AUGUST 18-23, 2024

For one week in August, children ages 7-16 from the New Jersey and Philadelphia area can attend Camp Bright Feathers.  Camp Bright Feathers is dedicated to serving children and teens affected by HIV/AIDS and/or violence through a nurturing overnight camp program that focuses on improving the health, well-being and self-sufficiency of all.   Camp Bright Feathers provides a stress-free, fun, recreational camp in the woods for these children that are dealing with an assortment of issues back at home.  It’s a chance for these children to be just kids.

The camp is held at YMCA of the Pines (Formerly known as Camp Ockanickon) which is located in Medford, New Jersey.  The camp sits on over 800 acres in the heart of the pine barons.   The camp has two man made lakes where the children can go swimming, boating, and fishing.  The campers also participate in land sports, arts and crafts, nature, horseback riding, hiking, tractor rides, campfires, talent show, a dance, and karaoke. The older campers get a chance to enjoy the climbing wall, and zip line.  Each dinner has a theme were the campers and staff dress up to win a prize.  Tuesday night the camp is treated to an outside entertainment. Wednesday evening the camp comes together for its talent show.  The camp comes together on Thursday for its special event and finishes the day with the traditional camp dance.  Then on Friday the campers and staff finish with some extra activities and a last meal together.

The camp is run by a mixture of new and long-time veteran counselors.   Almost all of the volunteers use personal vacation time to be at camp.  The staff go through several training (Giving up additional personal free time) to ensure that they can provide a fun and safe time for the campers.  Each individual brings their own individual talents and expertise to help provide a memorable experience for each child.  Now in our 32nd year, Camp Bright Feathers has had the pleasure of providing a wonderful experience to over 3,000 campers and look forward to continuing this experience for many more years.

Summer 2024 Registration-Campers in order to be eligible to apply for Camp Bright Feathers must come from one of our partners that help serve Camp Bright Feathers.  Parents will receive an email after the first of the year along with a mailed letter with camp information.  Parents are not allowed to share the link for registration with other families.  If this happens it may make that camper ineligible to attend this summer. Camp will run on the following dates August 18-23, 2024.  Camp has limited spaces so last year campers will get first spots as long as they apply be the deadline.   Camp Registration ends June 1, 2024.  Any completed applications will be added to the waiting list for camp.  If you have any questions please contact the camp director- Roger Houghkirk at [email protected].

Visitor Night- More details to follow for 2024.

This is open to any volunteers or past campers along with our camp partners.  It takes place on Thursday August 22nd at 6pm.  We will be having our traditional Thanksgiving meal followed by our camp dance.  If you are interested in attending please e-mail Roger at [email protected] by August 14th.  It is important to RSVP so that we have enough food for that dinner.  Anybody who does register after the date will not be allowed to attend.

For additional information about Camp Bright Feathers please check out the following sites below.

YMCA of the Pines (Home of Camp Bright Feathers)

1303 Stokes Road

Medford, NJ 08055

www.ycamp.org

Eligibility	children ages 7-16 from the New Jersey and Philadelphia area
Community Services	Seasonal Programs Summer Camp

Last Updated: 01/31/24