2002 Summer Camp Report

The Ockanickon Boy Scout
Program

Brings scouts in from all over!

For the first time in many years Ockanickon Scout Reservation
hosted 8 fun filled weeks of Boy Scout Summer Camp. Since 1996
our attendance has more than doubled with troops coming to us
from all over the place. Scouts from New York, Virginia, New
Jersey and even Arizona came out this summer to join the
Ockanickon family. We even hosted a group of Naval Cadets from
England!

With changes to our camp fees and the help of many adult
volunteers we were also able to control our weekly attendance and
provide each scout that came to Ockanickon the best possible
program. This, the great camp staff, the outstanding program, and
the excellent facility made the summer of 2001 one of the best
ever at Ockanickon.

Boy Scout Summer camp for the year 2002 is filling up quickly. Troops wishing to attend Ockanickon next summer should
get their reservations in as soon as possible. For summer camp
information please call: (215) 297-5290.

2001 Summer Program Report

“Very knowledgeable staff, exceedingly helpful.”

“The staff just keeps getting better and better.”

“We’re returning next year for the program.”

If you had the chance to see our staff in action you would have to
agree.

Ian Kay led the Scoutcraft Department with his unmatched
knowledge of knots and lashings. He brought many new ideas for
cooking and pioneering projects.

Dan Rowley met with great success the challenges presented to
him with the changes to Swimming and Lifesaving. He allowed for
more class instruction time by holding the clothes inflation
requirements all in one evening. The already outstanding Aquatics
program was taken to an even greater level with the addition of
the very popular Discovery Scuba program.

Jon Gorman and the Eagle department will be adding Personal
Management to their repertoire next year. Mike Kay and the
Shooting Sports Department made schedule changes which gave
scouts more time to develop skills and safety knowledge which are
vital to the performance of our new marksmen.

Jeff Menaker added another element to the High Adventure
Department this year with the HACC program. In 2002, we are
looking to expand the rock climbing and sailing programs.

Ehren Shorday had a highly successful year as the Dan Beard
Director. He and his staff did an outstanding job marking the way
for many of our future Eagle Scouts.

Ockanickon had a great summer. We hope you’ll have the
chance to see us in action during the 2002 summer season.

The Area Director’s were able to raise the bar on the
high standard we already had in place for our program.

Again, this is a reflection of reaching that ideal number of
boys in camp. Another reason for this raising of the bar is how
well most of our units followed our philosophy of Ages and
Stages.

The class sizes and staff training were the base to our
success, but there was much more that took place. Carol Moyer
adjusting her Science schedule to hour and a half classes. This
adjustment may seem minor, but it allowed the scouts the time
needed to have a better understanding of the complex science
badges. We are very excited that 2002 will mark the first usage
of the new addition to the Science Center.

2001 Facility Improvements Report

New Cots & Tent Platforms

This year 25 new tent platforms were
added to the campsites as well as 6 new picnic tables, 67 new
tents. With attendance under control we were able to replace many
worn out tent platforms and begin the process of reconfiguring
many campsites. Thanks to everyone who helped with this
effort.

Totem Lodge Improved

Preparing this building for the new
century has presented us with many challenges. One of the biggest
ones was overcome this year with the installation of a new HVAC
unit for the building. We look forward to adding new windows to
the building soon as we continue to improve the energy efficiency
of our camp.

Health Lodge Improved

A new porch was added to this
important camp building to serve as a waiting area a gathering
place for campers.

Continued Improvements to Our Pool

Marge Arnold of GCM Pool Consultants
has continued to make improvements to our pool that make it the
best one around. A new deck was poured around the exterior of the
showerhouse making it more accessible to the hundreds of scouts
who use it each day. A new state of the art pool cover makes it
possible for us to save several hundred thousand gallons of water
each year when we open the pool. All of these improvements have
been made possible by Marge Arnold and her crew at GCM Pool
Consultants. Thanks!!!

rading Post Renovated

Thanks to the help of the Pepe
Brothers of Troop 200 our camp Trading Post has been expanded to
incorporate more inventory and BSA Supply items.

Science Center gets an Addition

Each year we have struggled to keep
up with the demand for our Science Center Programs. With this new
addition to the existing building there is a place for an
expanded computer lab, planetarium as well as storage. Special
Thanks to Hurcules (BetzDearborn) of Trevose.

Campwide Clean-up Conducted

Just like your attic at home, our
camp has collected lots of stuff we just don’t know what to
do with anymore. Much needed storage space was created this year
by carefully cleaning up the camp.