July 19-24, 2009

This has been a big week at Camp Friendship in terms of numbers of campers, about 115 and because we had our ACA (American Camp Association) standards visit. We did well with our visit and although we don't get the offical congratuations letter until October, I have no doubt that it will be coming. Thank you to all the staff who contributed to the sucess of the visit!

I have seen and heard many campers enjoy the pool this week. Splashing their counselors and cooling off have been the top responscs from campers. The water carnival took place on Wednesday and the water slide is still the most popular activity during the carnival. I don't know who squeal louder, the campers of the staff. The men from Wasie were not all able to climb the outdoor climbin wall on Tuesday because of a rain storm but tonight at dinner, David told me that both he and Nicholas climbed to the top. Pound Out Brothers!

The United Methodist Church of Kimball had members of all ages come to camp on Wednesday night and they had about 20 station in a carnival with fun games and prizes. It was fun seeing the kids from the church all dressed up in clown outfits getting involved with our campers.

The ladies at Sandpiper have a nightly routine of sitting on the deck of the cabin after summer, to discuss the days happenings, the cute guys and listen to music. Every night the group gets a little bigger I have noticed.

Our Director of Health Care had a camper as her to be his wife. When she declined, he said that was OK, as he had two wives at home already! I await tomorrow's talent show when our camper Mary does her talent which will be a song and dance from Sister Act II.

Until next week,
Chet
Program Director

Staff Appreciation Event

No one says it better than the parents of our campers, when they say thank you to the staff for the work they do with the campers.

Tonight we were blessed with parents, Dave Ring, Jay Wetch and Sharon and Charlie Morgenstein along with past staff members Allyson (Westrud) Dressel and Andrea Johnson speaking at the staff Appreciation Event.

My friend and co worker of 24 years, Margaret Schuster sang "Wonderful World" with Peter Davis on key board. Samantha Rauscher made us smile with photo and live video of the camper over the past 6 weeks. Verlyn and Jennie, thank you for helping fix the problems with technology wasn't on Samantha's side tonight.

We are thankful to Caitlin, Katie L, Linda K, Diane and all the support staff. A Special thanks to the folks from the Camp Friendship Ladies Auxilary and the United Methodist Church of Kimball for donating the decorations and decorating the dining hall in our staff colors of yellow and blue. The fresh flowers were so nice to have and your kind faces were fabulous!

It was great that tonight the staff could sit down and eat without having to help somene else eat first, pass medications or do the dishes. It was wonderful that many of you brought with you your friends and family tonight.

Jay Wetch quote a verse from Hillary Clinton tonight and whether you are a fan of the Clinton's or not, I believe Hillary had it right when she said, "it take a village to raise a child", it also take a village to coordinate a lovely event like tonights program. Thanks everyone.

In friendship,
Chet
Program Director

July 14th, 2009

Eighty campers are enjoying the shores of Clearwater lake this week. Fishing is ever popular with campers reporting that they are catching bass and sunnies, "as long as my arms can reach". Our campers practice "catch and release", so there is no hassle cleaning the fish. Swimming in the lake has been fun for everyone this summer. We manages to escape having anyone get "the itch", which is a big blessing.



Campers have been enjoying not only the animals at camp this summer but also the other nature activies that Sarah Jo has been pairing with a visit to the bunnies, chickens or sheep. The bunnies are very popular, especially Barnabus who is Sarah Jo's personal pet.



The week I am honored that my college friend, (Go Big Blue - SDSU) Karin has her daughter attending camp this week. Karin tells me that since April, Sonja has been asking several time a day "is it time to go to Camp Friendship today?" Sonja's other sibblings go to their own camps, and it is very important to her that she go to her own camp. Children of all ages like their independence.



Also this week, by pal Jim Jr. is at camp. He love the day trips and for some reason, her enjoys hanging out with me. He often makes me smile when he calls me he "beautiful queen"!



This year on the staff shirt is the slogan "Camp is for the Camper". I see our staff living this moto every day when they take the time to walk beside someone who takes 20 minutes to walk from the lodge to the dining hall, when they serve their campers food first, when they make sure the camper gets to buy what the camper wants from the canteen, when the program leader come up with creative ways to do an activity so that everyone can participate, and when they speak to the campers with kindness and understanding. Our staff this summer really get it, they get the campers and they get "Camp is for the Campers".



Respectfully,

Chet

Program Director

July 5-10, 2009 at Camp Friendship

116 participants joined us at Camp Friendship last week, July 5-10. Several campers extended their stay from the previous week. Other campers began their stay this week with one of my favorite times: Sunday Check-in. I enjoy seeing the smiling faces of returning campers, and meeting those who are coming to camp for the first time. I also enjoy seeing caregivers and parents of campers. I met some families 15 years ago, when I became the full time Program Director at Friendship Ventures. There are also many families I met before I became Program Director. I met one family in 1985, when I was a Camp Counselor at Camp Friendship. I was a counselor in a cabin still called Poplar; their son, Ira joined me, a few other counselors, and 15 other boys, for a week at Camp Friendship. His father and mother, Sol and Sybil along with their daughter, Joy, make the trip from North Dakota each year to bring Ira to camp for two weeks. Each summer, I look forward to finding out how the family is doing.

Mercy has been coming to camp since 1997. When her parents brought her to camp last Sunday, they said that they did not tell their daughter that she would be attending Camp Friendship this week; however their daughter knew in her soul that she would be attending camp soon. Her mom said that the previous week, Mercy took out her sleeping bag and sign language book in preparation for camp.

Other highlights this week:

• Camp participant, Todd, let his staff at the group home know that he has dreams of sleeping in the top bunk at Camp Friendship.
• David is spending his fourth week at Camp Friendship this summer. He loved the St. Cloud River Bat's game, and the rest of the time he spent with camp. We will be sad to see him go and we are anticipating his return next summer.
• Keenin is already talking about next year's camp out, and has requested that it be on Thursday night next year, because for him the camp out is the highlight of the week. He is also excited for the talent show, which we have every Friday before campers say, "goodbye for now!" to us.
• Four campers participated in the Horseback Riding program last week. Jim can tell you all of the facts about the horse he rode, Sonjay. He knows she is a 9-year-old Morgan, who's back nearly reached his neck when they stood together. Camp Friendship partners with Project Astride out of Avon.
• The guys from Blue Heron enjoyed Camp Friendship's indoor pool last week. They reported that the pool water is "nice and warm."

Respectfully,

Chet

Program Director

During this past week two campers and one counselor, in the same cabin group at Camp Friendship, were sent home on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 due to influenza like symptoms. On July 2, 2009, Robyn Erickson, our Director of Health Care Services, was informed that one of the individuals sent home had a confirmed case of H1N1 flu. Erickson consulted with the physician who made the diagnosis, Friendship Ventures Medical Director and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) who supported our actions to have all campers and staff in that cabin group isolated or sent home on July 2, 2009. Georgann Rumsey, our Vice President-Programs and Robyn Erickson our Director of Health Care at Friendship Ventures have been working closely with the MN Dept. of Health in reviewing procedures and policies to prevent and deal with any suspected cases of the flu. Our camp programs will continue as scheduled at all of our locations.

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, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 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.

For more information on precautions and what to expect in the future:
Minnesota Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Association of Camp Nurses

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!