Outdoor Club of South Jersey

Established in 1967 the Outdoor Club of South Jersey is a not for profit organization dedicated to promoting hiking, bicycling, kayaking/canoeing, cross-country skiing, backpacking, camping and trail maintenance for fun, fitness, and friendship.

We are a dues-paying organization that welcomes new members of all ages and abilities to join at any time of the year. Membership funds pay for insurance and other Club overhead.

Activities are all found on the respective OCSJ Meetup sites and are led by volunteer members of the club. Only paid members can join the Meetup sites.

Go to the club membership page to find out how to join us and participate in all of the fun.

The fastest way is to pay electronically. Payments by check won’t be approved until the check is recorded. Payment by check could be delayed, especially now, with the postal slowdowns.

Participation Policy

OCSJ is a member organization that requires dues. Membership funds pay for insurance and other Club overhead.

Members of OCSJ may bring, with leaders’ approval, a guest once on 1 of every type of activity. This includes day trips charging money.

Participants on trips which charge money must be members of OCSJ or 1 time guest of a paid member, except where the trip is a joint trip with another club, which has liability insurance, and the participant is a member of that club.

OCSJ HAS A CLUB SONG

We would like to introduce you to "The OCSJ Club Song" written and performed by OCSJ member Bob Steinfort. Bob, who works under the name Robert Edwin, is a professional singer, songwriter, teacher, and author. He is a regular member of the club's trail maintenance crew and wrote the song "The 1808 Trail Crew Song" which he and the crew performed at the trail's dedication in June 2022. Both songs are on the OCSJ website.

CLICK FOR CLUB SONG

2025 BACKPACKING

March 29 Backpack/Camping Gear sale/swap In order to help out new backpackers and to enable veteran campers to get rid of their “Old stuff” we will be hosting a gear sale at Bass River State Park on Saturday, March 29^th. Starting at 11am.---MORE INFORMATION

April 26-30: Five Day Backpack the Appalachian Trail in Southern Virginia Backpack the Appalachian Trail for five days, a continuation of the May 2024 trip we had to call off due to rain. Total of 57 miles, with climbs of 1,000 to 2,000 ft, depending on the day....MORE INFORMATION

April 30 Pinelands Backpack..MORE INFORMATION

May 17-18: Combination Beginners & Intermediate backpacking trip in New York Two trips in one! Depending on where/when you start, the trip will be for intermediate hikers or for beginners. Kevin will send off the intermediate hikers and will then hike with the beginners. We will be able to end our car shuttle at the Bear Mountain, so folks can visit the zoo if they would like, and walk across the lowest part of the trail. For new backpackers, the general rule of thumb is to take the distance you have hiked in a day and cut it at least in half for backpacking (example, can do 8 mile hike, can only do 4 mile backpack at most)....MORE INFORMATION

June 21-23: Three Day Backpacking Trip in New Hampshire: Strenuous trip, with several large climbs, though the hike distance is short. While it is south of the White Mountains, it still will be somewhat rocky so be prepared for ankle/knee strain. Gorgeous views from the mountain tops. Note that at this time of year, the water sources may be limited, so be prepared to carry excess water while you hike from campsite to campsite....MORE INFORMATION

OUTDOOR CLUB of SOUTH JERSEY SHIRTS FOR SALE

The Print Shop M-F from 9-5pm