Based on the recent almost-scientific survey of camp parents and campers, the following were among the top ten reasons for selecting our camps:
1. Camp is FUN – a variety of activities all in one place.
2. Friendships – Meet other campers with similar disabilities.
3. Redesigned sessions at both camps for youth and teens
4. NEW sessions: Find Your True North Leadership Session, Pedal Paddle and Sail & the Summer Sampler for youth
5. American Camp Association Accredited Camp- quality assured.
6. Our 55th Season in 2010. We are doing it right!
7. A friendly and caring staff provides positive role models for today’s children, and is the key to creating summer camp memories to last a lifetime.
8. Camp should be considered an investment that helps develop independence and important life-skills, providing a solid foundation for successful living.
9. The camp setting is one of the few remaining outdoor experiences that enhances adventure and an appreciation for our natural world.
10. Great Food-delicious home cooked meals
Do you find your self missing your days at good old Camp Courage? Consider this as your invitation to join us once again We are looking for a team of volunteer nurses to assist with intake days. Your responsibilities will include assisting with the health screening and checking in medications for registered campers. We would love to have you join us!
Time Commitment: Each intake day will start for nurses at 10:00 AMwith Brunch and a health center update for all volunteers. Intake starts at 1:00 and will wrap up by 6:00 PM
How to Sign Up: Visit www.couragecenter.org/camps and visit the alumi page. An application will be available for download by 4/21/2010
For More Information: Contact Maria Schugel at 320-963-4115 or maria.schugel@couragecenter.org
Roger Upcraft, former Program Manager at Camp Courage will be one of Fourteen Minnesota citizens, educators and organizations to be recognized April 13 in a ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda as champions of removing barriers to independence for people with disabilities.
The Minnesota STAR Program’s “Awards for Excellence in Assistive Technology” honor individuals and groups for championing the removal of barriers to independence through the use of assistive technology (AT). AT is any device that maintains, improves or increases function at home, school, work and in the community.
Roger Upcraft was the camp manager at Camp Courage in Maple Lake for over 30 years. Roger was instrumental in establishing the Augmentative Communication (AAC) Camp for Teens, an AAC session for adults and the Literacy Session. The AAC Session is one of a few AAC camps in the country. Campers learn the “power of communication” by using their aAACdevices during typical camp activities as well as during special events such as Camp American Idol, that provide motivational and fun opportunities to communicate.
The Literacy Session is the only of its kind in the nation and is under the direction of Drs. David Koppenhaver and Karen Erickson, national literacy experts. Koppenhaver and Erickson teach 20 educators how to assess literacy as well as literacy strategies and assistive technology solutions that address each camper’s area of greatest need. Each educator gets the opportunity to work with 2 campers and immediately apply the newly learned knowledge. While the educators are in class, campers get to experience the full range of camp activities.
Roger was always supportive of anything that was needed to support the AAC and literacy sessions. He made sure that his counseling staff were trained on how to support AAC use as well as how to include literacy into camp activities. Roger personally helped haul computers, books, and other equipment into the space for literacy camp, even after his retirement. Rog was someone who worked quietly “behind the scenes” but his management led to 10 years of successful aac sessions and 5 years of literacy camp.
The award presentation will take place in the Minnesota Capitol Rotunda at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13th. A reception with light refreshments will be held in the Great Hall following the ceremony.
