Richardson, Jennifer J.

Jennifer J. Richardson is the author of "Holy Dirt: Camp Glisson's Seventy-Five Years of Christian Education Outdoors: 1925-2000." She was a camper at Glisson as a child, and has been a cabin owner, a Leadership Team member, and a board member at the camp.

Camp Glisson is a United Methodist retreat facility located in Dahlonega, Georgia. Its history as a Methodist institution began in 1926 when the Rev. Elbert Hale, pastor of the Hapeville M.E.C., S. in Hapeville, Georgia rented the facility for use as a summer camp for Methodist youth. At that time the area was known as Cane Creek Falls. He continued to administer the camp through 1930 when the Rev. Fred L. Glisson succeeded him as manager. Rev. Glisson continued in this position until 1944, often using his own funds to finance the operation of the camp. The camp was renamed Camp Glisson in his honor. A lake constructed in 1951 was named Lake Hale in honor of the camp founder. During the 1930s the North Georgia Methodist Episcopal Conference gradually purchased the land and existing cabins from the Dahlonega Chamber of Commerce. In 1947 the Cane Creek Falls area was purchased from the Georgia Power Company. By 1953 the camp consisted of 175 acres. The camp program has continued to grow and Camp Glisson is now a year-round conference retreat center.