True Friends
Family of Services
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There is space available for your group at camp! Call today to reserve.
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Team Quest
Build your company morale with a high ropes course experience! Like them on  for the latest news.
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Our Therapy Horse program is offering lessons! Follow their
for updates!
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Our respite services provide families with a much-needed break and are licensed by the MN Department of Human Services.
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Book your next adventure
here!
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NEWS & NOTES
Your connection to True Friends
May 29, 2015
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 The weather is finally starting to feel like summer and so is the atmosphere at camp. Our seasonal staff are arriving on site for training. They spend a week or two, depending on their positions, learning how to be the best caregiver and counselor they can be. The motto, 'Camp is for the Campers,' can be heard around the various sessions and we can't wait for the campers to arrive. There is still time to register for camp! Find our catalog and register online
here.
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 New staff members aren't the only thing new at camp this year. At Camp Courage North, Team Quest has installed a low ropes course. These courses challenge participants and promote social growth and team dynamics. At Camp Courage, a new speed boat will make campers' time on the water even better, facilitating a great experience tubing and cruising around the lake. The new fishing pier at Camp Friendship will be great for campers to test their angling skills and bond with one another against the beautiful backdrop of Clearwater Lake.
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Staff Stories
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 Our staff and volunteers are ready and excited for camp! They have spent the week learning how to facilitate programs, create lesson plans and care for campers. Along with training, staff have been planning theme weeks and special events for campers. We have a mixture of new and returning staff, each with their own reasons for coming or returning to camp.
Juhee and Yeeji are friends that traveled from New York, where they are attending nursing school. "We get to work with campers with different diagnoses than we do in our clinicals. We wanted to work outdoors and a job that would help with our major," said Juhee Yoo, Health and Medication Aid. Yeeji is excited for a fun summer, working in a camp setting. Amelia, a returning staff member from England, is spending her second summer at camp as a village coordinator. "(Camp is) a place where there's no prejudice, there's no judgement. You can just be you. I think we are all searching for that place where we can just be ourselves," said Amelia. |
Volunteers
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|  More than 50 students from Annandale Middle School's 8th grade class volunteered their morning at Camp Friendship and Camp Courage for the school's annual Service Learning Day. The entire grade participates in volunteer activities at a variety of places including camp, area locations and at the school.
Groups from the Annandale Middle School have been choosing camp as a volunteer destination for more than 15 years. The students arrived at camp early and ready to work. They were set to tasks such as trimming shrubbery, seeding grass, putting in docks and spreading mulch. These activities help the maintenance team prepare the grounds for summer campers. "It's great to have student volunteers at camp. Volunteers are vital to our mission and their time has a big impact on camp's readiness for the coming months" said Conor McGrath, True Friends' Director of Volunteer Services. |
Save the Date!
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June 13 Taste of Courage and Friendship -
Join us at Cobb Creek Vineyard in Wells for wine, local brews, hors d'ouveres and a band- all in the name of supporting campers! Contact Sue Boeck at 507.383.3451 or Jim Beach at 507.391.3773 for tickets or more information.
July 11 Tee it up for Courage Golf Tournament -
Held at Oakview Golf Course in Freeborn. For more information contact Jim Beach at 507.391.3773.
July 23 Circle of Friends Golf Tournament -
Held at Medina Golf and Country Club, this fundraising event includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, games, a program, dinner and a silent and live auction. For more information or to register, contact Mark Steen at 952.229.8710 or [email protected].
July 27 Paul Adelman Golf Classic -
You are invited to join an exciting day of golf and an evening event held at Oak Ridge Country Club. Visit their website for more information on how to get involved or register.
October 11 Camp Courage 60th Anniversary Event -
All are welcome! Join the event on Facebook and get the latest news.
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Giving is Good
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The Lions Clubs of Minnesota have been great supporters of camp for many years. Recently, True Friends was awarded a $100,000 grant by the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) to build a new challenge course at Camp Courage and purchase a mini bus to transport campers. This custom-built course will be completely wheelchair accessible. Some elements, including a zip line, are scheduled to be completed in June! We are working hard to complete the full course by fall, and with support in the form of matching funds from local Lions Clubs and other charitable organizations, we can be successful. This one-of-a-kind course is sure to fulfill our mission of providing life-changing experiences and adventures! Thank you Lions Clubs!
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True Friends Can ...
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...use their trade at camp!
Four union carpenters, Rollie McGhan, Charles Canesi, Richard Svobada and Peter Nelson have donated over 2,224 hours to camp in the past 20 years. Their service started when they volunteered to remodel Eagle Cabin at Camp Eden Wood. They have been dedicated workers, treating on-site volunteer projects with the same passion and effort that they would any other, paying job. They have left an incredible mark on camp, and we greatly appreciate their service!
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A simple way to make a lasting impact is to designate True Friends as a percentage beneficiary of one of your retirement plans such as a 403B, 401K or IRA. Simply request a beneficiary form from your plan administrator, make sure your beneficiary designations are up to date and add True Friends as a percentage beneficiary. Contact your retirement plan administrator today and/or for more information, call John LeBlanc at 952-697-2281.
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