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Centennial Stories

FROM RELUCTANT HOMESICK CAMPER TO HIDDEN VILLA LEGACY

Based on the December 6th interview with Heather Skibbons, conducted by Hidden Villa Archives Communications volunteer, Ella Henn. (Look out for Ella’s audio history collection, coming soon.)

The moment you pass the front gate at Hidden Villa, the scent of sun-warmed dirt and bay leaves envelop you. For Heather Skibbins, this distinctive fragrance has marked the beginning of countless transformative experiences over three decades – first as a reluctant 12-year-old camper, then as a passionate counselor and program head, and now as a parent watching her own children discover the magic of this special place.

“It was completely random,” Heather recalls of her first introduction to Hidden Villa. Though initially homesick, by the end of her first two-week session, she didn’t want to leave. Her mother would later observe that her daughter went to camp as a 12-year-old increasingly focused on appearance and social expectations, but returned with a profound new understanding of genuine connection – one formed while being “dirty and sleeping in the dirt” in grubby camp clothes.

As the first interracial summer camp in the United States, Hidden Villa was founded with an intentional commitment to bringing diverse groups together. “While there were always still issues and drama and real life came into play, there was this way where we really got to make close friendships with people who were very different from us,” Heather reflects.

The camp’s daily rhythm wove together practical farm work, outdoor adventure, and thoughtful reflection. Mornings might begin with farm chores – Heather’s favorite was milking cows, remembering the warmth of their udders on foggy mornings. Each day included “Reflections,” a tradition started by camp founder Josephine Duveneck, where campers and counselors would discuss environmental and social justice issues. 

As a counselor, Heather helped create the kind of transformative experiences she had enjoyed as a camper. Whether organizing elaborate “sneak-outs” where nine-year-olds would pretend to be rocks or sheep to avoid detection, or leading meaningful discussions during “Common Ground” exercises on Black Mountain, she found joy in watching young people discover their capabilities and connections.

Today, Heather’s connection to Hidden Villa has come full circle. Her sons, Enrico (13) and Felix (11), are now campers themselves. As a teacher in Hayward for 14 years, she also brought her students to Hidden Villa for overnight trips and helped secure camp spots for local children. 

Many of her closest friendships were forged at Hidden Villa, including her relationship with her husband Ryan, whom she met when they were both counselors.

The impact of Hidden Villa shaped not just Heather’s personal life but her professional path as well. Today, she works for an organization focused on helping English learners in California thrive, carrying forward the values of social and environmental justice that she cultivated at camp.

“My core values are around social justice and around environmental justice,” she reflects, “and I want to do that work through working with kids because I love kids so much and they’re so much fun. I totally credit my parents with this, but also in huge part Hidden Villa.”

As new generations of campers discover Hidden Villa, that same transformative magic continues. The bay leaves still perfume the air, the summer camp reflections still inspire, and children still find themselves changed by this remarkable place where they can be, as Heather puts it, their “most genuine self.”

Zain Kane (she/her), Communications Manager

FOOTAGE OF HIDDEN VILLA FROM 1927

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