Monthly Archives: July 2026

By Eliana Koenigsberg, Camp Ockanickon Director - YMCA of the Pines is proud to celebrate its 120th anniversary this year, marking more than a century of serving children, families, and communities across southern New Jersey and the greater mid-Atlantic region through camp, youth development, outdoor education, and community programs. What is now a vibrant, 800-acre campus in Medford, New Jersey, began in the early 1900s as an abandoned mill and cranberry bog, tucked deep within a forest of pine, oak, cedar, and laurel. In 1906, the YMCAs of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Monmouth counties established what was then known as [...]

By Suzanne Williams, VP of Development and Governance -  In an era dominated by screens, schedules, and structured achievement, there remains a place where childhood unfolds the way it should—outdoors, unhurried, and full of possibility. YMCA of the Pines summer camp is not just a seasonal program; it is a living tradition rooted in 120 years of purpose, community, and transformation. Its philosophy is simple but powerful: let them go, watch them grow. Founded in 1906, YMCA of the Pines was created to help young people build character while immersed in nature. Today, that vision thrives across more than 800 [...]