Alumni Profile: Suzie Hauck

Suzie Hauck first heard about Agassiz Village in 1982 when she was 14 years old. At the time, she was living with her family in Natick, MA, and volunteering at an Easter Seals Swim Program in the neighboring town of Framingham.

“Kirk Joslin, the former President and CEO of Easter Seals, recommended that I apply to Agassiz Village as a CIT (Counselor in Training) in the Explorer Section,” says Suzie. “My first summer at Agassiz Village was in 1982, the summer I turned 15, and I returned each summer through high school and most of college, with my last summer of employment in 1988.”

Suzie’s initial impression of the camp—and especially its people—made a huge impression on her.

“Although I would not have used these words to describe Agassiz Village at the age of 14 or 15, looking back, the feeling that I remember was one of acceptance, genuine care and concern for others, and equity,” she says. “Agassiz Village was way ahead of its time with understanding and embracing the values and importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Agassiz is a unique experience, where respect and dignity for all is embedded at all levels of programming and within the organization. I remember feeling like I found my place in the world, a group where I fit in, and I felt like I was part of a community that shared the same values that were important to me. I was accepted by everyone around me, and I developed friendships that would go on to last a lifetime.”

From 1982 to 1988 Suzie was employed at Agassiz Village in a variety of roles: CIT (Counselor in Training), Junior Counselor, Counselor, Assistant Waterfront Director, and Director of the CIT Program. She was also a swim instructor, teaching “Learn to Swim Better,” a beginner program for older campers. To this day, she still runs into people who upon recognizing her say, “You are the person who taught me how to swim!”

Of course, it was working with the children at Agassiz that left an indelible mark on Suzie. She was able to interact with all the campers throughout her time at Agassiz through cabin assignments in the Explorer Unit as well as the activity assignments at the waterfront.

“I loved all the kids who attended camp,” she says. “Many became staff and then peers as we got older. I especially enjoyed the older campers, but the little ones were a lot of fun, too. I keep in touch with many of my former coworkers and campers. We have a great network from our decade together during the 1980’s!”

Those friendships are at the top of Suzie’s favorite memories of camp. Her others were hanging out in the CIT and Worker lounge (a garage in the old Monoxide Building), living in The Disaster Area (CIT quarters in the Explorer Unit), CIT and Worker day trips during days off, singing at mealtimes in the dining hall, Talent Shows, Olympics, Candy Drop, Carnival, Slide Shows at the end of each session, and activities at the waterfront.

“I made life-long friendships at Agassiz Village,” Suzie says. “Agassiz Village changes lives, and some of my friends have said that their time and experiences at Agassiz Village actually saved their lives.

While her employment with Agassiz ended in 1988, Suzie has continued to be part of the Agassiz community since then—43 years in all. She was the Founding President of the Agassiz Village Alumni Association, established in 1991, and a Trustee/Board Member from 1992-1998. In addition to financially supporting Agassiz over the years, she has participated in many fundraising events and almost all the Volunteer Weekends that Agassiz has held to prepare camp for the upcoming seasons.

Today, Suzie has a successful career in social work, and she attributes her success with working with children and families to the personal and leadership skills she developed during her time spent at Agassiz. Her experience at camp also compelled her to be an emergency foster parent for 11 years, during which time she fostered over 300 children.

“Agassiz Village has a special place in my heart, and my experiences with Agassiz have made a lasting impact on who I am as a person,” she says. “I developed so many skills during the most formative years of my life, and I made life-long friendships. I learned how to work hard, to persevere, to problem-solve, how to be part of a team, and to develop a strong sense of personal and professional values and ethics. My time at Agassiz Village has significantly shaped my life.”