President's Message

Barbara Berman

president@ocsj.org

The club’s elections took place on 10/09/25 where we met in-person at the Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) in Pemberton. It is always nice to meet in-person, which we do about 2 to 3 times a year.

 As your new club President, I would like to introduce the board to you. I have met several people on hikes who did not even know we had a board. All these very dedicated members take time out of their days to volunteer in helping to keep the club going. This is all done behind the scenes, and I am very much looking forward to working with all of them.

 Executive Board

President – Barbara Berman. I would like to thank Joe Fabian for the past 6 years as President.

Vice-President – Mark Silverstein.

Recording Secretary – Vicky Gordon.

Treasurer – Mark Laible.

Membership Secretary and Trail Maintenance – Ro Mason.

Activity Chairs

Frank Pearce – overall activity chair and kayaking/paddling.

Becky Strickland – hiking.

Larry Caniglia – biking.

Barbara Brandt – cross-country skiing.

Kevin Drevik – backpacking and camping.

IT

Mike Baker.

Markie Kaczorowski.

 Trustees

Kathy Billman.

Chris Denneler.

Doug Hillebrecht – also in charge of all our printing needs.

Fran Horn.

Eloise Williams.

I would also like to thank 5 other members who volunteer their time but are not on the board. Lennie Butler is our newsletter editor. Maura Mawn is our Corresponding Secretary. Ann Palaitis manages the 500-mile and 750-mile hiking groups. Jenny Buffington manages our 1000-mile hiking group. Vera Stek writes the spotlight articles for the newsletter.

 If you see any of them during an event, feel free to introduce yourself to them. We are always happy to talk to new and existing members.

Vice President's Message

Mark Silverstein

vp@ocsj.org

I would like to thank the club for having the confidence to elect me to the vice-presidency.  Having spent so many years hiking and leading them it will certainly be interesting for me to see how the club functions administratively. At first I am sure to have questions and then I will be better able to contribute.  In a way it is similar to when i first joined the club decades ago. I knew little about hiking  but observed those more experienced and like a sponge absorbed all they taught me.  No matter what activity you are involved in enjoy what made you sign up and build on your skills  as well as meet co-enthusiasts.  This makes it even more fun. Who knows you may end up an officer one day!

TRAIL MAINTENANCE NEWS

Trail Maintenance Representative

  Ro Mason     

The OCSJ Tail Crew is off summer hiatus and back to work.  We are working with the Parvin State Park with dismantling a bridge over the closed section of the Red Trail. The lumber is being repurposed for improving footbridges in the Franklin Parker Preserve.

Several of the crew have been walking and assessing the Batona and other hiking trails for future projects.  We have assessed over 40 miles of trails so far.

We clipped parts of the 1808 Trail and extended the planks on the Sand and Water Trail.  The Outdoor Club is the official maintainer of the 1808 and SAW trails and the Batona Trail.

Our goal this season is to clip the entire Batona Trail of 53 miles and the 6 mile Red Trail at the Franklin Park. It’s a big undertaking but the OCSJ Trail Crew is up to the job!

ACTIVITY CHAIR

    Frank Pearce    

  Our history

    The beginning

    Dale Knapschaefer

Dale worked at RCA   in Camden with Walter Korszniak and Morris Bardock.

In   1960 Dale had   suggested to Morris   President of the Batona Hiking Club that a trail   be created    connecting Wharton and Lebanon State Forest. Once the club received state approval for the Batona Trail, he and other members of the Batona Club scoped out its route and completed its first 30 miles in 1961

In 1966 Dale founded our club. There   were 6 couples and a few individuals. In 1967   it    had the required 10 members to become part of the American Youth Hostels listed as AYH Outdoor Club of South Jersey sponsored by the Delaware Valley Council AYH

 This is considered the official   founding   date. 

Dale remained OCSJ President until December 1968. In 1969 he moved to New Hampshire.

Dale was an avid bicyclist His longest single day bike ride was in 1979, when he covered 255 miles through seven states. Starting at midnight in North Petersburg, N.Y. and ending in Kittery, Maine at 11 p.m., the then 52-year-old's ride followed one continuous route that included six New England states.

Dale passed away April 3,2024 at the age of 97

HIKING NEWS

Hiking Chair

      Becky Strickland    

WAITLIST BLUES

It's very frustrating to sign up for a hike and find yourself on a waitlist!  Why does that happen??

Each of our volunteer hike leaders decides the details of their hikes - the place, the meeting time, the length of the hike and the pace.  They also decide how many hikers they want on each hike. 

Leaders limit the number of hikers for various reasons.  Some locations have limited parking, some leaders prefer a smaller group.  Some are new leaders and want to get comfortable before they host more hikers.  It is 100% up to each leader how many members they allow on their hike, and whether they allow guests, children or dogs.

If the limit for a specific hike is 10, anyone signing up for that hike after number 10 will automatically go on the waitlist. If someone cancels their reservation, the first person on the waitlist will automatically be moved to the attendee list and will be notified via email. This is a feature of Meetup software.  

 If you can't go on a hike, please cancel your reservation as soon as possible. To do that, click on the 3 dots next to your name on the attendee list, then click on 'move to not going'.  OR, use the box at the bottom of the invitation. Meetup has made some changes recently.

 'No shows' are a problem as that keeps other members from attending so we ask that people who change their minds cancel, preferably 2 days in advance.  We track 'no shows' and repeat offenders may find themselves barred from future hikes. People on the waitlist should cancel if they find they can't go on that hike.  People sometimes move up the waitlist quickly (and automatically), as the date of a hike nears and some members cancel.  If you are moved from the waitlist to the 'attending' list at the last minute, and can't attend, that is NOT considered a 'no show'.

Thanks to our wonderful volunteer leaders who create such a variety of interesting hikes and thanks to our members whose enthusiasm makes the hikes fun!

Becky Strickland, Hiking Chair

IN CASE YOU WONDERED WHAT A TIMBER RATTLESNAKE LOOKS LIKE 

FYI, they are poisonous but not aggressive. 

OCSJ Backpacking Chair      

It has been a fun filled and eventful year for the backpacking/camping group. We’ve had some excellent trips, added a new hike leader, and dealt with some interesting situations. While we have had to cancel a few trips due to weather or lack of water on the trail, overall it was a good year. We are winding down now and the winter will be spent preparing for 2026. Plans include a potential camping/backpacking day of classes on top of a gear sale, many weekend trips, and at least one weeklong trip on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.

Be on the lookout in the new year!

By the time you read this, one of our Backpacking leaders, Tom Kerbaugh, will be in North Carolina on the Appalachian Trail, southbound to Springer Mountain. He will be racing to complete his thru hike this year. Send him your thoughts and prayers, and be ready with questions for him in 2026 when he is back.

 Kevin

CYCLING NEWS

Cycling Chair 

            Larry Caniglia            

This past month started off with the annual Tour de Pines and the Outdoor Club being a sponsor for the first time in our club history. 25 members took advantage of the $20 club discount towards the registration fee. I am happy to report that while our discount coupons were snapped up in the first 8 days after registration opened, we had more than 25 additional members sign up and participate for at least one of the four days of the event. The weather could not have been better. No rain, little wind (even by the shore at the Tuckerton Seaport venue) and bright blue skies and crispy air prevailed throughout the 4 days of the event. The 4 day Tour de Pines is held each year to raise awareness of the Pinelands by having the riders explore the many roadways and byways of the Pinelands and have a chance to enjoy its unique beauty and serenity. Our club was also well represented by the many volunteers who helped make our sponsorship a success. My thanks to Ro Mason, Joanne McNally, Deb Mento, Frank Pearce, and Laura Kober who all helped out by manning the post ride checkin and our club’s membership table. In addition, special thanks to Mary Beth Higham, Frances Drake, Valeri Morone, Steve Francis and Jeff Fields who swept for several of the rides over the course of the event. Steve Francis did double duty by helping out on parking lot control as well. If you have never ridden the Tour de Pines but would like to give it a try, mark your calendars for October 1-4, 2026. I hope to seall there next year.

November’s Safety Issue. As I wrote last month about the need to keep a safe distance between riders on group rides, to prevent future accidents like some of those that occurred this past summer, I wanted to air another safety issue that seems to have been growing out on the highways. I have been approached by 3 different members about rides they have been on where another rider was listening to music while riding. The concern they had was for their own safety when it was nearly impossible to hear directions or warnings from the ride leader or other riders due to the volume of the music playing. Friends, please don’t ride with your music playing while on a group ride. It is a dangerous practice not only for yourselves but definitely for others around you. Group rides are meant to be fun but also safe. Let’s keep it that way by turning our music off while group riding. Next month’s safety topic - taking selfies while riding a bike in a group riding event! Stay tuned

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING/SNOWSHOEING NEWS

Cross Country Ski Chair

   Barbara Brandt    

Time to plan for winter fun.  This year we have scheduled 3 xc ski/snowshoe trips with something for everybody.  The first two are in North Conway, NH and Stowe, VT, - New England towns well known for their charm and winter sports.  The third is in Boonville, NY, -a less well known area of NY State which has the advantage of being closer and near guaranteed snow.  Check out the details and sign up for a trip here: https://ocsj.org/X/C-SKIING-SCHEDULE.   Newbies are welcome.  Rentals and instruction available on all trips.

1. White Mountains of New Hampshire.  January 19-25

2. Stowe Vermont.  January 25-30

3. Boonville New York.  February 21-25

Unfortunately, it is impossible to schedule closer trips due to the fickle snowfall in NJ. We will try to post last minute, nearby “pop up” trips if snow strikes. If you are looking for people to ski with you might want to organize a pop up trip when snow does hit.  If so, you must contact me ahead of time so I can make you an xc leader with permission to post on MeetUp.  This is not a commitment to lead a trip,- just making it possible if you decide to at the last  minute.  Bbrandt46@gmail.com 

KAYAKING/CANOEING NEWS

Kayaking/Canoeing Chair

     Frank Pearce      

A reminder that  all paddle mileage counts.

Any canoe/kayak trip counts with any group or individual.

The miles are sent in the first week of January 2026, but the last trip is December 31,2025. The paddlers who do not do 300,400 or 500 miles but turn in miles will get honorable mention on the website.

For details contact Frank Pearce   hornet71@verizon.net  

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Mary Rospos

by Vera Stek

There are many great adventures to be found on the roads, trails and waterways of the Pine Barrens. But sometimes, you just need a change of scenery and some of our club members have traveled far distances to partake of their favorite activities in the great outdoors.

One of those was Mary Rospos, who recently returned from hiking part of the El Camino in Spain and then got in some elevation and miles at Acadia in Maine. But she’s not done yet; there are many other adventures on her bucket list. She feels it’s imperative to keep moving to stay healthy and she’s certainly doing that. Here’s her story:

Q. Tell us about yourself.

MARY: I grew up in Clifton and attended Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing. I am retired from nursing. I’m 71, turned 72 on Halloween. I am single and have three adult children, who have collectively given me four wonderful grandchildren. Two live in NJ, the other two in Bend, Oregon. I visit Oregon frequently and belong to a hiking club there. The trails there are spectacular!!!!

Q. When and why did you join the Outdoor Club? What benefits have you gained by belonging?

MARY: I joined the Outdoor Club two years ago after my cousin Nancy took me hiking at Wells Mills and told me about the club. I got stung by a bee, she got chiggers, but I still signed up. Since then, I have joined several other hiking clubs around NJ and Oregon.  The benefits are immeasurable. I feel I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in my adult life, both physically and mentally!

Q. Do you participate in other club activities besides hiking? Do you have favorite places to hike? 

MARY: I don’t really participate in other club activities, but I bike, kayak and do SUP on my own or with friends.
My favorite places to hike in NJ are all the Monmouth County parks with elevation, especially Hartshorne. I love Baldpate, Sourlands and South Mountain. Out of state, any National Parks are great hiking, most frequently in Oregon and Maine.

Q. Do you hike year around? What weather do you think is best for hiking?

MARY: I have come to love winter hiking. I’ve learned how to dress for the weather appropriately, so it’s always enjoyable. It’s really nice to hike in the snow! In warmer weather, I use sprays to ward off little critters. I carry a “cold towel” in HOT weather. This summer was brutal, but I went anyway and was glad I did.

Q. What are some safety tips you can pass on? What do you feel are the benefits of outdoor activities and enjoying nature?

MARY: First and foremost: know your ability. If you don’t hike elevation much, investigate what the degree of difficulty is before you go. If you are allergic to bees, etc., carry an Epi pen and inform your fellow hikers. Use yak traks and a pole in slippery conditions: snow, ice, wet leaves, etc. For me, outdoor activities are essential for overall well-being, both mentally and physically.

Q. Do you take active vacations?

MARY: YES! My first hiking vacation was to Maine. It was the start of my love of hiking! Since then, I’ve hiked the Greek Islands, hiked across Ireland, hiked the Cinque Terre in Italy. I hiked, biked and kayaked in Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. I hiked in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. I also managed to squeeze in a hike in Denali National Park during the land portion of an Alaskan cruise. 

I had the pleasure of hiking part of the Portuguese Way of the El Camino in Spain in September, with fellow members Nancy W., Patricia C. and Markie K. It was an extraordinary experience and lots of fun! AND lots of elevation!

The Camino was a wonderful experience. It's fun meeting like-minded people from all over the world doing the same pilgrimage. Going through all the little towns along the route was enlightening. Siesta is a real thing! Most businesses are closed from 2 to 4 p.m. 

Pontevedra was a charming city. We enjoyed our stay there along the route. It has a nice vibe and several interesting bridges. Hiking the El Camino was a good test of endurance and perseverance. You never know what you can do until you push yourself.  Keep moving.

I’ll be going to Yosemite in the spring, and Oregon somewhere in between.

Q. Any places on your bucket list?

MARY: Yes, there are so many. Too many to list. I would love to hike in Iceland, Hawaii, Glacier National Park, Arches National Park.

Q. What are some of your other interests?

MARY: I like concerts and live bands. I enjoy gardening. Mostly, I LOVE hanging out with my kids and grandchildren. I went to a Monster Truck festival recently with my 6-year-old grandson and his parents. SO much fun. Hanging out with my family is my greatest joy.

Q. Anything else you’d like to say about anything?

MARY: Meeting like-minded people has been life-altering. I love hearing about everyone’s hiking adventures, careers, family, etc. If it wasn’t for the various hiking clubs, I would not hike as much as I do. Having to commit to hikes in advance keeps me on task. I sign up, I go.

***VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE***

• The Volunteer Committee has been doing work behind the scenes. We sent out a 3- question survey asking the members the following questions: 

• 1.        If you do not currently participate in many (or any) club activities and would like to, why not?
• 2.        We are looking to expand the club’s social activities, either as part of our regular activities or as separate gatherings. What type of activities would be of interest to you - dining out, movies, karaoke, theater, something else? 
• 3.        As we expand our offerings, would you be interested in a leadership role or helping in a non-leadership capacity in either traditional or social activities. 

We were quite happy that 50 members took the time to complete the survey. The responses were very interesting and enlightening. We culled the results and found that many members would be interested in social events (Fall dance, movies, concerts, bowling, etc.) and events paired with our regular outdoor activities (a meal after the activity, speakers, naturalists, etc.). Other than meetings or activities after the event is over, we will always check to make sure the event we are organizing is covered by our insurance. If the event takes place at another site, we will also double-check that that site has insurance. As always, many of the members who responded indicated they would be interested in helping, which is great, but we need leaders who would be interested in organizing events.

We decide to start with making our new members feel more welcome. At our next meeting on Dec 10^th, we will be discussing this with our Activity Chairs. Stay tuned. 

I would like to acknowledge and thank the committee – Karen Byrne, Fran Horn, Joanne McNally, Deb Mento, Vicky Gordon, Laura Kober, Janine Padgett, Jim Robostello, and John Stevens.

MEETUP ISSUES

OCSJ pays to use Meetup but we have no control over the software.  In general, it works best if you use one device: phone or laptop or tablet or desktop. If you switch around, it may lock you out. In that case you should sign out of Meetup and sign back in.  If that doesn't work, get in touch with me at  hornet71@verizon.net   and I will cancel your Meetup profile.

You will need  to reapply since that specific action will remove your name for any future events you've signed up for, so better to prevent the problem up front than to fix it after the fact.

Meetup seems annoying, but many of us remember OCSJ before Meetup: fewer members and event options. Hikes, paddles, bike rides having to be scheduled months in advance to be published in a brochure (4 X/year), no way to schedule last minute events, no way to notify members if an event had to be canceled at the last minute. Leaders had to drive to the event place and wait for members to show up, to tell them the event was canceled.  No one involved in running the club wants to go back to those days.

OFFICIAL OCSJ LOGO TSHIRTS

The Outdoor Club of South Jersey is happy to announce the availability of club T-Shirts through Print Shop Shirts. Ordering will be ongoing, submitted regularly when there is a quantity sufficient to place the order.

We have 13 different styles to choose from ranging from simple ring spun cotton shirts, moisture management/antimicrobial performance fabric, to moisture wicking to UPF sun protection. Short sleeve and long sleeve with many different colors to choose from. Choose from full back printing only, or front left breast printing only, or both front & back printing.

The ordering process from Print Shop Shirts is simple:

Go to printshopshirts.com

Click on "go to stores"

Click on the OCSJ logo

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

  Maura Mawn

Caring Cards: If you know of an OCSJ member who would benefit from receiving a card of congratulations for a milestone birthday, life event or a note of condolence, contact the Corresponding Secretary and a card will be sent on behalf of the club.

ANNUAL MILEAGE CLUBS

For members who like to set goals and keep track of activity, join a Mileage Club and get a token of your achievement at the end of the year.

A new year means setting new goals- how about hiking 1000 miles in 2026?

The Grand Mile Club is for folks who love a challenge! The rules are simple but it takes grit and determination to finish. Each outing, be it walking, running, hiking, or treadmill, must be a minimum of 2 miles. To reach the lofty 1000 miles in a year, you will need to be logging 84 miles per month. There is a little more to it, so if you are interested in joining the elite GMC, contact Jenny Buffington for more details. Registration closes at the end of January. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Do you want to go that extra mile? Then join the 500/750 mile club!

It's easy! and it's not a race or contest.  Email Ann Palaitis with your name and 2026 miles goal.

Then record the total miles you hiked each month and email Ann who will keep track of your miles.

Kayaking Mileage Club - Kayakers report their miles annually to Frank Pearce at hornet71@verizon.net.

"THE OCSJ MARKET PLACE"

the place to BUY-SELL-GIVE-BORROW

https://ocsj.org/ITEMS-FOR-SALE 

Rules for  posting items for  sale

INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

A  Description of item for sale  (Outdoor  related)

B  Asking price

C  1 or 2 pictures of items

D  Contact information- seller's name, phone# and/or email

Rack is 47 inches long  includes straps

Cart does not include straps.

Best offer for each

Contact:   Wendell Gulick

From your Membership Secretary ….

OCSJ memberships are good for one year. When its time to renew you will receive three email notices to the email address you provided to the club when you joined. The renewal notices will be sent to you : 30 days before you are due to renew, 15 days before and the day your membership renewal is due. If you do not renew on your anniversary date, Wild Apricot, our membership account database server, will automatically “Lapse and Archive” you and you will be removed from the club’s meetup pages soon after.

Don’t miss out on our great club activities! Please be prompt to renew.

Please check your spam/junk folders as sometimes your renewal notices will go to those folders.

If you change your account information especially your email address, log into your personal Wild Apricot account and make any necessary changes. You can also email me with changes or questions at membership@ocsj.org

To renew by check :

Checks are to be made out to Outdoor Club of South Jersey

Mail your check to:

OCSJ Membership Secretary

PO Box 74

Oceanville, NJ 08231

Checks may take two weeks to receive and be deposited so online renewals are much faster.

Thank you for renewing your memberships promptly and staying connected to a wonderful group of outdoor minded people like you!

Rosemarie (Ro) Mason

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

OCSJ MEMBERSHIP