Friendship Ventures works to be a leader in providing the highest quality services for our participants. We strive to motivate, excite, and challenge the people who come to visit here. Those who come to Friendship Ventures enjoy activities that they might not have the chance to participate in anywhere else. Rock Climbing, lead by Sam Berg, is one of the many examples. With indoor and outdoor climbing facilities, participants of all ages and levels of disability are sure to find a fun and challenging course suited to their needs.

Camp Friendship has had a tractor drawn hayride for some time now. The hayride has always been a beloved activity that all campers and staff enjoy. Recently, the hayride underwent a few updates to better meet the needs of Camp Friendship participants. First; Camp Friendship built a small wall where the hayride parks, so the hayride pulls right next to this wall; This summer we recieved an donation of a ramp that we were able to install onto the hayride making it easier to campers who utilize wheelchairs or walkers are board the hayride.

Some classic games such as Yahtzee, Connect Four, and Hungry, Hungry Hippo were recently adapted to meet the needs of our participants. These games had pieces added to them to make them easily recognized by participants who are visually impaired, easier to manipulate, and more enjoyable for participants.

Each year, Friendship Ventures becomes more able to meet the needs of people with disabilities, and their families. We become more knowledgeable, more accessible and more stimulating; both mentally and physically.

An ongoing theme throughout Camp Friendship this year, seems to be Superheroes. We sing about them in songs, we put superhero shells on our hermit crabs, and of course, staff and campers love putting undies on the outside of our pants to dress like them.

In the time I have been here, whether it has been years or weeks, I see staff being inspired by our own Friendship Ventures Superhero’s. Whether it is a participant at Friendship Ventures, a staff member or a volunteer, there are plenty of inspiring faces around camp.

3,000 Campers of all ages and levels of disabilities visit Friendship Ventures every year. They are participating in some pretty amazing activities this summer. From archery and rock climbing, to dancing in front of a large crowd; we’ve got to hand it to our participants for inspiring all of us.

Staff members are probably staying up later, and setting their alarm clocks earlier than they ever have before. At Friendship Ventures, staff members are probably working one of the most rewarding jobs they ever have, or ever will. Samantha Vokaty, Program Manager of Volunteers at Friendship Ventures says; “I think it’s amazing that so many of our staff started as volunteers. Erik, Cindy and I, are three examples of people who were volunteers before they were leadership staff. That always inspires me. Also, people that have a long history with camp – Georgann, our VP, started as a lifeguard; Chet started as a Canteen Manager; Jon started as a counselor; it inspires me that so many people love camp so much!” I think it is pretty clear that staff know that there may be easier jobs out there, but few that give back so much.

Volunteers come to Friendship Ventures offering their valuable time in exchange for a great experience, but no monetary compensation. They assist with participants, entertain, and just plain rock! More than 1,200 volunteers donate more than 75,000 hours each year; the equivalent of 35 full time employees.

As you can see, there is a little superhero in all of us just waiting to be discovered. For over 40 years Friendship Ventures has offered a great atmosphere to bring out that superhero in all of us!

June 21-26, 2009

Keeping cool is the theme for this week! Campers and staff have been keeping cool by using the pool, taking boat rides, chilling out in the shade, running through the sprinklers. We have also ebeen utilizing the air conditioned buildings such as the Program Center and Thompson Hall for activities such as recreation, canteen, the game room and bingo.

This week we welcomed five new campers and ninety eight returning campers. At least two of this week campers, Joan and Sue have been coming to camp since the 1960's, this is when they met and have been friend ever since! Now that is impressive!

This week we have day trips going to a St Cloud River Bats game, Dairy Queen, Movies at Monticello (they have a wonderful theater) and everyone's favorite; bowling. Day Trip Leader, Jenn Cook, who reigns from the southern state of Louisiana is getting to know her way around the St. Cloud and Twins Cities area pretty well.

Charlotte Henning will be the Program Manager at Camp New Hope this summer, so she and the Village Leader Mickey Fisher along with three other staff will be heading up to CNH this week to check it out and plan for the July 12th starting date.

We have twelve staff going through orientation starting today. They took a tour of camp this morning and this afternoon they are learning important lessons about Friendship Ventures policy. The new counsilers will continuously be learning about the people we serve, and how we serve them. After this summer, staff and volunteers will be able to add teaching, lesson development, problem solving, leadership skills, behavior management, team player and more to their resumes. Our new group includes the sister of a past volunteer, Sara M. and two friends of current staff members. We encourage friends and family of staff, volunteers and campers, to participate with the camp by volunteering, becoming an employee or coming to camp activities; such as the Camp Friendship Talent Show.

It is great to know that by telling our Camp Friendship memories with enthuses and love, we can share what a great experience participants, staff and volunteers have with Friendship Ventures. Camp Friendship is a special place for thousands of people; we are happy to provide participants, staff and volunteers the opportiunity to make memories of their own.

This past weekend news of the H1N1 flu virus was reported about in several newspapers and local news broadcasts. The stories focused on confirmed cases at another camp which is not connected with Friendship Ventures. To reassure you, at Friendship Ventures Georgann Rumsey our Vice President-Programs and Robyn Erickson our Director of Health Care have been working closely with MN Dept. of Health in reviewing procedures and policies to prevent an outbreak of the flu and how to deal with any suspected cases of the flu. Our camp programs will continue as scheduled at all of our locations.

Friendship Ventures focus has always been to protect the health and safety of all children and adults involved in our services.
· Friendship Ventures has been concerned with H1N1 flu since the beginning, and continues to take every precaution to ensure that campers and staff are healthy and safe, while still providing a positive camp experience.
· Friendship Ventures is providing to all parents and caregivers information for screening prior to arrival, best practices to reinforce universal precautions and additional updates as we receive them from the MN Department of Health, CDC updates, Association of Camp Nurses (ACN), and the American Camp Association (ACA) .
· We are staying informed. We are taking precautions outlined by the MN Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and reinforcing best practices such as hand washing, safe sneezing, and site and facility sanitation.
· Friendship Ventures camps are accredited by the ACA which requires accredited camps to have an established procedure in practice to carefully screen for illness, injury, and communicable diseases.

Summer camp begins at Camp Friendship

June 14-19 2009

Camp Friendship staff welcomed 74 children and adults on Sunday. With suitcases in hand and fun in their minds, they set out for a great adventure. After settling into their cabins, participants enjoyed cookies, graham crackers and juice at the hayride before checking out program areas like music, art and boating. After Sunday evening supper, song and laughter bounced across the camp from the Campfire Extravaganza.

The season’s first island camp out was enjoyed on Monday by teenage boys, who are residing in our Basswood Cabin. The campers who attended told me they most enjoyed grilling cheeseburgers and ‘smores over the campfire while listening to the night sounds of the lake. Despite the rain falling hard outside they enjoyed their island adventure.

Participants are enjoying creating superhero costumes; tissue papers collages and welcome signs for tonight’s entertainment, in Arts & Crafts with Program Leaders Sunny and Lorna.

This year the Wild Turkey Foundation donated money for Friendship Ventures so we could buy new archery equipment (Thanks guys!). New recurved bows, and compound bows are helping campers take air a little easier than in previous years. Program Leader Earnest is one of the instructors who lead archery, as well as the morning stretches and recreation activities such as tandem bike riding and basketball.

Enjoy the rest of your week; I know we will at camp!




In Friendship,
Chet