By Chad Hershberger
As we continue our series of blogs on Camp Mount Luther’s history, we continue further into the decade of the 1970s when a new corporation was founded that three synod camps fell under.
On November 24, 1975, the Executive Board of the synod elected the first Board of Directors for the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania and approved completed Articles of Incorporation. The bylaws of the new corporation set up a Mount Luther Advisory Committee. Those elected to one-year terms on the corporation board included Rev. Francis Bell, Rev. John Bishop, Rev. James Park Bricker, Rev. Arthur Mentzer, Rev. Thomas Pearson, Rev. D. Timothy Robinson, Rev. Berwyn Russell, Jr., Rev. Richard Weaver, Myron Bird, Donald Mincemoyer, John Muir, Jr., Patricia Fogelman, Lester Heilman, Jr., Robert Klingman, and Allan Wright. It was a new beginning for Mount Luther and the other camps of the Central Pennsylvania Synod.
During early months of 1976, the new corporation took over actual operation of the three camps. On February 11, 1976, the Board of Directors for the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania held their organizational meeting. Officers were elected including Rev. D. Timothy Robinson, president; Rev. Arthur Mentzer, vice president; Rev. Richard Weaver, secretary; and Myron Bird, treasurer. The new board met throughout the spring, creating bylaws, policy manuals, job descriptions, and a budget. They also participated in talks with the Commission on Camping regarding a capital funds appeal for the four camps. President Robinson said at the time, “The Corporation is fully aware of the task that lies ahead. They are totally committed to this responsibility, as has been indicated by their activity in the short time they have officially been in existence. We are not dreaming that it can happen. We believe it can happen.”
On June 24, 1976, the Executive Board of the synod approved the recommendation that the Commission on Camping conduct a funding appeal not to exceed $3 million, to be completed by June 1981, addressed to individuals and congregations who had met their benevolence in preceding year. The Synod Convention adopted it without the benevolence restriction. The capital campaign approved at the 1976 Synod Convention had a basic goal of $1.5 million with an advance goal of $2 million and a challenge goal of $2.5 million. Reaching the challenge goal would provide Mount Luther with $576,000 for repair of existing facilities, five retreat lodges, a dining-kitchen-meeting building and a swimming pool, according to a 1976 newspaper article. In September 1976, the corporation employed the Lutheran Laymen’s Movement Fund Raising and Counseling Services of New York City to do the campaign feasibility study, surveying about 300 people.
The schedule of planned improvements to Mount Luther included the following: in 1977, purchase two hogans for staff housing, construct an open pavilion, and renovate the barn as an activity center; in 1978, enlarge and improve existing kitchen and dining hall at Maple; in 1979, renovate Oak Cottage; in 1980, construct 20 trailer campsites. The barn was torn down due to safety issues. Pastor Youse and the maintenance staff were afraid children would fall through holes in the barn. Ed Stover, who lived near the camp, tore down the barn and hauled all the remnants back to his house.
As 1977 began, a new day was dawning for Lutheran camping in Central Pennsylvania. The synod’s Commission on Camping restructured itself, reducing from 20 to 13 members. Their make-up included three representatives from the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania and the Lutheran Camping Association, the governing body for Sequanota Camp and Conference Center.
On February 4, 1977, the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania officially became owners of Nawakwa, Mount Luther, and Kirchenwald. The synod sold them for $1. At the same meeting, the corporation hired Rev. Conrad B. Youse as administrator and retained Nancy Myers as secretary and bookkeeper. The board elected Rev. James Park Bricker president. Early in April the camp office was moved to Nawakwa. On March 7, 1977, Rev. Conrad B. Youse began his call as Administrator of the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania and was installed in October. At the end of its first year, the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania’s audit showed income of $177,431 and disbursements of $189,194.