Washington Crossing Council

The council has four districts: Ockanickon Scout Reservation is located in Pipersville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The camp was founded in 1941 and named after a Lenape chief who assisted William Penn in the exploration of the Bucks Country area.

There are seventeen separate camp sites, and a wide range of activities and programs including the first ever Scout Science Center.

Camp Ockanickon is notable for the GE Betz Science center, its air-conditioned dining hall, and the numerous awards it has received from the BSA National Office for excellence.

When Bucks County Council was formed in 1927, one of the first considerations was securing land for a suitable camp.

A committee under the chairmanship of Henry Palmer visited about 33 sites within the radius of one hundred miles of Bucks County.

The committee finally chose land in Sunnyside, New Jersey about 7 miles north of Flemington on the south bank of the Raritan River.

In 1946 a log cabin in the Tohickon Valley was purchased for the use of Explorers and named Uncas Lodge.

Also in 1956 thirty-seven and one-half acres with a house and barn were purchased from Raymond W. Powers and the camp ranger moved there from the Administration Building.

In 1960 the Development Fund Campaign gave additional gifts for buildings and facilities properly designated by plaques.

Through the years a number of Adirondack cabins and washhouses have been presented by various service clubs, individuals, and foundations throughout the county.

In December of 1960 thirty-eight acres of land east of the Tohickon Creek were presented to the camp by Mr. Edward C. Riley.

Ajapeu Lodge 33 of the Order of the Arrow raised and contributed about half of the funds for the construction of the Order of the Arrow Memorial Lodge in 1970-1971 in memory of Douglas Booth and William J. Erkes, who were both killed in Vietnam in the service of their country.

From 1973 through 1979 a complete renovation of the camp kitchen in Palmer Lodge and new septic system were completed, rewiring of Palmer Lodge buildings, erection of three new water storage tanks, drilling of a new well, installation of new water system on the “Ranch” property, a four-acre lake created by Morrissey Builders, three new troop sites added, a picnic grove area created, parking lot built, the renovation of the farmhouse and barn to a new leadership development area, new trucks, rowboats and a jeep were procured or completed.

The Willard L. Ross Memorial, a year-round conservation and ecology center in Stone Lodge, began operation in late 1975 with dedication in July 1976.

Selective timbering at Ockanickon was also completed in 1975 to improve tree growth and life in the area adjacent to the rifle range.

In the late 1980’s through the mid 1990's, after many years of debt and poor attendance, it was time to build, replace and re-think Camp Ockanickon.

In 1996 a grant was received from Betz-Dearborn Corporation to build the first ever science center at a Boy Scout camp.

The former Leadership Development Building was renovated to become the Betz-Dearborn Science Center in 1997 and the project included the purchase of a $7,000 telescope, an inflatable planetarium, and a chemistry lab.

Gilmore Engineering donated the funds for the construction of a 45-foot climbing tower located near the pool area in 2013.

In the fall of 2015, a lakeside canoe pavilion was erected in memory of Dr. Manual Marks, a longtime member of Troop 10 in Yardley.

After a large fundraising campaign, the project to build the Dining Hall began in October 1991, and finished about two years later in time for the 1994 camping season.

The Dining Hall is also available to rent for use by scouts for off-season camping, being a popular spot for council camporees, Ajapeu Lodge events, and awards dinners.

There is also times when Scouts can woodburn in Palmer Lodge, shoot rifles, shotguns, and bows at the ranges, free swim at the pool, and open boat at Great Buck Lake.

In 1927, the newly-formed Bucks County Council needed an Order of the Arrow lodge of its own.

Following World War 2, the scouting movement exploded in popularity, and so too did involvement in the Order of the Arrow.

The Section Ne-5 Conclave was an annual gathering of 15 local Order of the Arrow lodges focusing on fellowship and trainings.

The theme of this particular Section NE-5 Conclave was "Major League Brotherhood" and included baseball-themed activities, food options, and merchandise.

They have helped raise hundreds of dollars of funds for cancer research at Doylestown Hospital, continually provide support to Ockanickon Scout Reservation in the form of at least 3 large-scale service projects each year, and create strong leaders by allowing youth members to run every function of the lodge.