A RARE LETTER - DIRECT FROM THE BOARD

This letter is coming to you from the Board of Directors, not Chief Peter or any of the staff. We, as a Board, want to bring you in on an important issue affecting our Resident Staff. Because of their dedication to Susque’s ministry, you’d likely never hear about this need from them.

First, allow me to introduce myself: I’m Josh Knauss, and I serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Camp Susque. My experience at Susque dates back to my first year of life, when my parents brought me to Family Camp in the summer of 1978. I’ve been coming to Susque ever since, first as a camper, then as a staff member in the late 90’s, and now as a member of the Board since 2015. God has used Camp Susque to shape my life and draw my heart to Him. I came to true faith in Christ while lying on my back in the athletic field, gazing up at His handiwork in the clear night sky.

CAMP SUSQUE CULTURE

If you’re like me, returning to Susque feels like coming home to a place of countless formative experiences and memories. It's a place where I have always been welcomed into a community centered around developing a real relationship with God. Perhaps you experience that feeling of ‘home’ when you come to Susque, as well, even if it’s just a short visit to drop off or pick up your kids from their own formative experiences at camp. What gives Camp Susque this unique quality? As I’ve spent time pondering this question, I’ve come to a deeper appreciation of Susque’s enduring culture. This culture has been intentionally stewarded by generations of faithful staff and volunteers who have lived out Christ’s call to hospitality: “I was a stranger and you invited me in…” (Matthew 25:35). Their welcome and care extend this feeling of home to every camper, counselor, and family who enters our valley.

A CRITICAL NEED

I’m writing to you to share both a need and a tangible way that you can help perpetuate Susque’s culture of hospitality. This need has been steadily growing in the background while operational demands like updating Hemlock Hall, renovating the showerhouse, and replacing our failing pool have taken precedence. In the meantime, the structures that house our Resident Staff are failing to meet the needs of the families who call them home.

As a Board, we’ve come to recognize that our staff’s ability to continue caring for others depends on our care for them. Their homes must be safe, functional, and able to support both family life and ministry.

This isn’t just about updating old houses; it’s about investing in the families who are investing their lives in serving others. We want to ensure that Susque remains a place of community and fellowship, where staff families thrive and where their homes can function as spaces for their own rejuvenation as well as hubs of ministry. This ministry can look like hosting Bible studies and staff gatherings, or even just having an open door.

THE STAFF HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (SHIP)

To provide our Resident Staff with adequate living spaces, the Board of Directors has launched the SHIP. We have already raised over $360,000 towards this four-part, $1.1 million initiative! We are asking you to help us raise the $800,000 needed to complete all the phases of this project. Would you consider making a generous gift to support SHIP? By strengthening the homes of those who serve, you will be directly investing in the future of Camp Susque’s ministry: for today’s families, tomorrow’s campers, and generations to come.

On behalf of Susque’s Board of Directors, I invite you to join us in making this investment. If you’d like to talk more about the project, I would be glad to connect with you personally. You can reach me at joshk@susque.org or by calling 570-884-7575. Any of the SHIP committee members (identified below) would be happy to talk to you, as well. We are grateful for your prayer and support.

Together, let’s ensure that the ones who help make Susque feel like home also have homes that truly meet their needs.