Witness Post: Geneva Glen
The magical summer camp nestled in the Indian Hills west of Denver is a place of love and acceptance. The camp counselors engage all campers in wholesome fun, encouraging creativity and individual accomplishments. It is an atmosphere were campers are asked to assume responsibilities and cooperate with others. Margaret Hooper was a camper and counselor along with a passel of other millennials and those summers changed her life for the better.
According to the camp website (https://www.genevaglen.org/) “campers and staff members develop their mental, social, physical and spiritual dimensions through activities that include drama, arts-and-crafts, archery, athletics, nature and environmental education, as well as adventuresome activities such as rock climbing and rappelling.”
Geneva Glen’s programs are centered around unique and compelling themes, including American Heritage, Knighthood, World Friendship, and Myths & Magic. The programs are age specific and create a vibrant atmosphere encircling the camp activities. In addition to learning and having fun, the camp’s goals include empowering participants to live at their highest level and to enrich their home communities by demonstrating what they have learned at Geneva Glen. The directors encourage campers and staff members to benefit from more than one season, if at all possible.
“We believe that lives are bettered at Geneva Glen.”
Ken Atkinson, Former Director of Geneva Glen Camp
Campers and leaders of many diverse backgrounds return year after year, and such continuity produces youth committed to high values and leadership in their communities. Geneva Glen Camp continually strives to provide a setting that emphasizes the development of sound values and growth of character for each child attending the camp. The counselors are always engaging in exciting educational and comprehensive leadership training programs, while working with children from ages 6-16. The seasonal programs provide the opportunity to live the values of mutual respect, honesty and acceptance of others.
The vision of Geneva Glen’s founders is as bright and clear as it was in 1922, when the camp was founded. That vision continues to guide the directors, staff and campers today on their journeys through Geneva Glen summers.
On Monday, July 20, 2020, we walked the property and sought the views of the same and the different: the same cabins and monuments, the different wildlife and the physical plant changes. What follows are two slide shows, one of the places that Margaret wanted to revisit, and the other of the property itself, which is the majestic parts of the corner of Santa Clara and Taos Roads. I will call them Meriwether Heights (Margaret Hooper’s middle name), Art Bottoms (usually in basements at GG) and Geneva Hills (these are magnificent hills).
Henry E. Hooper 