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Camp OckanickonMedford, NJ
January 9, 2013
Located outside of Philadelphia, this YMCA camp serves boys on one side of camp and girls on the other. The camps have different names and are pretty much separate except for the sanctioned pranks that spice up the summer. We met with Brent the director of boys camp. He has been working as the director here for 7 years and obviously has a really good handle on the culture here. He is decisive about what makes his camp stand out against others, and that is his staff. In his mind staff must respect the place and the community that make the summer camp experience a memorable one for the campers. These camps are both steeped in tradition, and we got to hear in depth the opening and closing ceremonies that welcome campers to the magic of camp as well as release them with hope and memories into the real world again. Huge fires, Native America costumes, the lighting of torches and lots of singing, what fun traditions for counselors to take part in and campers to marvel at.
-Laura