Nate Dittmar

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Nate Dittmar, Camp Susque’s Groundskeeper, started as Year Round Staff after he graduated High School at 19. Having grown up at camp as the co-founder’s son, he worked many summers. Nate is no stranger to camp culture.  Add to that his experience in mowing the grass, shoveling, moving rocks, and doing all kinds of support work, Nate is ideally suited to serve as Susque’s Groundskeeper.

Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and raised in Perryville, Pennsylvania, Nate used to give staff rides around camp on his old Kawasaki motorcycle. He also liked to ride a Scorpion snowmobile to smooth cross country skiing trails at Susque Far Field.

When Nate isn’t helping to clean lodges for retreats, doing his mousetrap patrol, or refrigerator/freezer temperature checks, you can find him mowing, something he really likes to do especially when it’s the self-propelled mower which pulls him really fast and makes him feel like the 6-Million Dollar Bionic Man. You may even find him shopping for used Classical, Bluegrass, or Sons of the Pioneers music CDs or books at local area yard sales or flea markets! The music reminds him of good memories with his parents and the special talks and trips to the Rockies and Banff Lake they had together.

Nate’s best superpower is remembering people’s names.

What year did you start at Camp Susque?

I started working at Susque year round when I graduated from high school at 19.

What kind of experience do you have in your field?

Summer support staff work mowing grass with a push mower, checking on outhouses and shoveling lime down the holes, taking care of the garbage, moving rocks, and other support related work.

What kind of schooling do you have?

High School and learning skills at Hope Enterprises.

Where were you born and raised?

Born in Williamsport, PA. Raised in Perryville, PA.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I used to give staff rides on my old Kawasaki motorcycle and ride around camp. I liked to ride a Scorpion snowmobile. I used to smooth cross country skiing trails at Susque Far Field. One day it was really snowy/icy and I flipped the snowmobile down an embankment when I was trying to turn around.

What was your first job?

Hope Enterprises for people with learning disabilities. Made picnic tables, chimney sweeps, mailing, cut electrical wires, cut strings, worked on mouse poison (wore mask & gloves).

Describe your perfect day off?

Every 3rd weekend of each month, Lycoming Mall has a community yard sale. I find things like used books.

Where’s the coolest place you’ve ever been?

Rockies with my parents 1988; Banff Lake, Louise, Jasper; Colorado, New Mexico. Good memories with my parents; I miss special talks with my parents.

What’s one thing on your bucket list that you’d love to do?

"Fly with his arms in the sky" as my father used to say.

What is your favorite Scripture?

Psalms verse that says if I hide, You can see me. Can't hide from God; Go to the Heavens, You are there. Also the one that says "fearfully and wonderfully made."

What is your favorite area at Camp Susque?

On the Pioneer Trail to the far end.

Describe your job at Camp Susque in a nutshell, and what is your favorite day in the life of your job?

I help clean lodges for retreats. Mousetrap patrol. Refrigerator/Freezer temperature checks. Mowing - I like to mow. I call myself the bionic person like the 6-Million Dollar Man because the mower is self-propelled and can pull me fast.

What are you good at? 

Remembering people's names. I also like to do word searches/puzzles.

What challenges you?

Having to work on the Pavilion in Winter and turn it into an ice skating rink.

What is your favorite camp memory as a child?

Indian programs here in the summer. Dress as Indians, do drums, great campers, Saturday night welcoming ceremony. Jays & Littlemen set up Indian clothes, headdresses, and feathers.

When did you become a Christian?

In my teens; the Lord really worked in my life when I was in my teens.