50th Birthday

Gencheff camp has 50^th anniversary party next week

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Jack Cutcliffe remembers being impressed with the camp when he took his son to Camp Gencheff over 25-years ago when he brought his son there for the first time.

“My impression was how much enjoyment and satisfaction some of these individuals got from being at, what they considered, their camp.”

Camp Genchiffe, which is located outside of Stratford near the Bellevue Cove, is welcoming all to its 50^th anniversary celebration on July 22 with an open house from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 50 years to the date after F. Walter Hyndman, Lieutenant Governor at the time, cut the ribbon to officially open the camp.

The camp is aimed towards children, teenagers and adults with special needs and to provide them a structured residential camping experience.

Cutcliffe, now 82-years old, has been a board member for over 25-years. He said he is proud to see the camp celebrate its 50^th birthday.

“I’m very happy, very proud to (be a board member) and make my small contribution to the ongoing facilities that are there and keeping the camp going.”

Cutcliffe said the camp helped him and his wife with their worries about their child.

“We often wondered, what would happen if something happened to us and he was left,” he said. “After coming home from the camp, they could realize and now the parents would be satisfied, that now these children could, if anything happened to those parents, that individual could cope with other people looking after them.”

He said one of the biggest benefits with his son was the feeling of independence.

“He got a sense of independence by being able to attend that camp. That’s one of the major benefits I think.”

Cutcliffe said his son was enjoying the program so much, he decided to join the board to help out.

“(His son) passed away eight years ago, but I stayed on the board to payback some of the appreciation we had for what was being done at that camp.”

Cutcliffe hopes to see the camp go into the future.

““It’s very satisfying to know that it’s been carried on for 50-years,” he said. “My hope is it will carry on. If you could attend and see the faces on some of these children.”