OCSJ Mountain Bike Clinic June 13th There's still time to register for the OCSJ Mountain Bike Clinic
To register for the clinic follow this link: OCSJ Mountain Bike Clinic
All donations are final and there will be no refunds issued once registered and donations made. |
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The Outdoor Club of South Jersey is happy to announce the availability of Club Patches |
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Ticks keep on ticking Mary Rospos |
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Disease weather report
Ticks keep on ticking
It’s an unusual year for ticks. Emergency department (ED) visits for tick bites are running at roughly 114 per 100,000 people per week, nearly double the typical rate at this time in previous years (60-70 per 100,000). The Northeast is bearing the brunt of it, with the Midwest running a close second.
It’s not clear whether this is just an earlier year or a worse year overall. Time will tell.
Data from CDC; Annotated by Your Local Epidemiologist.
ED data are a remarkable window into public health because data are quick, and so many Americans use emergency departments as their primary or urgent care.
Why are people going to the ED for a tick bite? Four main reasons:
They don’t know what to do. It's hard to know whether a bite is dangerous, how long the tick has been attached, or what symptoms to watch for. When in doubt, people default to the place they know will help, and that’s the ED.
They can’t remove it safely on their own. Removing a tick incorrectly (such as burning it or smothering it with petroleum jelly) can cause it to release more saliva and, theoretically, increase the risk of infection. If someone can't see it well, can’t reach it, or is too anxious to do it calmly, getting a clinician’s hands and eyes involved is helpful.
They need antibiotics. If a tick has been attached long enough in a high-risk Lyme area, a prophylactic dose of doxycycline is genuinely time-sensitive, though urgent care or a family doctor can handle it just as well.
They have symptoms that are emergencies, such as anaphylaxis or tick paralysis. |
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Of course, you do - if you’re a normal human being who gets stressed out, exercises or hangs out in hot weather. We sweat primarily to regulate our body temperature and prevent overheating. Our bodies are 60% water, and if we are expelling more moisture than we take in, there are bigger problems than just feeling hot.
Every organ, tissue and cell requires water to work properly. Even mild dehydration can cause the brain to shrink temporarily. This leads to brain fog, low motivation, short-term memory lapses or headaches. When muscles lack adequate fluid and electrolyte balance, they fatigue much faster and become highly susceptible to painful cramps. Staying hydrated helps your body accurately distinguish between hunger and thirst signals and prevents overeating. Another sobering fact is that the older an adult gets, the more likely they are to have a diminished sense of thirst, a lower natural fluid reserve, and decreased kidney function.
Aside from feeling thirsty, the most accurate way to check your daily hydration status, rather than counting glasses of water, is by observing the color of your urine.
Urine Color Hydration Status Action Needed
Clear to Pale Yellow Well-Hydrated None
Bright/Dark Yellow Mild - Dehydrated Drink a full glass of water soon
Amber or Orange Severely Dehydrated Rehydrate immediately with fluids and electrolytes
Electrolytes are essential minerals (primarily sodium, potassium and chloride) that carry a natural positive or negative electrical charge when dissolved in water or bodily fluids like blood, sweat, and urine. They are critical to human survival because your cells use these electrical charges to conduct impulses, allowing your brain, heart, and muscles to communicate and function properly. Drinking plain water alone is not enough; your body requires minerals to absorb and use the water.
Lately, this old dog has learned new tricks. If I’m exercising for more than an hour, I can tell that drinking extra water is not sufficient. I’ve started dissolving some hydration powder in my water bottle. I’ve tried a few; none of them taste good, but you can dilute them with more water than the manufacturer recommends. Just drink all of it. Stay hydrated and keep up that youthful piss and vinegar.
Source: Google AI |
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If you recall, last month I wrote an article for the newsletter on what our guest policy is. This month’s newsletter is about dogs coming with their owners on events. Because there has been some misunderstanding, the board decided to clear this up. This will be posted on our website under the Policies/Forms tab and then under the Participation sub-tab. These rules are not negotiable. We developed this policy to protect our members and leaders. Some members are afraid of dogs. We don’t want our members tripping over the dog if the dog is not on a leash. We don’t want our members to get tangled in a leash if the dog is not at the back of our group. It also protects our leaders from being pressured when asked if a dog can attend their event. - It is up to each leader whether dogs are allowed on an event.
- Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
- Dogs must be under the owner's control at all times.
- Dogs must stay at the back of the group.
- Owners must clean up after their dog.
- Dogs must not be allowed near wildlife.
- Dogs must not be allowed to jump on anyone.
We are hoping this clears up any confusion and more importantly, we want to make it safe and fun for everyone involved. Thank you. |
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The trail crew continued to remove blowdowns on the Batona Trail from the Winter storm. We cleared over 10 miles of brush and trees last month that were blocking the trail Several replacement mile markers were made by Diane Mason and installed.
Anthony, Tammy and Steve continued with re blazing faded pink blazes.
Our last official day of work will be May 26 where we will be clipping the connector trail from the Buttonwood campground to the Batona. We will also give the 1808 Trail a trim.
Good News! The updated Batona Trail map has been printed and is available at the Bass River SF, Batsto and Brendan T Bryne Visitor Centers.
The trail crew was very involved with the relocations of March 2012 that added 3 miles to the trail. The trail was rerouted through the Franklin Parker Preserve property and moved off Stage Road in Bass River. A great improvement for all hikers.
Thank You to the Trail Crew!! |
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Do you have a favorite place to Bike, Hike, or Paddle, but are often on a wait list? • How can you make sure you aren’t left out? The solution is easy. become a leader. You get to go where and when you want, and we can help you get started. Contact the Chair of the activity you are interested in: Backpacking/Camping: Kevin Drevik KDrevik@aol.com
Bicycling: Lawrence Caniglia Lawrence.caniglia@gmail.com
Hiking: Rebecca Strickland becky.ocsjhike@gmail.com
Canoe/Kayak: Frank Pearce 856-767-2780
XC Ski/Snowshoe: Barbara Brandt bbrandt46@gmail.com
They can show you what is required. Paperwork can be as easy as the familiar sign-in waiver. You are never alone. We are always there to help. You can function as a co-leader until you feel you are ready to lead solo. |
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That %*&#$ Waitlist!
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 hike - the place, the meeting time, the length of the hike and 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 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. When someone cancels their reservation, the first person on the waitlist will automatically be moved to the attendee list and will be notified via email (IF you have your settings set to that.) This is a feature of Meetup software. If you can't go on a hike, please cancel your reservation as soon as possible. '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 decide they don't want to go on that hike. People sometimes move up the waitlist quickly, as the date of a hike nears. If you are on the 'attending' list for a hike that includes a waitlist, be aware you won't be able to add anyone to the list, even a family member who's part of your membership. Thanks to our volunteer leaders who create such a variety of interesting hikes and thanks to our members who make the hikes fun! |
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BACKPACKING/CAMPING NEWS Backpacking/Camping Chair Kevin Drevik Kdrevik@aol.com
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Backpacking/Camping continues to go strong as summer approaches. We had a great university event at the end of March (Thanks to our presenters!) and a good intermediate/backpacking trip at the beginning of May. Rose just finished off a backpacking trip in the pines, and Richard has a Swatara Gap trip at the end of May that should be great!
I wanted to welcome our new leader, Ed Davenport, to the team. Looking forward to seeing his trips. I also wanted to welcome back Ann Wolf as a backpacking leader (she had to drop for a couple of years) so now we have five folks planning trips.
Upcoming trips include June 13-14 on the AT in central PA, and July 11-12 a trip on the AT visiting one of the AMC huts near Mt. Washington. Be on the lookout for more trips being posted in June and July.
See you on the trail! |
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In case you didn’t see the email announcement of our upcoming Mountain Bike clinic I am reposting it here. There are still a few spots available. If you are interested in attending please follow the directions in the announcement below:
“Learn to Mountain Bike with Confidence”
Whether you are new to mountain biking or have been riding for a long time, the Outdoor Club is offering you an opportunity to attend a one day clinic on June 13, 2026 at the Galloway Nature Preserve, Galloway, NJ entitled “Learn to Mountain Bike with Confidence”. This Fundamentals Skills Clinic is perfect for new riders and experienced riders looking to refine their skills and ride with more confidence.
We will spend the first half of the clinic dialing in your body position, learning proper braking, climbing, descending, and cornering techniques, and lots more.
After a short break we will discuss the morning session, have a snack, and then head out for a trail ride. This is an instruction-based trail ride geared toward implementing the skills learned earlier; learning when and why those skills are utilized out on the trail.
Skills Clinic: 9:30am – 11:30am
Break: 11:30am – 12:00pm
Trail Ride: 12:00pm – 2:30pm
The Outdoor Club is requesting that each participant at the time of registration, make a one time donation of just $24.95 to JORBA, which is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and who has agreed to use the donated funds to help in maintaining the mountain bike trails throughout South Jersey. As the sponsor of the clinic the Outdoor Club will be matching each participant’s donation.
The class is limited to just 10 students so all attendees will have an opportunity for individual help and pointers along the way.
Kevin Ackeret will be leading the clinic. Kevin, who has more than 35 years riding experience, is a certified mountain bike instructor and guide through the Bike Instructor Certification Program (BICP) which is an internationally recognized certification for professional mountain bike instructors and guides. He also holds a Wilderness First Aid training through NOLS which is a required certification for professional bike and other adventure sport instructors and guides. Kevin also holds a CPR/AED certification through the Red Cross and is a Level 3 Coach for his local youth mountain bike organization. He is also the Atlantic County Trail Leader for JORBA - the Jersey Off Road Bike Association.
To register for the clinic follow this link: OCSJ Mountain Bike Clinic
All donations are final and there will be no refunds issued once registered and donations made.
In other biking news, Mother Nature did not cooperate with us for our annual All Paces Ride Day on Memorial Day. The presidents of the other 3 bike clubs and I decided to cancel the ride due to the impending wet and slippery conditions. Hopefully our future inter-club rides will have better weather. |
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Barbara is taking this month off. |
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KAYAKING/CANOEING NEWS
Kayaking/Canoeing Chair
Frank Pearce
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Consider becoming a paddle leader.
You will be taught how to use Meetup, the sign-in waiver, and any possible other paperwork. On your first trip, you must be accompanied by either me, Canoe /Kayak Chair, or an alternate assigned by me to make sure OCSJ rules are followed. The trip leader’s skill should match or exceed the location. We stress that trip planning is such a crucial requirement for any trip leader. |
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While Patricia Comerford has always lead a very active life, it wasn’t until she was diagnosed with cancer that she started hiking. She found so much joy in it that she has expanded her hiking horizons, made new friends and has plans to keep on going. Here’s her story:
Q. Tell us about yourself.
PATRICIA: I’m a NJ native, left the state at age 18 for college and followed my wanderlust until I returned at age 50. I had raised my sons in Florida, where we climbed every climbable lighthouse. We went to Punxutawney, Pa., when my father became ill, and after he passed, we came back to the ocean, where I had time with my mother before she passed. My son trained for meteorology at Rutgers. Full circle from my modest apartment overlooking the Pacific after college, to my Belmar apartment, where I could see the sun come up over the Atlantic. When I turned 70, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Also the rent on my modest Belmar walkup rose astronomically, and I moved to Brick, took a work hiatus from nursing after 50 years, and started hiking. I feel like Forrest Gump; I just keep walking.
Q. When and why did you join the Outdoor Club? What benefits do you feel you’ve gained by belonging?
PATRICIA: I never knew when I started with our club 3 years ago I would meet friends who feel like siblings. Yes, we argue, make up, and love. I also learned how to fall and get up again. Friends' support, and God's love nourish me. I hope I give at least half as much as I receive to whoever I've walked with, behind, or in front of.
Q. What equipment do you feel is absolutely essential for a safe and successful hike?
PATRICIA: I recommend clamp ons with microspikes from Amazon for $20 in the winter, my best hiking equipment investment.
Q. What inspired you to join the Grand Mile Club? What do you feel are the benefits of outdoor activities and how often do you get out to enjoy nature?
PATRICIA: Q. Do you take active vacations? If so, where have you been?
PATRICIA: I got out the credential log I sent for 25 years ago after reading a book, to walk the El Camino, last year. I invited 3 hiking friends who hike circles around me, and we completed a Baby Camino up the Portugal coast to Santiago. We walked 130 miles in 2 weeks, not the full 500 miles. One of our club members is volunteering soon in Spain and I may go over and walk another short Camino on the French route, and stay where she is volunteering.
I loved that the Camino routes are safe with virtually no crime, no guns and walkers are from all nations and all ages and of all health status. I am not afraid to walk alone there, but hesitate to do so in the U.S.
Last month I walked with the American Pilgrims, a group of people who have walked the Camino, or plan to. It's their first time walking in our area and we’re doing the Batona!
Q. Any places on your bucket list?
PATRICIA: There is a trail from Mexico through California called the Mission Walk. I am contemplating walking a span with a fellow hiker who has walked the Camino Francis.
Q. What’s something about yourself that might surprise others to know?
PATRICIA: I know this sounds strange, but cancer let me know that I am mortal. We are all going to die. Knowing that changes the way of living; I’ve become full of adventure, appreciation, thankful for every day, month, year. Faith in God's love that whatever outcome is in my future is created by Love helps. I pray every night to stay healthy, and be with my children and grandchildren, and in the woods.
I went to Mary's Place by the Sea in Ocean Grove for a week and laughed, cried and shared. The owner was not religious, and had no business sense, but she dreamed the Blessed Mother told her to make this place for women. She had no money, but it all came. The workers put their rosaries in the ground when building the foundation. I think miracles happen if we are open to seeing them and letting them in.
Q. Anything else you’d like to say about anything?
PATRICIA: I hope everyone is not tired of seeing pictures of my baby grandsons. |
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Your Volunteer Committee has several social events scheduled and more in different stages of planning. By the time you read this our May 23 pitch and putt event will have taken place. Hope everyone enjoyed it. Upcoming on June 22 is an afternoon sail on the Delaware on the Northwind schooner leaving from Penn’s Landing. There is currently a short waitlist, so sign up if interested. And on June 11 a nature walk at Smith Woods (already full). Activities being worked on include Sperlak gallery and Sculpture gardens visit (September), AJ Meerwald tall ship, Purple Martin viewing at the Maurice River (August), Pine Barrens cleanup, White’s Bogs astronomy event and an activity with goats! We are also exploring day trips with Community Tours and Travel. If you’re interested, please join the OCSJ volunteer Committee. We need people to execute events as we have several great ideas to explore and plan. The next OCSJ Volunteer Committee meeting is July 16 and the next meeting for new members is July 14, both on Zoom. See Meetup sites for specifics. And check Meetup event listings often for all our social activities! |
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If you use the Meetup app on your phone, you may have recently found there was a glitch: You were successfully signed in to your Meetup account and suddenly couldn’t RSVP to anything, and it kept asking you to “join”. If you are still experiencing this problem, try deleting the Meetup app on your phone and reinstalling it. You may have to sign in again, so have your email address and password handy. This has fixed the problem for many of our OCSJ members. |
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OFFICIAL OCSJ LOGO T-SHIRTS and PATCHES |
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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 Club T-Shirts We now have club patches. Go to Club Patches |
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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. |
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Want to submit a "Shout Out"? Have you experienced a leader on an event that exceeded your expectations? Has a particular person gone above and beyond in their capacity as a leader or a participating member of OCSJ and you want to let everyone know? Email the Corresponding Secretary about your experience and it will be published in our next Newsletter. |
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A new year means setting new goals. How about hiking 1,000 miles?
The Grand Mile Club (GMC) is for members 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 1,000 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 at jbuffington924@gmail.com for more details. Registration closes at the end of January. I'm looking forward to hearing from you! 500/750 Club
If you are not quite up to 1,000 miles, then consider aiming for 500/750 miles. The rules are the same as the 1,000 club, except there is a minimum of 1 mile per outing. At the end of each month, I'll email a reminder to send in your miles and then update and send you a spreadsheet showing each member’s total to date. If interested in joining, contact Ann Palaitis at palaitis@verizon.net for more details.
Paddling
The OCSJ Canoe/Kayak Mileage Club is for paddlers who like to set personal goals. Any canoe/kayak trip counts with any group or individual. For details go to Paddling Mileage Club. Contact Frank Pearce, Paddle Chair, at hornet71@verizon.net for more details. |
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"THE OCSJ MARKET PLACE" the place to BUY-SELL-GIVE-BORROW |
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The OCSJ Market Place
Rules for posting items for sale INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: - Description of item for sale (Outdoor related)
- Asking price
- 1 or 2 pictures of items
- Contact information: seller's name, phone# and/or email
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Your club is made up entirely of volunteers. You will get more out of it, if you put more into it! There are many opportunities to help behind the scenes and on activities. Ask your leader about it on your next event. Let them know if you have any time or talents you would like to share with the club.
Board of Trustees - The OCSJ Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7 pm. This month's meeting is June 11th. Currently, our meetings are on ZOOM. To attend the meetings, contact the OCSJ President Barbara Berman, at president@ocsj.org. |
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Outdoor Club of South Jersey (OCSJ) Membership Information
There are several convenient ways to join or renew your OCSJ membership:
Online
- Visit ocsj.org or download the Wild Apricot mobile app.
- Click the “Join OCSJ Here” button and follow the on-screen instructions.
By Mail
- Mail a check payable to Outdoor Club of South Jersey to:
Outdoor Club of South Jersey
PO Box 74
Oceanville, NJ 08231
Membership Levels
- Family Membership – $25.00
One-year subscription; no automatic renewal
- Family Membership (Auto-Renewal) – $25.00
One-year subscription; automatic annual renewal
- Single Membership – $20.00
One-year subscription; no automatic renewal
- Single Membership (Auto-Renewal) – $20.00
One-year subscription; automatic annual renewal
For membership-related questions, please contact us at membership@ocsj.org.
Renewal Information
OCSJ memberships are valid for one year. Renewal reminders will be sent to the email address on file 30 days prior, 15 days prior, and on your renewal date.
If your membership is not renewed by your anniversary date, Wild Apricot, our membership management system, will automatically lapse and archive your account, and you will be removed from the club’s Meetup pages shortly thereafter.
To ensure uninterrupted access to club activities, please renew promptly. We also recommend checking your spam or junk folders, as renewal notices may occasionally be filtered there.
If you need to update your account information—especially your email address—please log in to your Wild Apricot account to make the necessary changes. You may also email updates or questions to membership@ocsj.org.
Renewal by Check
- Make checks payable to Outdoor Club of South Jersey
- Mail to:
OCSJ Membership Secretary
PO Box 74
Oceanville, NJ 08231
Please note that mailed checks may take up to two weeks to be received and deposited. Online renewals are processed much faster.
Thank you for renewing your membership promptly and for being part of our vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts.
Rosemarie (Ro) Mason
Membership Secretary
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CALLING ALL CLUB MEMBERS!!
Do you have a favorite place that you have hiked, but maybe it isn’t in New Jersey? Or maybe you have taken a bike ride holiday at some distant locale that you were in awe of because of its beauty or serenity. Perhaps an amazing kayaking adventure, backpack trip or cross country skiing trip is something you have been lucky enough to partake in. If so, the Club newsletter is looking for short articles from our members to share their experiences with our readers.
If you would like to share some of your experiences, just send a short article to our newsletter editor, Markie Kaczorowski by email to newsletter@ocsj.org, preferably no more than 250 words explaining the “what, where, and when” the trip took place and what made it special. You can also send me any interesting photos from events in the area. |
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