Read Our Blog

Imagine it’s your first day of college. Your parents drop you off. You move into a strange room with a strange new friend. Your life in higher education is about to begin. Then hours after your parents leave someone in a bright tie-dye shirt herds you and three hundred of your new friends into a caravan of buses. You’re going to Camp. For nearly a decade Stockton College has started their incoming freshman experience just like this. Hour after Welcome Week begins students arrive at Camp Ockanickon to participate in SOAR, Stockton Orientation Adventure Retreat. For three days students participate [...]

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 [...]

I cannot say enough about the amazing staff that I had the honor of working with this summer. These guys were just so dedicated to making a tremendous experience for every single camper that came through our gates from Session 1 through Session 6. They truly embodied the phrase from the old days, "the other fellow first." They put the needs of others before their own for 9 weeks straight and did so with a smile on their face and never-ending enthusiasm. Many people talk about the "young generation" as kids who want things for themselves right now: the job, [...]

“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” I have had the fortunate honor of being the Challenge Course Program Coordinator for the past three years. Over those three years I have had sixteen staff members work on my team and countless others come and lend a hand when needed. This year I have watched campers who traditionally did not do well with high elements push past their fears and boundaries and achieve something that three years ago they did not think was possible. I would love to say that [...]

Camp is all about allowing campers the ability to push themselves outside of their comfort zone and experience new things. I am fortunate enough to facilitate our Rangers program here at camp, which involves different adventure trips for our oldest campers. Our 14-16 year olds have the chance to rock climb, canoe in white water, hike the Appalachian Trail, geocache, rappel, and much more. More importantly however, while they are out on their adventure they are learning life lessons and self accountability. Each one of our trip programs takes a waterproof group journal with them to use however they fit. [...]

This week campers and staff are divided into the four houses of Harry Potter; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.  Each camper and staff member have the opportunity to earn points, for their assigned house, throughout the week in each activity period. Points are even earned when a camper or staff member wear the color of their house! During special events this week the campers and staff members have been playing the Harry Potter game Quidditch, without the brooms, of course. Friday will be the championship game! Our current scores for the houses are: Griffindor: 924 Ravenclaw: 976 Hufflepuff: 1,005 Slytherin: [...]