Nestled in the beautiful mountains of north-central Pennsylvania, Camp Susque has been a cherished haven for generations of families. What began as a summer youth camp in 1947 has grown to include wilderness trips, family camps, winter camps, homeschool classes, field trips, and retreats and rentals. Values such as community, responsibility, and slowing down to "Experience Your Creator" are woven into each program and tradition. As a result, Susque has been a place where thousands of youth, young adults, and families have come for escape, refreshment, and as one camper put it, "to be myself."

 

 

A Typical Day

Young Explorers Sample Schedule

MORNING:  7:30AM Camper Wake-Up, Flag Raising, Chapel, Breakfast, Cabin Clean Up, Activity Classes.

AFTERNOON:  Noon Games, Lunch, Rest Period, Snack Shop, Organized Free Time, Area Counselor Time

EVENING:  Dinner, Area Counselor Time, Flag Lowering, Evening Activities (may include night swims, campfires, hayrides and theme activities), Devotions, 9:00PM Bedtime.

Activity Classes for Young Explorers are: Nature Class, Bible Study, Crafts. Each camper will rotate through each of these classes on Thursday and Friday morning.

Boys Camp Sample Schedule

MORNING:  7:30AM Camper Wake-Up, Inspection of Ranks, Chapel, Breakfast, Flag Raising, Activity Class 1, Bible Study, Activity Class 2. 

AFTERNOON:  Noon Games, Lunch, Cabin Clean Up, Snack Shop, Organized Free Time, Rest Period, All-Camp Area or Counselor Activity.

EVENING:  Dinner, Flag Lowering, Evening Activities (may include night swims, counselor hunt, campouts, campfires, night games, chapels, hymn sings or all-camp bonfires), Devotions, 9-10:00PM Bedtime.

Sample Activity Classes include: archery, arts & crafts, astronomy, bb, canoeing, dagorhir (foam sword-fighting), drama, drawing, kayaking, nature, photography, pottery, riflery, rocketry, and wilderness survival skills. Each camper will be able to choose two activity classes based on age and availability.

Girls Camp Sample Schedule

MORNING:  7:30AM Camper Wake-Up, Inspection of Ranks, Chapel, Breakfast, Flag Raising, Activity Class 1, Bible Study, Activity Class 2. 

AFTERNOON:  Noon Games, Lunch, Cabin Clean Up, Snack Shop, Organized Free Time, Rest Period, All-Camp Area or Counselor Activity.

EVENING:  Dinner, Flag Lowering, Evening Activities (may include night swims, counselor hunt, campouts, campfires, night games, chapels, hymn sings or all-camp bonfires), Devotions, 9-10:00PM Bedtime.

Sample Activity Classes include: archery, arts & crafts, astronomy, bb, canoeing, dagorhir (foam sword-fighting), dancing, drama, drawing, kayaking, nature, photography, pottery, riflery, rocketry, and wilderness survival skills. Each camper will be able to choose two activity classes based on availability.

Room

All cabins and tents are equipped with emergency exits. Additionally, all cabins have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.

Each tent and cabin has at least one Counselor who spends the entire night with the campers.

Lodging is separated by gender for Young Explorers Camp.

Food

We take special care to accommodate most food allergies and dietary preferences. Often, a substitute of the same food other campers are eating is provided.

We ensure that your camper gets healthy servings of fruits and vegetables through the day.

We ensure that your camper says hydrated and we encourage campers to consistently have a full water bottle with them.

Meals are served family-style, with one counselor sitting at every table with the campers.

Snacks are provided throughout the day.

Our kitchen is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health in the same manner as public restaurants.

Health

A health form is due 2 weeks before arrival for each camper. Health forms can be accessed by logging into your CampInTouch account.

Medical care is provided by a full-time, on-site Camp Nurse. Advanced medical care is on-call at all times.

If your camper is taking medicine on a regular basis, please note that ALL medicine MUST BE in their original containers, whether prescription or over-the-counter. These medicines must be left with the Camp Nurse upon check-in. The Camp Nurse will dispense it as needed or prescribed.

Every Boys Camp and Girls Camp Counselor is trained in Red Cross First Aid and CPR.

Susque is 5 minutes away from the nearest ambulance.

Susque is 20 minutes away from a trauma facility.

We have an AED on property and staff are trained specifically how to use it.

Campers and staff are screened when they arrive for illness.

Every attempt to notify parents will be made in the event of illness or injury that requires professional care or an extended stay in the Infirmary.

Camp Susque does not carry medical insurance on campers, therefore any non-covered expenses incurred while at camp will be billed to the parents.

Our medical policies are endorsed by a professional Medical Doctor.

A licensed Nurse is on the property at all times.

 

At the core of our summer program we offer three different options: Young Explorers Camp, Boys Camp, and Girls Camp.

Young Explorers, formerly called Adventure Camp, is a way for your child to get his/her feet wet with the camping experience. It runs for just 4 days and 3 nights and is tailored to make your child’s first camp experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Typically, this camp is staffed by "mom" and "dad" age counselors to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

Our Boys and Girls camps are unique in that they allow boys to be boys and girls to be girls in the context of a week of summer camp. They provide a chance for your child to spend the week at camp not distracted by or worrying about getting embarrassed in front of campers of the opposite gender. These camps are served by well-screened, college-age counselors who spend an entire week in training learning how to best take care of your child while at Susque.

 

Young Explorers

For Campers Entering 1st-3rd grade.

June 18-21, 2023 for Boys

June 21-24, 2023 for Girls

We have added a second session of Young Explorers Camp to accomodate more campers - we want everyone to be able to enjoy this camp!  Young Explorers Camp is a safe, interactive program designed to introduce younger campers to the experience of an overnight camp. During the four-day, three-night program, campers participate in many of the same activities as our week-long Boys and Girls camps, including campfires, activity classes*, swimming, snack shop, and an awesome theme meal. Yet, at the same time, it occurs over a shorter period of time which allows your child to ease into the camper experience.

Chapels and Bible studies, tailored towards younger campers, play a prominent role as we strive to introduce each child to his/her Creator. This is all done while maintaining a counselor-to-camper ratio of 1:6, designed to ensure that each camper receives the attention he/she needs to thrive.

If this is the first time you are sending a camper to camp or you have any questions, please read our FAQ for Summer Camps and don’t hesitate to give us a call (570-998-2151) or email us a question (susque@susque.org). We look forward to working with you to make your child’s camp experience safe, fun, and successful!

Boys Camp

Boys Entering Grades 3-11

For over 65 years, Boys Camp has been a place for boys to be boys. Here they are free to make new friends, try new experiences, and live without the distractions of everyday life or a co-ed setting. Each week, Littlemen (grades 3-5), Mountainmen (grades 6-8), and Woodsmen (grades 9-11) can try their hand at skill-based activities such as dagorhir, archery, kayaking, and outdoor survival. Other small and large group activities such as gaga, campouts, and special theme activities add social stimulation and creative, fun elements.

Most importantly, boys will be immersed in a safe, loving community of leaders and young adults who have a passion for them to both hear and see the Gospel of Christ lived out. Each day, campers will hear from and interact with a chaplain, chosen for his ability to work with youth and encourage the hearts of young men. Well-screened, trained, college-age counselors also participate in the learning process as they guide their small cabin or tent group of 6-8 boys into the deeper truths of living in community and sensing God's purpose in their lives.

A hallmark of Susque, reaching back to the very beginnings of our ministry, occurs once a week for each cabin or tent group: the famed "Susque Stew Experience." This purposeful, special evening builds self-sufficiency as each cabin or tent group strikes off to seek God in quieter areas of camp. Each group prepares their own meal over a campfire they built themselves and prepares their sleeping quarters for that evening's rest under the stars. The goal of the evening is to prepare an open opportunity for the cabin or tent group to gather around the fire and share about their lives, their struggles, and their questions. Guest chaplains or other camp leadership are often in attendance to help stimulate and guide the conversation.

Girls Camp

Girls Entering Grades 3-11

For over 40 years, Girls Camp has provided a fun-filled, supportive atmosphere where girls can be themselves. Here they can withdraw from the distractions of everyday life and co-ed settings. Each week, close bonds form as Jays (grades 3-5), Doves (grades 6-8), and Hawks (grades 9-11) try their hand at skill-based activities such as canoeing, dance, pottery, and archery. Other small and large group activities such as gaga, campouts, and special theme activities add a chance to mingle and enjoy creative, fun elements.

Most importantly, girls will be immersed in a safe, loving community of leaders and young adults who have a passion for them to both hear and see the Gospel of Christ lived out. Each day, campers will hear from and interact with a chaplain and sometimes his wife, chosen for their ability to work with youth and encourage the hearts of young women. Well-screened, trained, college-age counselors also participate in the learning process as they guide their small cabin or tent group of 6-8 girls into the deeper truths of living in community and sensing God's purpose in their lives.

A hallmark of Susque, reaching back to the very beginnings of our ministry, occurs once a week for each cabin or tent group: the famed "Susque Stew Experience." This purposeful, special evening builds self-sufficiency as each cabin or tent group strikes off to seek God in quieter areas of camp. Each group prepares their own meal over a campfire they built themselves and prepares their sleeping quarters for that evening's rest under the stars. The goal of the evening is to prepare an open opportunity for the cabin or tent group to gather around the fire and share about their lives, their struggles, and their questions. Guest chaplains or other camp leadership are often in attendance to help stimulate and guide the conversation.

 

The summer fee is all-inclusive, covering the snack shop and all other program fees.

Cancellation Policy

All deposits are non-refundable. Cancellations made 7 days prior to the registered camp date allows for a full refund of any monies paid, minus the non-refundable deposit. After that date, all monies paid are non-refundable.