A Special Note from Our Board:

Dear Glen Arden,

Our dear friend, our colleague, our mentor, our leader, our North Star-our sugar lump passed away yesterday afternoon. She was with loved ones in her last weeks, days, and hours. We are grateful that she is no longer in pain, and even more grateful for all she meant-and means-to each of us.

We are planning a celebration of life for Casey on Saturday, September 9, 2023. The song-filled service & reception will take place at camp. When plans solidify, we will share more details.

Casey will live on in our hearts, and her legacy will continue to shape our lives, and our loved ones lives. We can imagine Casey saying these words: “May we bow our heads and say the camp prayer together:”

Oh, God our Father, give us clean hands, clean words, clean thoughts.

Help us to stand for the hard right against the easy wrong.

Save us from the habit of harm.

Teach us to work as hard and play as fair as thy sight alone,

as though all the world saw.

Forgive us when we are unkind,

and help us to forgive those who are going to us.

So just chances to do a little good every day at some cost ourselves,

so to become more like Christ.

Amen.

OBITUARY

The Ties That Bind

When our founder, Mary Kellogg Bell, was a waterfront counselor in Sapphire, NC, she was introduced to the idea of every camper and counselor wearing a tartan plaid tie as part of their camp attire. Sapphire was heavily influenced by the Scottish traditions of its surrounding mountain area, including Highlands, NC, where Scottish games continue to be contested yearly.

As the ideas and plans for Camp Glen Arden began to form, Mary Bell knew she wanted to bring the rich tradition of the Scottish Clans and their fierce devotion and loyalty to their tartan and those who wear them to her own camp. Allowing her girls to learn and grow through the sisterhood of the tartan and Clan competition, would give them the opportunity to return home with a sense of self worth that would sustain them until they were able to return to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Just as the different Scottish Clans fought valiantly for their tartan and each other, so too would the Red Clan and Blue Clan of Camp Glen Arden proudly compete each summer to see their tartan emblazoned as victor at the end of the camp season. Wearing the tartan plaid of Red or Blue gave each camper and counselor the knowledge that she belonged, she was one with the long, proud history of Glen Arden girls.

Whether a Red or a Blue, those who wear the ties and grow up at Glen Arden are a link to the love and dedication of all who have come before them and all who will follow.

In celebration of Glen Arden’s 70th summer in 2021 and our many alumni, the Camp Glen Arden Alumni Association had two tartan plaids created and registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans, Camp Glen Arden Red and Camp Glen Arden Blue.

ANNOUNCING

THE RED/BLUE GIANT RELAY OG GIVING Fundraiser With the notable success of last year’s 70DAYSOFGIVING fundraiser for tuition assistance, known as camperships, the Alumni Association has created the RED/BLUE Giant Relay of Giving 2021.

Beginning October 20, 2021, we will kick off the fundraising campaign with one hundred percent of your contributions (less PayPal fees) going toward camperships and tuition assistance for summer 2022 at CGA, with each donation counting as a point for your clan. Go Reds! Go Blues! And Go Purples, too! Most importantly, your gift will benefit campers who otherwise might not be able to attend Glen Arden.

Calling ALL Reds and Blues! CGA Summer of 2022 is around the corner so get in the relay! Contribute, then tag a friend…Ready, Set, Give!

Contributions accepted starting October 20, 2021 through November 22, 2021. *Contributions to this fundraiser are not tax deductible.

For additional information on how to give, click on Support Us at the top of the page.