Camper’s Legacy Lives on at Camp Otter
The bench on the side of the baseball field at Camp Otter is a place for campers to take a seat, find a buddy or take a break. What today’s campers may not fully realize is how the bench symbolizes the love that one boy had for Camp Otter and is a comforting reminder to his family that he not be forgotten nearly 29 years after his death.
J.D. Daniels was an active, creative and busy Methuen 12-year-old in 1997. He loved drawing, riding a skateboard, and playing in nature. He loved going to Camp Otter over the years from elementary school through middle school.
“He was the kind of kid who came home with a salamander in his pockets,” said his mom, Jody Daniels. “He loved the outdoors – hiking and exploring everything in nature. He found a great home at Camp Otter and just loved it there.”
The day after his 13th birthday, J.D. was tragically killed by a hit-and-run driver in Methuen.
His family decided the best way to honor and remember J.D. was to invest in things he loved and they created the J.D. Daniels Memorial Fund.
“The community of Methuen was so supportive of us,” Daniels said. “We ran a golf tournament for 20 years that was mainly supported by people in Methuen.”
Through that successful golf events, and subsequent investment of the proceeds raised, the Daniels’ family continues to support Methuen youth in J.D.’s memory.
They annually award three to five college scholarships to Methuen High School seniors pursuing careers in the arts. The fund has also supported the purchase of two battery-operated, portable jaws-of-life devices for use by Methuen first responders.
In 2025, the family donated to camp scholarships for Methuen youth to attend Camp Otter. This summer, the family has pledged $10,000 in camp scholarships.
“The money we raised came from Methuen and we feel blessed to give it back in support of Methuen youth so they can have that camp experience,” Daniels said.
The donation will support 21 youth from Methuen to attend Camp Otter! Thanks to this donation, these families with financial need will receive scholarships to cover all or part of the camp fees, allowing these youth to fully experience the joy of summer camp at the Y.
