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There's More:
Rev. Douglas L. Suggs
Retired Elder, Western North Carolina Conference, United Methodist Church
It all started at camp.
My fraternal twin brother and I began working at Chestnut Ridge in 1968, at age sixteen, as lifeguards and canoe instructors — in the early days of the camp's existence. My brother eventually transferred to another camp, but I returned to Chestnut Ridge for the next four summers, through 1972.
Those experiences shaped the direction of my life. My family was active in a United Methodist Church, and I had grown up in the usual rhythms of church life — Sunday school, worship, UMYF, vacation bible school, Boy Scouts — all foundational, and I'm grateful for every one of them. But Chestnut Ridge was different. For the first time, I was away from home, living close to nature alongside people from many different places, bound together in Christian community. The love of Christ became real to me in a new and living way, and set me on a joyful journey of discovery: that there is always more to God's abundant love.
I witnessed lives changed. One week stands out above the rest. Three boys arrived at camp from a youth detention center — sullen and reticent, with a wariness in
their eyes that first day. None of us knew how to reach them. But as the week unfolded, something remarkable happened. They began to open — to friendships, the presence of Love, the beauty of the natural world. By week's end, they were filled with the joy of camp life, laughing and engaging with the same enthusiasm as everyone around them.
Later, our director read the staff a letter from the detention center. It described boys who had returned changed — more settled, more hopeful, already moving differently through their lives there. We had felt it ourselves that week: the love of God, experienced in community with others and with nature, had worked something real in them.
There were many such moments over those years, but that one became the catalyst for my call to ministry. Decades later, I have never forgotten the power of the living Christ present in community.
I encourage everyone to check out the programs at Chestnut Ridge and to support this vital ministry with your prayers, presence, gifts, and service.
You'll discover for yourself — there is always more to God's abundant love.
My name is Joshua, and I've been a camper for about six years. Chestnut Ridge has shaped my life in more ways than I ever expected. When I first arrived at camp, I'd never been to a camp before so I was full of curiosity and anxiety. What I didn’t realize was that Chestnut Ridge would become a place that helped me grow emotionally, socially, and spiritually in ways that still matter to me today. As a kid who was in the foster care system I always found a way to come back to Chestnut Ridge no matter where or how far away I was.
One of the biggest impacts Chestnut Ridge has had on my life is the sense of belonging it gave me. There’s something about being surrounded by people who genuinely care, who cheer for you during the high ropes course, who laugh with you during messy games, and who sit beside you during quiet worship under the stars. Camp taught me what real community looks like and I’m so grateful.
At Camp Chestnut Ridge I learned how to open up, how to listen, and how to support others. I would call Chestnut Ridge my second home because it's where I created the best version of myself. Chestnut Ridge is special because it creates space for me to be fully myself. There’s no pressure to perform or pretend. Whether I was singing loudly (and off‑key) at morning worship, hiking through the woods, or sitting around a campfire, I felt free to just be myself. I created
friendships that didn't disappear when camp ended; they helped me understand what healthy, meaningful relationships should feel like. This kind of environment is important, especially for kids and teenagers who are still figuring out who they are. Camp gives young people a place where they can explore, grow, and feel safe doing it.
Spiritually, camp has been one of the clearest places I’ve ever felt God at work. It wasn’t always in big, dramatic moments, though worship by the lake definitely had its impact. More often, it was in the small things: a counselor’s encouragement at just the right time or the quiet peace of early morning before the day's activities started. Camp helped me understand that faith isn’t just something you talk about; it’s something you live out in community and in everyday choices. Most importantly, I learned that God shows up in unexpected places, sometimes in the middle of a game of volleyball, sometimes in cabin conversations, and sometimes in the stillness of the woods.
I’ve learned a lot about myself at Chestnut Ridge. I learned that I’m braver than I thought, that I can lead when I need to, and that stepping outside my comfort zone usually leads to something good. I learned how to work with others, and how to be patient. Most importantly, counselors and directors were there when I needed them most and it shows the dedication that counselors are willing to provide and shows me exactly how great of a community Chestnut Ridge is. Chestnut Ridge isn’t just a camp to me. It’s a place that helped shape who I am, and I’m grateful for every moment I spent there.
Your contributions to our 2026 Annual Fund help to support this work to strengthen the camper and staff experience, and provide resources that enhance programming, facilities and Christian faith formation. Costs have surged while we have worked to keep fee increases modest. For alumni, parents and friends, the Annual Fund is a way to stay connected to camp and ensure that new generations can experience camp.
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