YMCA OF THE PINES
SUMMER CAMPS | RETREATS |
FAMILY PROGRAMS | CHILDCARE | WILDERNESS TRIPS
As winter melts away, we here at the YMCA Camp Ockanickon Outdoor Center are excited to welcome Spring and all that comes with it. Put away the heavy coats and mittens because it is time to get back outside and have some fun. This past week at the Outdoor Center, we had two different schools join us at Camp just before hosting our annual Spring Military Family Weekend.
I started my new role as CEO of YMCA Camp Ockanickon, Inc. on March 9, 2015, so it’s been about a month. I figured this was a good time to share a little more about myself and to take a breath and to reflect a bit. I moved to Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, on March 1 from Rockville, Maryland. It is my first time living in New Jersey, and the sixth state I’ve called home as an adult. It was a welcome move for both me and my wife, Beth. We are now much closer to family, which is important [...]
Hello all!! During Winter Camp this year our very own Chef Kimmie ran an awesome cooking class for all our Campers. Since S’Mores are a standard in any camping setting, Chef Kimmie took that concept and put a cool spin on it. S’Mores Ravioli! Now these are not your traditional ravioli… boiled in water and smothered in a pasta sauce. These are a delicious baked pastry that are assembled in the fashion of a traditional ravioli. Sort of like a Turnover… but Ravioli sounded a bit more fun!! S’Mores Ravioli recipe… Makes 5 to 7 (depending on size) […]
Hello Campers! It is the 10 day countdown to Winter Camp! We are excited for our returning, as well as new campers this year! Overnight camp begins on Saturday, December 27th at 2 PM and ends on Wednesday, December 31st at 9 AM. Day Camp is available Saturday, December 27 - Tuesday, December 30th from 7 AM to 6 PM. Please contact our Main Office at 609-654-8225 to register. Have a safe and happy holiday and a wonderful new year! Â Melissa
Hello dear readers... I would have preferred to write this post in a more timely fashion but I would be remiss if I didn't post it at all. In the picture below is (most of) our 2014 Kitchen Staff. This summer our Food Service Staff were THE most highly skilled and trained team I have ever had the privilege to work with. From my Assistant, Chef Kimmie, who is a powerhouse in guiding the daily operations of the kitchen at Ockanickon & Stockwell... to Jess (not pictured) leading the team at Matolly, who graduated from the Burlington County Institute of [...]
Fishing is one of life’s great pastimes and more importantly it teaches us many life lessons, most of the time unbeknownst to the participant. When truly understood, it becomes more than just a hobby or a means to catch dinner. Firstly, fishing teaches us that we need to be patient. Every aspect of life requires some degree of patience, so learning that not every cast delivers a fish at the end of the hook gives us perspective. The things we want don’t always come right away. Sometimes all we need to do is wait until the opportunity presents itself. Fishing [...]
Hello everyone!! Facebook has been doing a little "house cleaning" and is cracking down on businesses that are still using personal Facebook pages for businesses. Since Camp was a very early adopter of using Facebook... and social media in general... one of our two Facebook pages is still currently a personal page... the other is a proper business page. Our original personal page was created well before Facebook invented the Business Pages and although we did create one of those too, we didn't want to lose what we had already started originally years before. It is inevitable that we will be [...]
Nokomis' Extended Kindergarten Program is celebrating the first day of October with an autumn collage! Our Kindergarteners were actively creating an arts & crafts collage with various autumn stamps including leaves, pumpkins, roses, etc.
School’s Out at Camp Hello to all of our wonderful School’s Out and School’s Out at Camp families! YMCA Camp Ockanickon is truly blessed to have you as a part of our organization! I have had the pleasure of meeting many of your children at Lake Stockwell Day Camp this past summer. Seeing the continued support throughout our camp is a testament to not only the staff but to our mission! This past Thursday we had our first School’s Out at Camp day! Although the weather was a bit dreary, the children came in smiling and eager to take on [...]
 As a Matolly girl since 2000, summer is, of course, my favorite season here at camp.  As August  winds down and the sound of dining hall singing is replaced by rustling leaves and the visiting day groups, it's sometimes a little sad to be on camp post-summer.  Luckily, my second favorite season, fall, is headed our way.  I know I've already been layering sweaters and scarves, and am a little embarrassed to admit that I've already used my heater this September. Though summer camp is still 9 months away (yes, the countdown is already on here in the office!), [...]