VOLUME XII – Field Work Part II

Dear South Jersey,

I’m sad to say that I’ve completed my work at YMCA Camp Ockanickon. Yet another great venture that this blogging opportunity has brought me in life.

The last we left off, I had some fun playing in the leaves, picking up sticks, cleaning up areas and making sure all of the cabins are safe and sound. In my last week of work, I was able to do some even more useful work for the camp and took on a new role as lumberjack.

My next assignment was to go out onto a far trail along the lake where kids and camp counselors meet over a bonfire at night time. The area was filled with pine needles and used firewood.

I was asked to take the old firewood and stack it between two trees and to rake the area; however, most importantly, I was asked to do a more daunting task. With an ax in hand, I prepared myself to split about 30 tree stumps into quarters and stack them on top of the old firewood so the kids would have new firewood to burn this summer.

The stumps were previously used for kids to sit on around the fire, but the camp is now installing about five handmade benches around the area.

So I went to work. Over the course of two days, I grabbed stump after stump and heaved them one by one onto a base. Then, I would raise the heavy ax over my head and take my big swing in hopes of giving the log a perfect split.

Through my journey, I had some good splits and some not so successful cuts. But I also met some new “friends in the process.”

First of all, in splitting logs that are beginning to dry rot, you get to see some bugs that you thought you’d never see. If you’re a late-80s, early-90s kid like I was (or a parent of one), I’m sure you’ll remember Creepy Crawlers – that little mock-easy bake oven where you create little gelatin insects. Well, let’s just say I found Creepy Crawler Hell in these logs.

On the first day, I also saw some friendlier creatures. I’m not sure, but I think I may have seen a baby chameleon. When I picked up one of the logs, I saw a small, brown lizard, and as he scurried away he turned a pale green color. It may have been the hot sun and the sweat in my eyes, but I saw what my mind told me I saw, I suppose.

I also ran into two little frogs. They sat patiently as I worked and watched me split the logs. Then, they disappeared as I was stacking the wood.

I had a lot of fun doing this task and it was so rewarding when it was all done and the finished product revealed itself to me.

My final task was to lug fresh 4x4s down to a manmade bridge that kids frequent and pull up any unsafe boards that could break given too much weight. I tore up about 10 boards total and put new ones down, avoiding dragonflies and seeing snakes, geese and chipmunks along the way.

As I walked back to my car with the last of the old planks tucked securely under my arm, I wiped the sweat off my brow and dropped the wood. I took a deep breath and peered out to the lake and took in my last bit of nature. I clasped my hands together and dipped them in the clear water and set off into the sunset.

Thank you again to Ocky and all of its eager members. I hope you all have a successful and safe summer and I hope that I was of help in your effort to prepare for it. If I do remain in the area in my lifetime, rest assured, I’ll be back to help some more.

Take care.

Yours,

Kevin Haslam