Steve and Kitty Slusser had given a two year notice to the board and agreed to stay for a third year while the search continued for a replacement. Steve (Kitty) and Ralph (Lucy) concluded service officially in 2021 and helped for the spring of 2022 to close out the fiscal year responsibilities.
Ron Ward (Linda) arrived in December 2021 and Jennifer Montero arrived in January 2022. Ron and Linda served until December 2024. Ralph and Lucy VanDemark have served since then as volunteers to fill the void.
At the 50th Jubilee celebration Jennifer reported on the state of Camp Horizon today and plans for the future.
In the next decade there was an attempt to open a “gap” program for young people between high school and college. Camp Horizon Bible Institute graduated four students during that time, two of them serving as program interns.
The camper count exceeded 400 camper for the first time in history. The board begins to meet remotely and chapel sessions are streamed (audio only). Things were progressing when Covid 19 struck in 2020. That year camp hosted Training Camp and Youth One. After that, many of the staff stayed for an impromptu CIT week with Dave Bosworth before shutting down for the summer.
Steve Slusser (Kitty) arrived May 1, 2000 as the new Administrative Director. It would be after summer before a temporary maintenance man could be hired (Don B), and by Summer 2002 Ralph and Lucy had joined them. They shared the duplex for the next twenty years.
The first project was the swimming pool. It was completed in time for Junior Camp. The photo above was after summer at the Pool Dedication.
Before the next summer the kitchen was completely remodelled and plans for two new cabins were being discussed. In the midst of this the camp was hit by back-to-back hurricanes. Both docks were destoyed and replaced while working on cabin permitting. The new cabins opened in 2008.
With the change in 1987 to weekly directors, the role of the onsite director changed to Camp Manager during the summer, then Camp Director for the retreat season. The Sasscer / Ramsaran years saw growth in both camp sponsored and guest group retreats. The Father-Son and Father-Daughter canoe trips begin (still popular). Joel suggested to the board when he left that camp might be better served with an Administrative Director that would represent the interests of the board year-round. Weekly “program” directors would report to this new position. It would take a few more years for this change to take place, but that is exactly what happened in the 1990s.
Stan and Barb Shields served with the Ramsaran family initially and they completed the Chapel construction. The cabins got motel room style air-conditioning. Karl and Janice Rudzitis served from 1992-1993.
1993-1996
Larry Price was joined by Billy Skelton in 1994. Larry’s title was Director and when he left in 1986 Billy became the Administrative Director with responsibilities described by Joel back in 1991. This remains the structure in use to this day.
Duane and Janet Hudnall served from 1997-1999. There was a temporary Administrative Director (August 1999 – February 1999). As of March 2000 Billy Skelton took responsibility for the office tasks and Dave Bennet (Nickie) moved on-site as caretaker during the search for a new director.
Many changes were seen over the next decade. The board wrestled growing pains. Buildings that were on the original site-plan became a reality. There were changes in camper demographics, roles and responsibilities of full-time staff, and changes to the board (by-laws, the size of the board, etc.).
1980-1982
In 1980 the last payment was made on the property (4/1/1980) and the Staff Lodge was completed. It became home to the first on-site staff to follow Ted and Karen. Jack and Mike Nelson lived there as did Bob and Mary-Ann.
Jim Hislop served at Hiawassa Bible Chapel and was the summer director from 1979-1981. Jack Nelson was the food service manager from 1978-1981. Others that served in various capacities include Archie Townsend, Don Furguson, and Phil Diener.
1982-1986
The duplex was completed by Summer of 1982 in time for Mike and Carolyn Nelson.
Harry and Charlotte Buchanan lived there next. Harry was called home to be with the Lord in December 1983 after serving for the summers of 1983-1984. Charlotte served alone until Summer and helped for the next summers as well. Her son in law Tom Chesnutt directed for the summers of 1985- two weeks of 1986.
1986-1991
Caroll VanRyn and Bill Bradford directed the remaining weeks in 1986 with Billy Skelton and Peter Vigil as their all-summer Assistant Program Directors . Ralph and Lucy VanDemark served from 1986-1987 with Joel and Joanna Sasscer joing them in 1987). Ralph and Lucy were replaced by Rahlyn and Betty Ramsaran in 1988. Both families left during the 1991.
It was during these years that the Aluminum Canoes (still in service) were purchased, master bedrooms were added to the duplex, and the gym was built over the tennis courts.
The concept of weekly directors arose out of the summer of 1986. In 1987 there there was a different director each week. Billy Skelton (and possibly Dan Lawson) served all summer. This change continues to this day.
V1 Tom Chesnutt
V2 Mike Livingston
T1 Bill Bradford
T2 Randy Beers
J1/J2 Bob McLaren
1987 is also the year the Charlie Widboom build the Woody, enjoyed for more than a generation of camp staff.
The Woody
They playground swingset (telephone poles), gym porch, office extension of the gym and the move of the walk-in cooler/freezer to a new back porch on the Dining Hall came in the Sasscer/Ramsaran years.
1989
Six-Day camps begin. Sessions are back-to-back so two week campers stay over Saturday and go out for laundry and McDonalds. The Sailboat Logo (designed by Lucy VanDemark) replaces the train about this time. The dormitory is completed in 1989.
1990
Junior Camps are both full (90-98 campers). The report to the board is that a camper was saved almost every day of camp.
Those that served on staff that first summer remember spending the entire night before Junior Camp assembling bunk beds and preparing for incoming campers.
Most of the staff boys lived in a black bus with no air conditioning. They showered over the floor drain in the dish room. The girls lived in a trailer near the Ted and Karen’s mobile home. They had indoor plumbing.
There was no gymnasium, no tennis courts, and no chapel building. The Dining Hall was divided with a temporary wall. Meals were served on one side and the other side was used for chapel and was the only inside location for activities during rain.
The board gave no specific reason for not returning to Lake Swan after 1972. Camp Horizon moved to Lakewood Retreat near Brooksville, FL for 1973-1975.
It was during these years that the Leesburg property was purchased and developed. While that was going on at the new property, the Lord was developing leaders that would take camp into the next decade and beyond.
Several young men that served on staff under Ted (Karen) and Charlie (Norma) and others that were campers would live on the new property in various roles. These include but are not limited to, Mike and Jack Nelson, Bob C., Steve & Kitty Slusser, and Billy Skelton (a Junior Camper at Lakewood). Others would serve in missions and other full-time ministry.
The search for a suitable property continued from 1971 until the fall of 1974. Camp Horizon continued as a guest at other camp facilities.
Several locations were suggested and a few of them considered. The board made at least two unsuccessful attempts to purchase property. Wendell McGregor recounted the story of how the Lord led him and Sally to Leesburg where the property was discovered. [An attempt will be made to transcribe Wendell’s presentation at the 50th Jubilee at Camp Horizon.] The move to purchase the Leesburg property was at a board meeting on December 7, 1974.
At the 20th Anniversary Wendell recounted the beginning of Camp Horizon. At the 50th he added the story of how the Lord got them from I-75 to Leesburg (20 miles east) and to this beautiful property on Lake Harris. His 20th tribute is recorded on a historical blog (earlier project). 1970-1995 Anniversary Tribute
For Sale Sign
Sunnyside Drive
The original road (1974).
The Leesburg location featured a long lake-front on a large lake. It was perfect for swimming, boating, and skiing. The cost was likely more affordable because it was zoned agriculture – an old but working citrus grove, and a bothersome railroad that ran through the property along the lake.
The view of the lakefront (1974)
Wendell and Sally’s first view
c.1975 Train passing through Camp Horizon
The property was rezoned on the second attempt on March 18, 1975. Closing was scheduled for the week of March 24, 1975.
April 5, 1975 Ron Gratton organized a heavy equipment day to rake the beach, grade the road, and remove debris which had been dumped along the road.
April 12, 1975 Several Brigade groups arrived to clean up the waterfront and other activities in preparation for the Family Picnic Day.
May,3 1975 Family Picnic Day – Charles Lacey was in charge of food, serving hamburgers and hotdogs.
Charles Lacey at the grill!
November 15, 1975 A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Leesburg property.
On September 9, 1971 a group of men gathered at Hiawassa Bible Chapel “regarding the possibility of forming a new Youth Camp Program for various activities of the Assemblies of Florida.”
Letters were sent to assemblies throughout Florida. As interest began to grow, the meeting attendance grew as well. A new corporation was needed to be able to purchase land, construct a camp, and conduct business activities required. The decision was made to not limit this corporation to operating a summer camp, but to be involved in other gospel outreach opportunities in the future.
Scans of the first meeting minutes and lettes can be found on a post in the camp history blog (an earlier project). 1971-1972 A New Organization
The name selected reflected those ideals. “Evangelistic Horizons Unlimited, Incorporated” was officially registered as a Florida not-for-profit corporation on December 14, 1971.
One of the first orders of business was scheduling the first summer of Camp Horizon in 1972 at Lake Swan. March 19, 1972 the IRS issued a determination letter recognizing the new corporation as a not-for-profit organization.
The March 1972 meeting reports that funds remaining from the “old Camp Horizon” would be available soon. This is the only note in existing minutes referring to the previous camp.
Lake Swan Today
We do not have photos of Lake Swan in our collection. This is what the waterfront looks like today. Ted Thisse reported in the fall of 1972 that there were approximately seventy (70) professions of faith that summer. This news fueled the fire for building a new camp.
1980-1982
The duplex was completed by Summer of 1982 in time for Mike and Carolyn Nelson.
