Canadian Mennonite
Volume 10, No. 09
May 1, 2006
Squeah director says goodbye—after 18 years
Hope, B.C.
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For nearly half its life, Camp Squeah has had one executive director—Rudy Kehler—a fact that makes him feel old. But it’s a fact and there’s no denying that Kehler has had an impact on, and been impacted by, the place he has called home for the last 18 years. During that time, he’s seen a lot of change.
“When I first started, we had three people on staff,” he recalls. “My office was in the basement of our house. I had one old manual calculator, an electric typewriter and a desktop photocopier. We did double-entry bookkeeping, which my in-laws taught me. When we made long distance phone calls, we had to do so via the local operator.”
O how the times have changed. In a few weeks Squeah will have access to high-speed Internet. It now has a network of six computers, six full-time staff and custodial staff on contract, a website, and two office spaces separate from his home. In the years he has been there, Kehler has also seen the building of another residence on the property to accommodate the maintenance director and his family. Several renovations have been done on cabins and other buildings. Trails have been built. Kehler worked on many of these projects himself and in that sense his fingerprints are all over this place.
As Camp Squeah grew, so did its understanding of itself and what it has to offer. The outdoor education program was launched under then program director Connie Lepp. It was a big risk for the board to undertake at that time. The program brings school groups to Squeah during the week each spring and fall, while church groups and other rentals visit the camp on weekends.
“We asked the board to commit to a three-year salary for Connie, which they did, and our intention was that the program would cover the cost of her salary,” he says. “Now, the program accounts for a fifth of the entire budget. In a couple of years, it’ll account for one-quarter of it.”
And while Kehler has had some influence on these changes, he’s well aware of how the place has impacted his own life. “Half my children were born here,” the father of four says, smiling. “It was community that raised our children and they have grown to become self-assured, confident young people who are so capable and able to talk to adults—anyone—with ease. They’ve had an amazing childhood.”
And when he thinks of what he’ll miss, he doesn’t hesitate to answer. “The team I built. How do you leave a place? I spent years building a team of people who would oversee the growing work and now I’m pulling the plug,’ he says. “It feels awful, like a betrayal.”
Kehler also thinks about the hundreds of hikes he’s taken on trails he’s built. “Hiking has always had a strong spiritual connection for me,” he says. “And building trails that allow others access to such a beautiful place, that’s very important. It’s what Squeah should continue to do, work at something that connects people with the natural world.”
When he thinks about Squeah’s future, his hope is that it will continue to build on what it has always offered. “Squeah is a place that invites people to an experience with God,” he says passionately. “And because you’re away from all those outside influences, you have an easier time experiencing God.”
Kehler feels strongly that Camp Squeah should continue to promote this invitation and its environment, so much so that he feels it should be a criteria for all rental groups. “Your experience at Squeah should include mandatory interaction with the environment—a hike on the trails, a walk through the trees, a visit to the creek—something outdoors, because that automatically translates into interaction with others, a connection with your inner spirit and with God,” he says. “Otherwise, what are we here for? You can run sessions in a church basement.”
Kehler, his wife Maureen and their family left Camp Squeah at the end of April and moved to the town of Hope, just 10 minutes away.
But there will be many visits to Squeah, he says, and he will always value his experience here.