Hidden Villa’s Summer Camps Promote Cross-Cultural Understanding

Covey Cowan has worked in the construction industry since 1975 and now serves Van Acker Construction Associates as a supervisor and project manager. Alongside his professional pursuits, Covey Cowan maintains an interest in the concepts of mind/body medicine and works to give back to the local and global community. In the past, he has assisted several charitable organizations, including Hidden Villa. 

Located just south of San Francisco at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Hidden Villa is a nonprofit educational organization that sits on 1,600 acres of open land. Each year, the organization welcomes 30,000 visitors to the property, which features an organic farm and gardens, wilderness trails, and rustic barns. Dedicated to protecting the environment and fostering social justice, Hidden Villa oversees a variety of programs for people of all ages. 

Since 1945, the organization has operated summer camp programs that focus on promoting cross-cultural understanding and addressing racism. Designed for children and youth aged 4 to 18 years old, Hidden Villa’s summer camps engage campers in activities exploring broad topics such as the environment, race and class, and family and gender. Each year, more than 1,300 youth participate in the camp programs. 

Hidden Villa’s summer camp offerings include day and overnight programs as well as multiday backpacking and youth leadership programs. For more information, visit hiddenvilla.org.

Hidden Villa Sponsors Women’s Full Moon Circle Gathering

Since 2006, Covey Cowan has worked as project manager and supervisor for Van Acker Construction Associates in Mill Valley, California. Prior to this role, he spent a decade as owner and general contractor for Seneca Builders in San Carlos, California. While working with Seneca, Covey Cowan assisted with the construction of a youth hostel for the Hidden Villa organization.

A nonprofit educational organization, Hidden Villa rests on more than 1,600 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The organization uses its organic farm and wilderness to offer educational opportunities. Founded in 1924 by Frank and Josephine Duveneck, they turned the land into the first hostel along the Pacific coast in 1937 and the first multiracial summer camp in 1945. Since it began, Hidden Villa has seen approximately 30,000 people participate in its formal programs each year, with an additional 20,000 individuals annually visiting the preserve.

Hidden Villa hosts a variety of events throughout the year. One event, scheduled for September 15, 2016, is the Women’s Full Moon Circle. Led by facilitators Anya Tyutyunik and Katherine Glasa, this event brings women together to heal, share, learn, and replenish themselves. Participants spend time outside, where they partake in a feast, fire ceremony, sharing circle, and dancing.