Our Approach
The impetus for the purchase and operation of Camp Skymont was born as World War II waned.
Five children of the Reverend and Mrs. Samuel Habel, Sr., came together, along with Jessie Reynolds, head of Parks and Recreation in Richmond, Virginia, and decided that something positive needed to be done for young people, and that something they determined would be a summer camp.
Our Story
Dr. Samuel Habel, Jr. had been working on his doctorate in theology at New College at the University of Edinburgh when the war broke out, but it was not until he was doing further studies in Paris in conjunction with his degree that he was told, “for the last time” to quit Europe.
Meet the Team
In the meantime, a younger brother, John Woodrow Habel, was an American soldier who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. A brother-in-law, Clyde Moschler, Sr. of Richmond also served in the military. While their younger brother, The Reverend Nathanael Habel, then a seminary student in Philadelphia with a student pastorate in in Takoma Park, MD hoped to serve as a navy chaplain. that dream did not transpire. Their sisters, Mary Louise Habel, a nursing school administrator, and Hattie Moschler, an elementary school teacher, served on the home front.
Regan McCook
Founder & CEO
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Eric Teagan
Vice President
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Timothy Barrett
CFO
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Next Steps…
Their determination to buy and operate a camp led to the purchase of Camp Overall, a camp that had been in operation since the 1920 about half-way between Luray and Front Royal, Virginia.
Renamed as Camp Skymont (and sometimes called Camp Skymont for Girls and Skymont Ranch Camp for boys), this comprehensive summer camp originally operated as a sleep-away camp for eight weeks each summer and then six. Its directors, John and Margaret Habel lived there year round while Dr. Samuel Habel and The Reverend Nathanael took time off from their pastorates to be present on grounds for much, if not all of each summer.