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For those who want to attend summer camp at Camp Susque, which is celebrating its 75th year, time is running out.

Peter Swift, camp executive director, said summer camp enrollment — following a down year because of COVID-19 — is trending higher than it has ever been at this time of year.

“There is clearly a demand for camps,” he said.

This year is a milestone for the camp and interest is high.

That is interesting, he said, because last year the camp near Trout Run had the added boost of anyone who had enrolled in 2020 and decided to roll their deposit to 2021.

“So we essentially started 2021 way higher than any other period year, and yet, we’re trending higher right now,” he said.

Early birds get the worm

“It’s important for us to let parents know to get their kids, grandkids enrolled ASAP,” Swift said.

That’s because the camp may run out of room before the early bird registration deadlines happen.

The camp has three weeks for girls camps with 400 spots, and about seven spots remaining. Boys camps are not as full. There is a young explorers camp with room for 10 boys and 15 girls.

The camp is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian camp.

Its founding 75 years ago began as a need for youth to have parental guidance in the aftermath of World War II.

As fathers returned from overseas and moms went to work, there were challenges seen by men such as Swift’s grandfather, Bob Dittmar, who would fill those gaps of absentee fathers by having church members and himself take youngsters on backpacking hikes, camping trips and nature walks.

“It increased their confidence,” Swift said of his grandfather’s efforts.

That was 1947.

They rented space at a Boy Scout camp, Camp Kline, which they outgrew.

A new location on a farm was found. Soon, hundreds of pavilions and a dining hall large enough to hold 300 people were constructed.

Over the years, Camp Susque has been a retreat for Boy and Girl scouts, for educational homeschooling, school field trips, youth summits and rentals.

Swift always has willing staff but it is a challenge to meet the staffing requirements.

Typically, the camp hires 120 late-high-school- to college-aged counselors.

The staff goes through training in May-to-June in preparation

Professionals such as Tim Bryant, a family therapist, are brought in to prepare the staff for the campers. Camp assistants are trained in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Campers begin arriving in mid-June.

May 21 is the Camp Susque annual fundraiser banquet.

This year the camp anticipates raising between $70,000 to $100,000 from donations and donors.

“We are seeking sponsors,” he said.

Events such as a silent auction are a part of the fundraiser.

Last year, the camp raised $93,000 in donations from holding the banquet.

Cost for campers is $500 and that is about half of what is charged on a national average. It costs about $970 to support a single camper, Swift said.

“We are nonprofit and have been blessed by First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania in the past helping to raise donations,” he said.