True Friends
Family of Services
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Camp Friendship will be hosting an individual sign up crafting weekend April 11-13. Availability is limited. Call 952.852.0104 for more details or email.
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The new True Strides indoor arena is coming along quickly! Follow their  &  for all the updates!
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Our respite services provide families with a much-needed break.
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Features group trips and customized travel planning.
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NEWS & NOTES Keeping you connected with camp
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We have a lot of exciting things happening around camp! Find out about all of them below and read even more on our website and through our social media!
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Winter moments are finally fading
Winter has been a busy time at True Friends with camp sessions, respite weekends and several conference and retreat groups. There's been plenty of snow to go around for building forts sledding, hiking, snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating and broomball.
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Warmer Days are Coming! |
 Our name may be new but our mission is still the same - to provide life-changing experiences and adventures. Sign Up Today!We invite you to be part of our exciting programs. We have some old favorites along with several new options! Read about them on our What's New page! |
Save the Date!
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 Camp Friendship celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year! There will be a party held on September 7. All are welcome! Look for updates in future letters.
Open house will be on May 4 and May 18!
Camp Courage North Spring Clean-up is April 26.
"Express Yourself" Style Show, co-sponsored by All Things Good of Annandale and A Wreath of Franklin of Buffalo, will be May 10, from 2-4pm at Classic Hall in Annandale. Ticket proceeds benefit True Friends and can be purchased at either store.
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Calling all nurses...Work for Camp!
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 True Friends is looking for dedicated, caring, organized, flexible, knowledgeable, nurses at all 5 camp locations.
Positions are seasonal and include room and board.
Both experienced and new grad nurses considered.
Apply online or contact our Director of Health care at 952-852-0105.
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 This is camper Sam D., he began attending respite care weekends three years ago. He had a BLAST with Bri Schlangen, one of our staffers, taking snowmobile rides! He loved it so much he even chose to take more after the initial "test." His mother was surprised to hear he had gone on a snowmobile ride. New in 2014, our respite services are now licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. |
Giving is Good
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 Operation Round Up
Electric company and cooperative customers from around the state have the option to participate in Operation Round Up. Each month participants' electric bills are rounded up to the next highest dollar amount, with those extra cents going to the OPERATION ROUND UP trust. These funds are distributed to worthy causes around the state as determined by each company/cooperative. True Friends has received $295,621 over 21 years, averaging $14,000 per year from 32 different companies/cooperatives. The majority of the grants helped to provide scholarships to individuals who would otherwise be unable to afford the cost of our services. Grants have also been given for other needs including a skid steer, defibrillators, medical supplies, life vests, equipment for a multi-sensory environment. |
Dance with Courage
A great big THANK YOU to Dance Arts Centre for raising over $16,000 for True Friends during Dance with Courage at Mall Of America. Some our own staff even got up and joined in the fun! Thank you for the support! You can check out the KSTP interview about the event here. |
What a Difference a Volunteer Can Make!
 No matter what someone's reason for volunteering might be, whether they're trying to beef up their resume or gain hours for a class requirement, their act of doing good produces a long list of benefits; not only for True Friends and our campers, but for them as well.
True Friends utilizes volunteers in a number of different ways in almost every area of the organization. Whether it's programs or off-season maintenance (preparing and repairing for winter/summer camp) or a respite weekend, volunteers' efforts make all of us very happy campers!
The 2013 monetary value of volunteer time was listed at $21.91/hour, which adds up quickly when you coordinate close to 700 volunteers a year. Program volunteers alone at True Friends last year offset $441,376 - all of that money saved means funds can be spent to make sure all of our campsites and programs are of the highest quality for all of our campers. Read the rest of the blog here.
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...Make a huge difference at camp!
Midwest Asphalt Corporation replaced sidewalk pavement last fall for us at Camp Eden Wood. They donated their work to us and it has made snow removal this winter a breeze, and will be great for campers this summer!
______________________________________________________________________ Here is a note from their office: "Midwest Asphalt Corporation is happy to donate this work. We value the work you do and see the benefit to this community as well as to many others. Thank you to your entire staff and the many volunteers who put in many hours to make the camp a success."
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