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By Roger Houghkirk, Director of Camp Bright Feathers The Quick History of CBF In the 80’s the world started to deal with a life changing and life destroying disease called HIV/AIDS that would affect millions of lives and families. It made people scared, intolerant, and the fear of the unknown created by myths and misinformation increased the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV and AIDS. Even as we learned more about this disease as time went by, there became a need to support children who were infected and affected by HIV. In the winter of 1992, the YMCA Camp Ockanickon Board [...]

An interview with Gab Ostroski, Director of Camp Matollionequay and April Eyler, Matollionequay Program Coordinator – about the new Emblem Program at Camp Matollionequay Gab and April have been huddled together, working out the details of an exciting new empowerment program. According to Gab, pictured at right, and April, the Camp Matollionequay Emblem Program has been designed to fit into the motto of our girl’s sleepaway camp, “Empowered to be Me.” “We firmly believe in the mission of Camp Matollionequay and YMCA of the Pines, and have created an Emblem Program that enhances this mission, encourages empowerment, and incorporates the [...]

by Greg Keresztury, Director of Operations (The commentary below was published by the Burlington County Times, Sunday, May 12, 2019 edition). What Inclusion Means at YMCA of the Pines Here at YMCA of the Pines in Medford, we have long been committed to serving people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. Typically this has been through our specialty camps that serve targeted populations, or through our partnerships with social service agencies. However, this is not all that we do. In recent years we have taken larger steps to create more opportunities for campers with diverse-abilities. I want to explore one [...]

by Susan Miller, Director of Marketing & Communications Andy Smith has been our Director of Building and Grounds here for the past year - and he has a long list of projects to keep him (and his great staff) busy throughout our beautiful 800 acres in the Pines! Read on about a recent project that Andy and his team oversaw - a new and improved "Ocky bowl." (And stay tuned ... we'll be tracking the progress of lots of exciting improvement projects here at YMCA of the Pines, and we'll keep sharing the news!) http://www.southjerseylocalnews.com/news/a-spruced-up-amphitheater-aka-ocky-bowl-awaits-summer-campers/article_ed3d067a-6aa9-11e9-a302-d744846138b9.html  

Becca Gutwirth joined our staff in January 2019 as the School's Out Program and Curriculum Coordinator, and she hit the ground running with ideas and enhancements. So when the School Age Childcare director MaryAnn Birchler decided to leave the organization to pursue another career path, Becca was named to that position! Check out this published story about Becca. We're glad to have her as part of the team! http://www.southjerseylocalnews.com/news/gutwirth-to-run-school-age-childcare-at-ymca-of-the/article_3672dfbe-6464-11e9-8350-df60a902b212.html      

by Greg Keresztury, Director of Operations YMCA of the Pines has joined with other YMCAs all across the country to take action and raise awareness about how to prevent child sexual abuse.  We want you to join us. We know you share the Y's commitment to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. You can share our commitment to protecting children in our community too, by learning more about how to prevent child sexual abuse and helping us get the word out to others. That's why we're writing to you. If you'd like to learn more, visit these experts in [...]

Welcome Paul Stewart - the new Lead Nurse for YMCA of the Pines! Paul is originally from Medford, and has lived in Marlton for the past 5 years. He has many years of experience right here at our camps. He is well known to the camp community as “Nurse Paul," having worked at many of our summer and year-round programs. In addition to being a nurse, he has been a camper, counselor, School's Out site supervisor and nature director. Paul has also been working in the Virtua Emergency Departments locally since 2007 and has formed a relationship with Virtua for [...]

By MaryAnn Birchler, School Age Child Care Director Mmmm I want to linger. Mmmm a little longer. Mmmm a little longer with you. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. It’s such a perfect night. Mmmm it doesn’t see quite right. Mmmm that it should be my last with you. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. And come September, mmmm, I will remember, mmmm, Matollionequay so true. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. And as the years go by, mmmm, I’ll think of you and sigh, mmmm, this is goodnight but not goodbye. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. I want to linger, mmmm, a little longer, mmmm, a little longer with you. [...]

by Greg Keresztury, Director of Operations Stewardship at YMCA of the Pines I wanted to update those who follow the happenings at YMCA of the Pines on a large project that we undertook over a year and a half ago that came to fruition this past August.  As an organization, we have a duty not only to the thousands of campers and families whom we serve each year, but also to the grounds upon which our organization sits.  As you know, YMCA of the Pines’ physical location sits upon 800 acres of forest in Medford and Shamong Townships here in [...]