August 9-14, 2009

It is Friday evening, and the campers have all gone and most of the staff have left for a night on the town. The office is quiet, with an ocassional respite staff member bopping in now and then. The office is too quiet. Like it will be next Friday when all the campers, volunteers and staff will have gone home for the summer. People often ask me if I am glad the summer is coming to a close and I can honestly say no. It was been a great summer. I love seeing the campers at camp enjoying their vacations and making friends. I love seeing how the summer staff blossomed into this incrediable team of caregivers who put their campers needs before their own and care about each other so much.

This was the first week that it has actually been hot outside on the day of the water carnival, so you should have seen the line of people waiting to go down the water slide. It was almost wrapped around Cardinal!

Many campers were very excited about going to the Twins game this week. We had about 17 people attend the game on Wednesday night. They made signs to hold up at the game, and part of the group was on the webcam at the game! They were pretty happy about that and the fact that the Twins really hammered the Royals. Sorry Lehi, it had to be said! Lee is one of our former staff members so spent a week working at camp this summer! Very Cool Lee, it was great to have you at camp again.

Speaking of staff alumni working, we have had some nice visits from alumni the last couple weeks. Last week Liz Wentland took a week of vacation to spend at CF with one of her favorate campers. Andrea Johnson spend a couple days working at EW. Kristin Seifert is back for a couple weeks before she starting working for VT. Wouldn't it be great to connect with your camp friends and pick a week that you want to come back and work for a week at camp or maybe go on the Ventures Travel trip together. Beth Osborne - Beasly stopped at camp this week, with her mom and ther son (cutie). Beth worked at camp in the mid 90's as an arts and crafts leader and activity coordinator. Last and not least is Kristen Rasmussen was at camp yesterday for a training for FV Ambassadors. We love having alumni stop by. Your visits and stories remind us of how your expereince at FV as influenced your life in such positive ways, plus we love to see your smiling faces.

In friendship,
Chet / PD

August 2-7th, 2009

Aspergers Camp is underway at Camp Friendship along side ouir regular sessions this week. Thirteen teens are navigating their way through daily social skills, new activities and uncomfortable situations. Yes, "uncomfortable sitations". You see, for individuals with Aspergers some of the most mundane interactions and daily living tasks can be uncomfortable, especially away from their home and usual routine. People with Aspergers have trouble reading the facial expressions and body language of others, so sharing a cabin and doing activities with others all day can be a challenge. It is a challenge that they are going well with. Ten of the thirteen are returning campers who do find comfort in returing to "their camp" where they belong, and where there are other teens like them. Despite the challenges the teens are having a great time swimming, playing soccer, fishing and canoeing. The older teens are involved with the LIT program. This new twist to the Aspergers Camp is proving to be sucessfull. The teen are in the LIT program with the other use who are volunteering for the week. Making friends and working together to lead a station at the tonight carnival during evening program.

Campers have been enjoying massage from massage therapist Jaime Jost. The massages last for 15-20 minutes and are free. Thanks Jaime for adding and extra pleasure to so many campers vacation!

The "Back 40 or Gilbert's Trail" camp site (we still haven't made a decision on the name), has been very popular with cabin groups. The camp site is peaceful, not so buggy and has plenty of flat areas for tents and playing.

This morning the St. Cloud River Bat's players came to camp to "play ball" with the campers. They had campers hitting, outfielding and running the bases. There were even a couple home runs. The players were kind and patient with the campers, helping the campers feel very special to get to meet and play with the players. Thank you players for a great morning! Last night the day trip attended the River Bat's game in St. Cloud.

The mud pit has changed over the years, but the dirty, stinky fun has not. Our camper, Charles loves the mud pit. It is the highlight of his week. Yesterday he and cabin mate Derek went with their counselor, Derek. They spent rest hour flinging mud and swamp water at each other and rubbing it on their bodies. You haven't truely expereinced the full Camp Friendship expereince if you haven't been in the mud pit!

I think the only thing that might top the mud pit would be the peanut butter balls that Baker Barb has been making with the baking groups. For those of us that ate too many of those treats that Barb makes, we also find ourseves joining the morning stretches on the green with Recreation Specialist Earnest Snowden. Ernest leads fitness classes every day, but each morning to start the day an average of about 70 people have been joining him on the green to strech to music and start the day out right. Thanks Ernest, you are a fine fitness instructor.

Til next week,

Chet
Program Director