons which I learned are so vivid in my mind that I am hoping my two boys may enjoy the same privilege of many happy days at the camp.”
S. Roger Oliver
Burlington, NJ

“Camp Ockanickon has come to mean more to me as the days go by; the comradeship of the campers, the cooperation of the leaders, and the friendly advice of the camp directors, all have come to make life richer and fuller.”
Edward W. Carter
Pitman, NJ

“I have come up from the rank of camper at Ockanickon to the day of a man’s interest in a great project. The spirit and influence of the old camp was one to be proud of, and for the sake of the boys of today I shall work to make the equipment of the new camp all that the old camp deserved.”
Roy K. Clement
Woodbury, NJ

Shared by Brent Birchler
Boys Camp Director