YMCA Camp Ralph S. Mason

I’ve been here in New Jersey for just about two and a half years – this is my third winter. And frankly, I’ve been a bit underwhelmed with our snowfall. I spent the previous thirteen years in the Berkshires, where winter comes early and seems to stay forever.

But now – with this latest storm dropping more than 18 inches of the white stuff – I’ll stop complaining about the lack of snow cover.
Still, it makes for some incredibly-beautiful scenery. When Honey (my golden retriever) and I go on our regular walks, I find the Camp Mason property to have a special beauty in winter. We see tracks made by all sorts of wildlife, and the quietness of the camp is such a contrast to the hustle and bustle of summer. The view from the upper barn toward the Kittatinny Ridge – one of my favorites in all seasons – is both stark and stunning. It’s a privilege to live at a place with such natural beauty.

And to think – in only 120 days another Camp Mason summer will begin!

Dave DeLuca.
Chief Executive Officer.

2/26/10

Despite the very large amounts of snow that are falling at YMCA Camp Mason, believe it or not, our Outdoor Center Spring season starts on Monday! We will be spending the week in staff training, gearing up for the first groups of the Spring season the following week. We have a number of returning naturalists this season, as well as some new arrivals - check out their bios in Leaf Notes, coming out next month.

We are looking forward to hosting our first group of the spring season, Comfort Zone Camp who will be here for their first of five visits this year next weekend. Comfort Zone Camp is an organization that provides a fun and safe place for grieving children. It was founded in 1998 with a mission to provide grieving children with a voice, a place and a community in which to heal, grow and lead more fulfilling lives. Comfort Zone Camp is the nation’s largest bereavement camp. Camps are offered free of charge to children ages 7-17 who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. If you are interested in learning more about Comfort Zone please visit their website at comfortzonecamp.org.

Alison Fisk
Outdoor Center Director

Are you ready for new and exciting challenges? Summer camp at camp Mason is an unforgettable experience, but if your interests extend to the extreme and exciting then perhaps Adventure Bound is for you! Our camp borders the 72,000 acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, providing our trekkers with an inexhaustible supply of exciting outdoor adventures…all within two hours of our central camp facility. AB Trekkers explore some of the last great, true wilderness areas left in the Northeast. In 2010 our treks will explore: The Delaware River, Appalachian Trail, Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail, as well as multiple cliffs in both New Jersey and New York. Are you ready!

AB’s very popular “ERC” is back again for the climbing enthusiast and would-be climbing enthusiast! We’ll begin at base camp learning climbing skills from standard to pro-technical but most importantly, we’ll learn to become safe and careful climbers. Once we’ve got the basics down we’ll head out to the cliffs to practice our skills as a group. We’ll begin at local Rick’s Rocks and Allamuchy Mountain, increasing the challenge with each climb. Next, we’ll head up to the famous Shawangunks in New York where we’ll boulder and get a chance to see some expert climbers show their stuff. The culmination of the week is a fantastic route high above the Delaware River. Our instructors are experienced and eager to help you become a great climber. Go beyond your standard summer routine and get out there and go extreme!

You’re invited to join us in 2010 for our Spring and Fall Work Weekends! We’re looking for a hardy group of volunteers – alumni, camp families, friends – to help us with important projects around camp. We’ll provide the housing and meals – you provide the enthusiasm and muscle. Bring the whole family; There will be supervised children’s groups to keep the kids busy. And when the work day ends, there will be plenty of camp activities to enjoy. Best of all, our work weekend is completely FREE!

For more information about our 2010 Work Weekends, or to register, please visit the link below or contact the camp office.

Some trips that the campers can go on are..

* Wild Waterfalls and Wading: Van Campen's Glen is an extraordinary place to see waterfalls and check out geological history.
* A Blast from the Past: Millbrook Village, a historical town that still has an original general store, school house, and water mill from the late 1800’s.
* Running the River….well actually strolling down it because the Delaware is a lazy river! Campers have the opportunity to check out local wildlife such as: Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, White-tailed Deer, and perhaps a bear!
* Watersports Galore: We also go tubing and kayaking on 2 mountain lakes: Crater Lake and Blue Mountain Lakes. Campers swim and explore, while being surrounded by awesome scenery.
* Extreme Climbing Adventure: Our local cliff, Rick's Rocks, is in the Delaware Water Gap, campers can challenge themselves to some real rock climbing, how high can you climb.
* Copper mines and Canoe Challenge: Campers hike along the Appalachian Trail and finish off canoeing down the Delaware River.
* Ridge Runners; Beavers and Bears: Witness some of the most spectacular hiking along the Appalachian Trial in New Jersey.

We look forward to taking you on a trip in 2010!

The Japanese American Wellness Institute is based in Bergen County, New Jersey and has been running programs in the tri state area since 1995. They have more than 20 years experience in the fields of sports, fitness, camp and education in both countries, and are recognized for their high quality programming. Their goals are to combine Japanese and American cultures in relation to wellness.

The Japanese American Wellness Institute visits YMCA Camp Mason twice a year, once after Christmas and again over Presidents Day weekend. Their first day of camp is spent at Camp Mason, taking advantage of the recreational programming on offer, such as archery, riflery, bb guns, the climbing wall, cross country skiing and sledding. For the rest of their stay at Camp Mason they visit Shawnee Mountain every day for fun filled days of skiing or snowboarding. For more information on winter programming at YMCA Camp Mason please contact the Outdoor Center director at alison@campmason.org or by phone at (908) 362 8217.

Did you know that Camp Mason offers family camp weekends? In our busy, modern lives we all seem to have far too many distractions that pull us away from the things that really matter. We say family foremost! Quality time with the family when you can all be together seems harder and harder to find. But, the YMCA has a solution - a tradition that spans seven decades. Family Camp!!!

Our program is designed to be a fun-for-the-whole-family weekend of things to do, indoors and out. Do as much or as little as you like. Relax at camp, or hit the trail! Throughout the weekend we will be offering various camp activities you can enjoy as a group - or divide up for a time so each can sample the activity they most enjoy. Some activities are self directed while others are supervised by our helpful, caring staff. The weekend also includes planned group events. Evening programs include exciting presenters, treasure hunts, and a traditional campfire complete with s’mores

Our 2010 Family Camp Dates are out now, please click here for more information and to download a registration form.

For more information about our 2010 Work Weekends, or to register, please visit the link below or contact the camp office.