For the Wuscher family, Camp Seymour is more than a place. It’s a thread that ties three generations together, from Irene’s soap sales in the 1950s to Mark’s experiences in the 1980s to Owen and Bernice’s songs around the campfire today.
When Irene first came to Camp Seymour in the 1950s, getting there felt like a dream. Her family didn’t have the money to send her, so she went door to door selling soap until she raised enough funds for a week at camp. She still remembers arriving as a shy eight year-old and discovering a world of campfires, log cabins, and the thrill of learning to steer a canoe.
“It was such a blessing that I got to go,” Irene says. “I had a wonderful week here.”
Passing Camp to Her Own Children
That early experience stayed with her. Years later, as she was raising her own children, she found herself looking for programs that would help them build confidence and spend time outdoors. Irene thought back to Camp Seymour and the memories she had carried with her since childhood.
Her son, Mark, attended in the early 1980s, carrying the Camp Seymour tradition into a second generation. Irene recalls Mark as an outgoing, friendly child, always ready to try new things. Camp only strengthened those qualities. He loved to be where kids were encouraged to explore, meet people from different backgrounds, and practice independence away from home.
A New Generation Arrives
Now Mark is the parent carrying on the tradition, sending his own children, Owen and Bernice, to the place that helped shape him. For him, Camp Seymour has become a key part of helping his kids grow up in a world that feels different from the one he knew at their age.
“Technology has taken over their lives,” he says. “I wanted them in the Camp Seymour culture to just disconnect and really understand what Mother Nature has to offer.”
Mark watched his kids enter their tween and teen years during the height of early COVID, a time when many children felt uncertain and withdrawn. Once Owen and Bernice began attending camp each summer, he saw them begin to open up again.
“Camp Seymour really helped them come out of that cocoon,” Mark says. “They’re more socially connected. They’re comfortable trying new things. They’re able to talk to kids of all different backgrounds. It’s made a huge difference.”
Bernice Finds Confidence
For Bernice, the most noticeable shift is her confidence. She says camp challenged her in ways that felt intimidating at first, from tackling physically demanding activities to making friends in a brand-new cabin. But every year, she leaves feeling stronger, more confident, and more capable.
“Before Camp Seymour, I would always need help with things,” she says. “I feel like camp has helped me find my strength, mentally and physically.”
Bernice also shares that initially, she worried she wouldn’t make any friends at camp, but her fears never lasted long. “Everyone here is so friendly. Most people come by themselves, so everyone is looking to make friends.”
Owen Discovers Independence
Owen feels that same sense of belonging. He talks about cabin life, shared meals, and how quickly friendships form when you live and play together.
“It’s really easy to make friends here,” he says. “Day one we’re all nervous, but by day two we’re already having fun together.”
He says leaving his phone behind at home has been one of the best surprises. “I can actually have fun without my phone. When I get home, I bike around the neighborhood instead of just scrolling.”
Shared Memories
The siblings even admit they fight less during camp week. Time apart gives them space to miss each other, and shared traditions like whale swim, gaga ball, and singing Pappy’s songs on the car ride home creates memories they’ll both cherish.
“Camp Seymour changed me as a person,” Bernice says. “It helped my shyness, and my leadership. It’s helped me a lot.”
A Legacy of Belonging
Irene hopes her family’s tradition continues for kids who need financial support, just as she once did. “I hope the Y always includes kids who can’t pay the full rate. It changed my life, and I’m so glad I was able to pass that on to my children and grandchildren.”
Mark shares that same commitment. He says he’s grateful to now be in a place where he can help other kids experience what Camp Seymour has given his family.
“It’s an investment in the community,” he says. “Camp can change a kid’s life.”
If you’d like to help more children experience Camp Seymour, you can support camper scholarships today.