Camp Counselor vs. Internship
So...this is another great article that has been floating around Facebook over the past week: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/the-camp-counselor-vs-the-intern/?smid=fb-share
Thought of the Day
I'd like to think this is what happens at Camp... "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of the rest or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance…Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or [...]
It’s here!
Just a few of our awesome Leadership Staff enjoying the first day of training!
On the cusp…
Hello dear readers... I am writing this, sitting on my porch here at Camp on Sunday evening... a cool breeze blows... mosquitoes ignore the citronella candle burning by my side and pester my legs and neck and arms and... I think a real "go getter" just got me right through my shirt... The last of the Conference groups who stay overnight have checked out... two more day groups to go... and our Ad Staff training beginning tomorrow... and I am excited. Excited for what the Summer will bring. Hot and long days in the Kitchens for myself and my crew, [...]
Safety Tip
As we quickly approach the summer it's important to know what to look for. Here was an article that was passed around a lot on Facebook this week. While out lifeguards all receive multiple trainings, I thought this was important to share. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/family/2013/06/rescuing_drowning_children_how_to_know_when_someone_is_in_trouble_in_the.html
Ad Staff Training
My summer officially begins on Monday! Â Our Village Chiefs, Program Directors, Ranger Instructors, Activity Directors, and CIT/LIT Directors all move onto Camp and spend the week preparing their activity areas, learning supervisory skills, and beginning the process of building our 2013 staff team! Â We're happy to welcome back many returning leadership staff members and quite a few who are going to be in new positions this summer. Â It is going to be a very busy week packed with a lot different training sessions and challenges. Â I'm really excited to work with this outstanding group of young men and women and [...]
A recpie from our new Assistant Food Service Director
Hello all!! The recpie today comes from my new assistant, Chef Kimmie. If you missed out on attending our Annual Board Dinner in May then you missed a stellar dessert that was concocted by both Kimmie and I. Sadly I did not get a photograph of the gorgeous plates but it was comprised of a slice of homemade banana bread, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with hot buttered toasted cinnamon walnuts. Sounds amazing, right? Well... here is Chef Kimmie's Banana Bread recipe if you'd like to give it a try! 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 [...]
Fragrant Palm Leaves
Check out the link below to learn some neat history about Camp. Famous Buddhist Monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, spent the summer of 1962 living in Pomona Lodge and living as part of the Boys Camp community. Thich Nhat Hanh went on to author over 100 books and to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The first chapter of his book, "Fragrant Palm Leaves," describes his experiences at Camp Ockanickon. Enjoy! http://books.google.com/books?id=-Up0tkYBnlAC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=thich+nhat+hanh+ockanickon&source=bl&ots=Bp2N75vD8Q&sig=r6Zs9gQvIOD6GKGF5KWyEL78vzk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=0Z-qUajqDKrC4AP3qYGwDg&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=thich%20nhat%20hanh%20ockanickon&f=false Brent Birchler Boys Camp Director
Last Open House before Summer Camp!
Please come out and join us at Camp Ockanickon, Camp Matollionequay and Lake Stockwell for our last open house of the season. Tours will be leaving from the Ockanickon Dining Hall (Ocky & Stockwell) and the Matollionequay Dining Hall (Matolly) from 1-4pm on Sunday June 2. This is the perfect opportunity to learn about all the fun and exciting program we have lined up for this summer, meet our summer camp staff and enjoy some delicious s’mores! There is no RSVP needed…just swing on over! All of our open houses are rain or shine…but we always keep our fingers crossed [...]
A Nice Surprise!
 This morning, the School's Out program at Chairville Elementary was able to experience touring a military helicopter that landed on the school’s baseball field yesterday morning. Yesterday, the helicopter had to make an emergency landing on the property as the helicopter was experiencing mechanical problems. While the military helicopter was still waiting for the parts to deliver, the School’s Out participants were able to get a tour of the helicopter!