Scouts and friends come out in droves (with drone!) to help spruce up camp

Eagle Scout Service Projects at YMCA Camp Ockanickon –

By Susan Miller, Director of Marketing/Communications

It truly takes a village – maybe even a hefty community – to prepare for the thousands of campers and visitors who come to YMCA Camp Ockanickon each year. Fortunately, we have a legion of dedicated volunteers who step up when help is needed. And that includes local Eagle Scouts.

Back in May, Jacob Delancy of Medford, a Boy Scout with Troop 20, took on a most ambitious Eagle Scout Service Project at Cherokee Beach, one of four beaches at our 800-acre camp. He and a host of volunteers (kids and adults; about 40 altogether) cleaned up debris from the winter, spread 25 tons of new sand near the swim and playground areas, built a canoe rack and constructed a “lost and found” display post.

“This project really helps the YMCA camp because it provides a much-needed cleanup to one of the few beaches,” Delancy said. “Cleaning up the beaches will lead to a better experience for kids who attend camp.”

Delancy even went the extra step and took an impressive before-and-after drone video of the beach restoration project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1FVbKHMPyw&feature=youtu.be.

Earlier in the spring, Dan Smith, 16, of Medford – a Scout with Troop 26 – organized volunteers for his Eagle Scout Service Project. He and more than a dozen helpers built and installed benches for fire pits in three locations at our boys sleepaway camp. It was an impressive project, involving digging deep holes in which to set the posts for the benches.

Both of the Scouts had to plan, organize, fundraise for and then oversee their respective projects.

 

 

 

 

 

A bird’s eye view of Cherokee Beach both after and before it was revitalized by Jacob Delancy of Medford, as part of his Eagle Scout Service Project.