General Camp Information

Camper Info

Before Camp

• Acceptance and Participation
  Rules for acceptance and participation in the program are the same for everyone regardless of religion, race, color, or national origin. Camp Susque does reserve the right to dismiss any camper who, by administration's judgment, consistently or grossly violates Camp Susque's regulations in a manner detrimental to the good or safety of any persons or property.
• Waitlist Policy
  If you want to apply for a session that is full, please submit an application form, but do not pay. Your child will be placed on a waiting list and notified when an opening becomes available. At that time you will send in your deposit.
• 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.

Forms

1. A health form is required for each camper 2 weeks before their arrival at Susque. A camper physical by a physician is not required to attend camp. However, we do recommend having your camper receive a physical within 6 months prior to their time at camp.
2. Additional forms may be required depending on the year and session your camper is enrolled. To access these forms, log in to your CampInTouch account.

*Blast campers are exempt from this policy. If you are a Blast camper, please bring your Blast Health Form with you upon arrival.

How Parents & Guardians Can Help Make the Camp Experience Successful

• Speak positively about the camp experience in the months and weeks before your child's session. Avoid imparting a sense of guilt or sadness with statements such as "I'll be struggling at home without you, but I know you'll have fun." Affirm for them that you are excited for, and not dreading, their special time away.
• There are many professional resources to assist you and your camper in preparing for camp. For starters, check out the American Camp Association's "Preparing for Camp" blog post.

While at Camp

• Health Care Information
  Susque takes stringent measures to safeguard and protect your camper from accidents or injuries. However, should one occur, our First-Aid-certified Wilderness Trip Leaders will assess and care for your camper. Advanced medical care is on-call at all times. Health information is confidential and is treated as such to protect the privacy of your camper and your family.
• For more information, check out the Health & Safety Tab on this page. 
• No Electronics Policy
  This policy is intended to minimize distractions for all of our campers. If an unapproved electronic device is found with your camper, the device will be confiscated until the end of his or her camping session. Please help us minimize distractions for our campers by not sending electronic devices to camp.

Contact with your Camper while at Susque

Letters, emails, and packages:

• Due to the nature of the Wilderness Trips, letters, emails, and packages will not be delivered to campers.

Phone Calls & Visits:

• For legal and practical reasons, we do not permit campers to make or receive phone calls unless in an emergency. If needed, parental concerns can be communicated through our Program Director.

  Likewise, we do not permit visits to your camper while they are at camp.

Campers Staying Multiple Weeks

• Campers staying multiple weeks are supervised, fed, and given activities for the hours between sessions on Saturdays. They are also allowed to make phone calls on Saturday between 11-3.
• If you prefer, campers are allowed to return home or go out for a visit for the few hours on Saturday between their sessions. Campers must be signed out when leaving and signed back in upon their return.
• Likewise, if you would like to come visit your camper at camp during the time between sessions, you may do so with pre-approval from the Program Directors. Meal tickets are available for purchase if you would like to stay for lunch.
• Multi-week campers' laundry will be done each week by our Support Staff.

After Camp

Lost Items

We strongly recommend that you clearly label all of your camper's items with their full name.

• We are unable to return clothing that is left at camp. Clothing that is left behind is washed and donated.
• In the rare event that we can locate a valuable item such as a camera, you must pay the shipping costs to have the item mailed back to you.
• Common items left at camp:
• Towels, sweatshirts, jackets, raincoats and ponchos, hats, swim shoes, flashlights, cameras, books.

Food and Lodging

Food

The Susque tradition of excellence continues with our Winter Camp meals. Campers are served three meals a day and nightly snacks. In addition to all of the raved-about Susque staples, warm, hearty foods are intentionally served at Winter Camps to keep campers feeling their best.

Susque strives to provide nutritious, desirable meals. We ensure that your camper gets healthy servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day and stays hydrated. Additionally, we encourage campers to consistently have a full water bottle with them.

View a sample menu.

Beyond the types of food served, we intentionally use round tables and family-style dining. This is to promote conversation around the table and a sense of inclusion.

Food Allergies & Dietary Restrictions

Susque handles dozens of food allergies and restrictions every winter. Our Food Service Manager has taken the time and initiative to ensure that Susque is able to handle most allergies and preferences, while still ensuring high-quality, filling meals. We strive to ensure that allergies and restrictions are handled in a discrete manner. Often, the camper will receive the same meal as their fellow cabin or tentmates, with substituted items to meet their health needs.

To notify us of your camper's food allergy or restriction, you will be provided a place on your camper's health form*, due two weeks before your camper's arrival. Our Food Service Manager may call you for further clarification. If something should change after you submit your health form, we request that Susque be notified within two weeks of your camper's arrival or we cannot guarantee accommodation. Health forms for Freeze, Frost, and Chill campers can be accessed by logging into your CampInTouch account.

*Blast campers will be given an opportunity to list allergies and preferences on their application form.  

If you have any questions, feel free to call us (570-998-2151) or email our Food Service Manager directly.

Lodging

Campers are housed in one of our cozy lodges or winterized cabins. Lodging is separated by gender and overseen by several counselors in each lodge. 

Each lodge has a central lounge for hanging out, porches for winter gear, multiple bathrooms, twin-sized bunk beds, and plenty of heat. 

Packing List

We recommend that you label all clothing and personal items.

Click here for a printable packing list.

Health and Safety

Camp Susque is committed to camper safety. To that end, we have set stringent measures in place to guarantee that we have well screened and trained staff. Our activities and facilities are regularly tested and examined. A licensed Nurse is hired for Frost and Chill while a trained staff member oversees Freeze and Blast. Meals are concientiously created with nutrition and variety in mind. Food allergies and dietary restrictions are handled in a professional, discrete manner. 

For more information, check out the sections below.

Staff Screening

• Camp Susque performs background and sex offender checks on all staff, including year-round, program and support staff. 
• Winter Camp staff are typically trusted, experienced summer staff. Our Director personally hires each Winter Camp staff member and conducts at least one interview with them before they are hired.

Staff Training

• Typically, Winter Camp staff have been through our Summer Camp Staff Training.
• Additionally, all Winter Camp counselors are trained by our Program Director either online or in person in the weeks and days leading up to the Winter Camp. This training includes not just practical skills, but explains the vision and purpose behind our Winter Camps as well.
• All staff are specifically trained on recognizing child abuse and avoiding compromising situations.
• Susque complies with mandated reporting laws to report any suspected abuse to the appropriate agency.

Staff Guidelines & Culture

• Winter Camps have a counselor-to-camper ratio of 1:8. Chill has a ratio of 1:6. Including full-time and program staff, our staff-to-camper ratio is 1:5 or lower.
• Staff and camper interactions are consistently observed throughout the day. In addition, daily staff meetings are held to address any large group dynamics concerns.
• Full-time staff are always involved in each of the Winter Camps, leading or assisting the program, providing oversight and guidance, and handling emergencies.

Medical

• A health form is due 2 weeks before arrival for each Freeze, Frost, and Chill camper. Blast campers must bring their health form with them. Health forms for Freeze, Frost, and Chill can be accessed by logging into your CampInTouch account. Blast campers must use the Blast Health Form.
• Medical care is provided by either a full-time Camp Nurse (for Frost and Chill) or a staff member with at least a certificate in First Aid (for Freeze and Blast). 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. Unless campers are adults, a Camp Nurse or member of Susque's leadership will be in charge of dispensing medication.
• 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.

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 make a majority of our meals from scratch and use fruits and vegetables at every meal.
• Water is served at every meal 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.
• For more info, Check out the Food tab on this page. 

Activities

• All program equipment is inspected at the beginning of the season and throughout the season before each use.
• The ice skating pond and sledding hill are inspected before each use.
• All activities are supervised by staff at all times.
• Each activity must be approved by the full-time Program Director.

Facilities

• All cabins and lodges have heat, fire extinguishers and smoke alarms.
• All lodging areas have at least one counselor.
• Lodging is separated by gender.

American Camp Association (ACA) Accredited

ACA's accreditation program helps camps meet the expectations of the industry and parents. Because we are ACA-accredited, we have met over 275 standards relating to program quality and camper/staff health and safety. See more at: https://www.acacamps.org

Rates

The winter fee is all-inclusive, covering all activities and program fees.

A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 per camper deposit must accompany your application. Without this deposit, your child will not be registered.

The remaining balance is due the first day your child comes to camp unless other arrangements have been made through time payments.

Rates below include the $50 deposit. Therefore, if you choose a session that costs $129, that fee includes the $50 deposit, and you will owe $79 due upon your camper's arrival at camp.

Discounts

Referral Discount

$10 discount for each first-time camper you refer. Your friend must inform us that you referred them. Your friend still pays the full price.

Financial Aid

Arriving and Departing Camp

Arriving at Susque

Arrival Times for Winter Camps

Check-in for all Winter Camps is from 6-7PM on the first day of the camp.

How Check-in Works

1. Upon arriving at Susque, you will park in the parking lot.
2. Leave your camper's gear in the car. 
3. Take any form of payment you need to settle up your account with as well as camper medication.
4. Proceed towards the Wagon Wheel Room (Same Place as Summer Camp registration). Our friendly staff will be happy to give you directions.
5. Once in the Wagon Wheel Room, you will:
   1. Fill out our Camper Release Form indicating who is approved to pick up your child at the end of the session. (This is for Chill, Frost, & Freeze only.)
   2. Enjoy some cookies and hot chocolate.
6. If you owe a balance, you will proceed to the Payment Station. If not, you will proceed to the Nurse Station.
7. At the Nurse Station:
   1. Campers will be screened by a trained staff member or nurse.
   2. Camper health forms will be reviewed and updated if necessary.
   3. Medications will be dropped off to the Nurse.
8. Next you will proceed to the Program Station. At this station:
   1. Campers will sign up for chores.
   2. Campers are told which lodging is available for their gender.
   3. Our Program Staff can assist you to your car and/or show you where lodging is located.
9. From here you may retrieve your gear and proceed towards the lodging.

Departing from Susque

Departure Times for Winter Camps

Freeze, Frost, and Chill end with a closing program that parents are invited to attend.  These programs are generally ~15 minutes in length and include a photo slideshow from the retreat, a brief summarizing message from the chaplain, and an invitation to upcoming events at Susque.

Closing Program Times:
Freeze: 11:15AM
Frost: 6:15PM
Chill: 1:30PM

*Blast ends with a brunch at 11:15AM

How Check-out Works

The following applies for Chill, Frost, and Freeze:

For safety and legal reasons, Camp Susque follows a strict check-out procedure of releasing campers at the end of the camp session.

This procedure requires that at check-in, parents and guardians accurately designate who is permitted to pick up their child. Anyone who is not listed as a designated pick-up person IS NOT allowed to leave the camping area with the child.

If this situation occurs, Susque will contact the parents and guardians for verbal confirmation that this person is an approved pick-up. It is therefore imperative that you contact Susque immediately should any pick-up changes occur during the time your child is at camp.

Unique Drop-off and Pick-up Times

Late drop-offs and early pick-ups are subject to pre-approval from our Program Director. Please contact Susque to discuss your particular situation.

Financial Aid

Winter Camp FAQs