Geneva Glen Camp

Geneva Glen Camp is a co-educational, non-profit, residential summer camp located in Indian Hills, Colorado. It was founded in 1922 at its current site. The mission statement of the camp reads, "The mission of Geneva Glen is to develop character, values and leadership, nurtured by a camp family that thrives on its diversity, friendships and meaningful traditions.""Geneva Glen Website [http://www.genevaglen.org/general/mission.shtml] ] Geneva Glen is reputed for the high rate of return for its campers and staff. Its website states that, on average each year, 70% of campers and 65% of staff return from the previous summer. Each summer Geneva Glen holds five overnight sessions independent of each other, as well as a sixth shortened session in December for its older campers. These are discussed in the "Sessions" section below.

essions

Each summer, Geneva Glen holds four two-week sessions, each beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday. These sessions are preceded by a shortened five-day session, which is only available to younger children. The sixth session is held for four days in December right before Christmas, and is set aside for just teenage campers.

Myths and Magic

"Myths" is a five-day, four-night session held just for younger campers. It usually takes place on or around the second week in June. It is aimed at being the introductory summer camp experience for children ages six to eight, with special attention given to preventing homesickness and other common issues seen in young children that are separated from their parents for the first time. Geneva Glen Website [http://www.genevaglen.org/general/myths.shtml] ]

American Heritage

"American Heritage" is the first full two-week session of each summer. Check-in is the weekend after Myths and Magic has ended. It always starts on a Sunday afternoon and ends on a Saturday morning, as do all of the two week sessions. American Heritage is themed around the Cultural and Ethnic heritage of the American people, with a special focus given to many aspects of Native American and Mountain Man heritage. There are two thematic highpoints of the session. The first, called "Rendezvous," takes place on the Saturday in the middle of the session. "Events that day begin with a flapjack eating contest, and continue with log sawing, fire building, prospecting, survival methods, simulated trapping, and tall tales, to name a few." Geneva Glen Website [http://www.genevaglen.org/general/ah.shtml] ] The second, called "Pow Wow," takes place the Friday night before check-out. At the beginning of the session, each Cabin and Dorm is assigned a Native American tribe, and the high point of Pow Wow is the presentation of a Native American dance, sometimes fully authentic, by each cabin and dorm. "All 'tribes' come together to display the culture, legends, ceremonies, and dances particular to the campers' own tribe." Geneva Glen Website [http://www.genevaglen.org/general/ah.shtml] ]

Knighthood I

"Knighthood I" occurs after American Heritage, usually during the first two weeks of July. "Our second and third two-week sessions are both called Knighthood. At this exciting time, our program focuses on the immense scope of the Arthurian romances of kingdoms, courts, castles and orders. We study the Knighthood ranks, codes of chivalry and courtly courtesy through the legends and pageantry of that period."Geneva Glen Website [http://www.genevaglen.org/general/kh.shtml] ] Knighthood I mainly focuses on the legends of Merlin, and the time before Arthur, and how Arthur wouldn't have been had it not been for a group of people. These stories are brought to life in the play "Merlin's Masque", which takes place on the last Friday of Knighthood I. Both Knighthood sessions are centered around a leadership program, in which the boys, (knights), are partially separated from the girls, (ladies). Both of the programs are centered around a set of ideals stemming from those exalted in the legends of King Arthur. The philosophy of the program is that the boys will be challenged to be better people, and the girls will be encouraged to do so. Knighthood is the oldest of the sessions, and was the original session upon which the camp was founded.

Knights Program

There are six ranks in the Knight's Program: Page, Squire, Knight, Sir Knight's Page, Sir Knight's Squire, and Sir Knight. These are based loosely around the historic ranks of Knighthood in the Middle Ages. Each rank is a recognition of character for the boy who attains it, and a boy is not guaranteed to earn a rank each session he attends to camp. Often a camper is held on probation for one reason or another, and will return the next year attempting to earn for the same rank. These ranks are awarded based on the character growth perceived in the camper and are not based physical strength or accomplishments. Only one rank can be attained per year, and if a boy goes to both Knighthood sessions he will only go through the "Induction" ceremony, where ranks are given, at the end of Knighthood 2.

Ladies Program

The Ladies program has many different aspects, but is also very much like the boys' program. There are 13 charms in the Ladies program, each of which represents a potential character quality. The philosophy of the Ladies' Program is to recognize the fact that different character traits are evidenced more clearly in different people. At the end of each session, each girl is given a bracelet with the charm representing the trait she displayed most prominently painted on it. A girl receives a charm every Knighthood session she attends camp, although she may receive the same charm multiple times. The charms are: Adjustability, Courage, Creativity, Joy & Enthusiasm, Growth, Humility, Love, Loyalty, Responsibility, Patience, Poise, Sharing, and Sincerity.

Knighthood II

"Knighthood II" occurs after Knighthood I, usually on or about the second two weeks of July. The official theme is the same for both Knighthood sessions. Knighthood II mainly focuses on the stories and legends of King Arthur and his court. During this session, a king, queen, and court of 22 campers are elected by the camp. On the last Friday of Knighthood II an Arthurian style pageant is put on by the camp, to honor the court of that year.

World Friendship

"World Friendship" is the fourth and final full session of the summer, occurring on or about the first two weeks of August. This session's thematic element focuses on the respect, understanding, and tolerance of all the people of the world. The thematic high points of the session are the Luau, which takes place on the middle Saturday and involves a large feast and many activities, and the Chautauqua, which takes place on the final Friday night. Geneva Glen Website [http://www.genevaglen.org/general/wf.shtml] ] Unique to the World Friendship session is a mock rendition of the Olympics, in which the cabins and dorms compete against each other as teams for points in sports events typical to the Summer Olympics. At the end of the session points are tallied, and a winner is declared.

Winter Workshop

"Winter Workshop" is a four-day, three-night session held in mid-December. It is set aside only for veteran teenage campers; about 80 attend each year. Unlike the summer sessions, activities are mainly run by the campers, instead of by the staff (who spend most of the time supervising). The session has no official theme, and is largely informal. The environmental conditions are very different during Winter Workshop than during the summer due to winter weather and shortened days.

Facilities

*The Lodge: Located in the center of the main camp. Contains dining facilities and administrative offices. The top floor holds the dining hall and kitchen, and is the sleeping quarters of the male campers during "Winter Workshop". The lower floor houses the BB gun range during the summer and serves as the sleeping quarters of the female campers during "Winter Workshop".
*Boys' Hill: Located North of the Lodge. There are five buildings, four of which house male sleeping quarters known as "Dorms" lettered A-H (and one known as Hilltop which is the sleeping quarters for the youngest male campers). The fourth is restroom facilities, known as "cinderblocks."
*Girls' Hill: Located South of the Lodge. It is the location of the female sleeping quarters, known as "Cabins", and bathrooms.
*Pool: Home of the swimming pool and showers. Above pool offices, shower facilities, and workshop, is an apartment used by camp directors.
*Barn: Stables, corral, and other horse-related facilities.
*The Meadow: Large grassy area between the Lodge and Pool. Holds a basketball court, dodgeball court, volleyball court, and softball field, the location for many sports and program related events.
*The Council Ring: A circle of bleachers surrounding a large fire pit. The main meeting area for all-camp activities such as the weekly Council Fire ("a gathering of songs, skits, storytelling and more in which every camper takes part"Geneva Glen Website [http://www.genevaglen.org/general/activities.shtml#evening] ] ).
*Marathon Lodge: Home of the camp store, which sells snacks and toiletries and also contains ping-pong and pool tables. Home of the camp radio station (88.3 KGLN), which plays camper-created and requested programming. Also location of the archery office.
*Archery: Three archery ranges, 15-40 yards in length. Each range supports two shooters at once.
*Rifles: .22 rifle ranges.
*BB's: Air-rifle range located in the bottom Marathon Lodge.
*WE: Camp Wilderness Exploration program. Primary elements are a 40 ft. climb wall, ropes course with upper and lower elements, giant-swing, and zip line.
*Cabin One: Contains WE office and storage for spare outdoors equipment.
*The Gilmore Chapel: Sunday non-religious Vespers services are held here. The basement is home to the Crafts and Media departments.
*The Rendezvous: Shelter located on camp property at a location known as "Black Canyon." Used as a rain and wind shelter for overnight trips.

Notes and sources