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To most summer camp administrators, COVID-19 brought months of worst nightmares as enrollments dropped and summer sessions were canceled. Whereas other camps might throw in their towels, however, Camp Susque turned the lack of campers into an opportunity to help others.
"We had to cancel traditional programming. Financially, that's challenging -- we're a nonprofit," said Peter Swift, the camp's program director. "[However], God really blessed us through 2020 with opportunities to serve the community."
When the initial wave of COVID-19 cases began pelting central Pennsylvania, Camp Susque stepped up to offer its lodges to first responders and others who were on the frontlines in the fight against the coronavirus.
As time went on, and schools sent children home to learn remotely, an imminent need in the Trout Run area included getting students quality internet access. So, Camp Susque opened its parking lot up for drive-up Wifi -- which is supplied by the same commercial gigabit fiber network that connects Mansfield University and Bucknell University to the internet.
"It's essentially a hot spot," Swift said. "Nobody has good internet in our region. Being able to offer that to families was a big deal because kids had to get on the internet."
Despite losing its typical programming, Camp Susque was able to hold screen detox weekends, family events and more that were outdoors and able to be socially distanced with a low likelihood of transmission throughout the summer.
And when school returned in the fall of 2020, and it was time for students to go back to hybrid learning, Camp Susque again sprang into action. Over the course of two weeks, the camp hired 80 staff and set up remote learning and programming.
"We ended up caring for more students through these learning sites than through our summer camp," Swift said.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive from the parents, Swift said. He explained the program was a lifesaver for so many families.
"Some people thought they were going to have to quit their jobs to care for their kids," Swift said. "We had plans to expand, but thankfully the school districts went back to full in-person learning after a few months."