The Fowler Board of Trustees announces Patrick Kinne as the next Director of Camp Fowler.

The Fowler Camp and Retreat Center Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Pat Kinne will be its next executive director, succeeding the retiring Rev. Kent Busman, who has served for 39 years.

“I am both excited and deeply humbled to step into the role of Executive Director of Camp Fowler,” said Kinne. “As a legacy camper, former summer staff member, current volunteer, and board member, Fowler has shaped my faith and personal development in countless ways.”

Kinne was unanimously appointed by the Fowler Board of Trustees after a national, months-long search that drew more than 40 interested applicants. Camp Fowler, a non-profit summer camp for children and a year-round retreat center for all, is located on Sacandaga Lake near Lake Pleasant, New York, in the Adirondack Mountains.

It has a year-round staff of six and a summer staff of 24. Over 100 volunteers and nearly 800 youth from all walks of life participate in its summer camp programs, living in simplicity, engaging in being in an inclusive and hospitable community, and caring for God’s creation, all through a compassionate Christian approach rooted in the Gospel.

“The continuity, thoughtfulness, intentionality, and quality of Kent Busman’s presence at Fowler have laid an incredible foundation for the next generation of campers and community to experience the simplicity of God’s presence in an ever-changing world,” said the Board. “We are confident that Pat Kinne will build on this strong foundation.”

“I look forward to preserving the mission and traditions that make Camp Fowler such a special and beloved place to so many people, while also seeking out new ideas, partnerships, and fresh opportunities to share our ministry and philosophy with those who have yet to discover this extraordinary community,” Kinne said.

Kinne will start in his new role in September, working with Busman for several months to ensure a smooth transition. Busman will retire at the end of 2025.

Most recently the assistant principal for Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School in East Syracuse, New York, Kinne holds an M.S.Ed. from Le Moyne College (Syracuse, New York) and a B.A. from Hope College (Holland, Michigan). He is married and has two college-aged children, both attending Hope College.

Founded in 1954 by the Reformed Church in America’s Synod of Albany, the Lewis M. Fowler Camp and Retreat Center began as a place to share the Gospel with young people. Today, Fowler continues that mission in partnership with the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and several colleges, including Hope College, Hamilton College, Skidmore College, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. True to its Christian roots and mission, Camp Fowler welcomes all children and youths to experience a community of belonging, wonder, and growth in the heart of the Adirondacks.