Since the summer of 1961, Lake Owego Camp has continued to grow and become the camp it is today. Before we start the summer of 2016, here is a quick look back at some of the physical changes that the camp has gone through.

The Lower Field was the main activity area of camp, with a ropes course and basketball court. Today, the field is used for baseball and ultimate Frisbee, and it’s home to the Silverdome (one of our two indoor facilities for sports). Until the Upper Field was cleared, soccer used to be played on the Lower Field. Starting this summer, the Lower Field will also house our brand new golf range and putting green!

One of the first things you see upon entering camp is our adventure area, including climbing walls, a zip line, a giant swing, and the other low ropes elements. That area was once used for archery, and rock climbing took place on the outside part of the infirmary.

When you head up to the Hughie Black Center for basketball, weights, or fencing, imagine that as an open space just for basketball. South Courts, which are the other basketball courts, were also used for street hockey with removeable boards.

From South Courts, as you look across to Jacoby Field (the Upper Field), you’ll see an area that  was all woods until the mid-1980’s. It took nearly ten years for all the rocks to be removed so that the field could be completely safe. Today, the field is used for soccer, lacrosse and football, and it’s the host for many evening activities under the lights, and of course, the flames that burn for the beginning and ending of Frontier Week.

Until we had our covered Scotty’s Stage, most of the rainy day activities took place in the Rec Hall. At one point, the Rec Hall was also used for weightlifting, computers, and phone calls!

Underneath the Rec Hall was the home of arts and crafts. Now, there is a wall that separates canteen and the counselor lounge. The space used to be one big room and the sides were completely open.

As you continue to walk around camp, Crockett used to be the Dining Hall and there were only 4 bunks. These facts would be unimaginable to today’s LOC campers who live in 17 named bunks, plus the tents. We’re not sure how many of today’s bunks we could even fit into Crockett for a meal!

There have been many changes since the first campers walked through the gates of Lake Owego in 1961. However, despite all of the physical changes, the heart of Owego has never changed. We are brothers that look out for each other regardless of if it’s your first or tenth summer at camp.

The wait is almost over, so whether a camper or counselor, your time to create your own summer history will begin the moment you pass through the gates. We can’t wait.

The post Different Look, Same Feel appeared first on Lake Owego Camp for Boys.

There is nothing that compares to the feeling of brotherhood at LOC. You walk through the gates and it overwhelms you in the best way. An immediate sense of belonging and familiarity takes hold from day one, like you have been there and have known everyone forever. From the newest camper and staff member to the oldest of Old Timers, you know you are right where you belong. You are home. You are smiling ear to ear and you are surrounded by your brothers.

Friday night campfires are filled with skits, songs, joke-offs, awards, and so many traditions that visiting alumni, since 1961, can sit down and join right in. Kings Court, “Little Red Wagon”, Top 10, IRock award, Tent Talk – they’re just a few of the many fun things you can expect. Owego campfires are the highlight of each week. Every one, on its own, is really something special and purely LOC. You’ll laugh ’til you cry while you are there and cry ’til you laugh, remembering them.

Frontier Week is what Lake Owego Camp is all about. Four days of non-stop teamwork. It was created to give every camper and staff member the opportunity to share the principles of a tribal community where every person is an integral part of each event. You work together until the end. Each tribe is supporting their own members as well as those of other tribes. We can say it’s our “color war,” but it’s just not. It’s Frontier Week. It’s Lake Owego.

“Only at Owego”, “Tradition Lives On”, ” Blue, White, Life”, “Blue Flames Never Die”, “Where you go, Oh we go”…these are just a few of our sayings that define what is quintessentially Lake Owego Camp. Being there, experiencing it first-hand, is the only way to completely understand. Then, you are a lucky man, an “Owegan Brother to the Core.”

The post Quintessentially LOC appeared first on Lake Owego Camp for Boys.

Who: Philadelphia Spinners vs. New York Rumble
What: Ultimate Frisbee!
Where: Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School
201 E Germantown Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
When: May 2nd, 2015 at 6:30PM

General Admission: $16 / Person
Friendly Four Pack: $44
Youth Player Pass (clinic, pizza party, and game included): $30

First “Pull” (that’s the kickoff in Ultimate Frisbee lingo) is at 6:30PM.

Come “huck the bee” with the pros.  Prior to the game, the Spinners players are putting on an on field clinic so that we can learn from the pros and hone our ultimate frisbee skills.  The clinic starts at 4:00pm, and it is followed by pizza (included for clinic participants).

Please RSVP for the clinic ahead of time by calling the camp office at 267-639-2488, we hope to see you there!

The post LOC and the Philadelphia Spinners! appeared first on Lake Owego Camp for Boys.

I believe I have the best job in America. I can directly impact a young man and put a smile on his face each summer. There is such intrinsic value that camp provides, namely the fostering of self-confidence, independence, the opportunity to try activities that a boy does not get to do at home, develop athletic skills, make lifelong friends and create memories that last a lifetime. Owego creates an environment where there is a sense of belonging…a sense of brotherhood, a sense of family.

Feel free to give me a call at the camp office or email me at jeff@lakeowego.com anytime. I look forward to meeting many of you in person and/or via phone/email. Happy Trails.

The post Guest Post From Freedo, Our New Co-Director! appeared first on Lake Owego Camp for Boys.

Jeff returns to LOC after 15 years as director of a private independent boys camp in New Hampshire. Prior to that, he served as an attorney for the NCAA. Jeff loves sports, and in his earlier life was a competitive tennis and basketball player. Jeff has a passion for camp and working with children. His motto at camp is “Carpe Diem”, meaning seize the day, since in his eyes there is no better place in the world than camp. Jeff lives in New Hampshire with his wife Cindy, who also works with children as a pediatric occupational therapist, their son Beau and two daughters Zoe and Chloe. Beau will be a new LOC camper, and we look forward to the girls joining us at Camp Timber Tops and Pine Forest Camp.

Please join us in welcoming Freedo (and Beau!) to LOC!

The post Welcome Back to LOC, Jeff “Freedo” Freedman! appeared first on Lake Owego Camp for Boys.

Bill and his son, Michael

Hi everyone! I am Bill Southward, Head of High Senior Division at Lake Owego Camp. When I’m not at camp I am a Sixth Grade teacher in the Penn Manor School District in Lancaster, PA. I was a former basketball coach at Lancaster Catholic High School but now my hobbies include going to my son Michael’s (17), swim meets and walking our dog, Luckie. My wife Susan and I are so proud to have our son Michael grow up at camp and can’t wait to see him as a counselor next summer. We are also thrilled to have our grandson, Ian, a 5th grader, starting his 3rd summer at Lake Owego in 2015. We also have 3 other children Jill, Krissy and Joey and another grandchild, Christian.

Many people ask me “How many years have you been at Lake Owego?” My answer is always the same, “A LOT!” Let’s just say, I am in many of the TBT photos on Facebook from the 70s. I have held many jobs at camp, starting as a Counselor and Basketball Instructor. I was also an Athletic Director, Unit Leader, and Head Counselor. I was asked what my favorite camp memory is but I have so many of them, I can never just pick one. My favorite activity is, hands down, Senior Campfire and my favorite parts of the summer are Olympics and Frontier Week. BUT, my absolute favorite night of the summer is Rope Burn. I’ll see you all in Greeley…Summer 2015.

The post When I’m Not At Camp: Bill Southward appeared first on Lake Owego Camp for Boys.

Jordan Kaplan, 2014

Hey Owego!! Hope everyone is having a nice start to another school year. For me, this year has started in a flash as I enter my second year of medical school at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. It’s busy times like these that it’s nice to remember the amazing summers spent at Lake Owego Camp. I began going to camp in the summer of 1999 as a young camper in bunk Boone. 12 amazing summers followed. The friends I made remain forever. I will never forget ending my tent summer standing next to 6 of my best friends as fellow frontier week chiefs, something I had only dreamed of for many years prior. I spent 3 summers working as a counselor coaching baseball and continuing the tradition of an “Owego Dynasty”. I am happy to say that I came from a true camp family. My mom attended CTT as a camper, counselor, and camp nurse. My brother Michael was a LOC Olympic captain and sister Alyssa a CTT Olympic captain. Now that my time at camp has come to a close it is nice knowing that to this day I remain close with many of my friends that I made over all of those amazing summers. I recently moved to Philadelphia for medical school which was a big change for me seeing as I grew up in Los Angeles and attended college in Santa Barbara. Lucky for me though, I had many camp friends in the area to make the move that much easier. Just the other day I was out walking to breakfast when I ran into Josh Schtzul a fellow chief and my old counselor while in bunk Pike…hadn’t seen him in years but we each recognized each other immediately. Similar situations have since happened with the Ritterman brothers and my old bunkmates Kevin Nathan and Brett Frankel. Life goes on but Owego remains. I’m fast approaching my medical boards this upcoming summer as I continue chasing my dream of one day becoming a plastic surgeon. I think every past Owego camper will agree that no matter what path we all take, we are all Owegans at heart.
Jordan Kaplan

We love to hear from all of our Alumni. If you would like to share what you have been up to since you left camp, please email melissa@lakeowego.com

The post Lake Owego Camp Alumni Spotight: Jordan Kaplan appeared first on Lake Owego Camp for Boys.