True Friends
Family of Services
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There is space available for your group at camp! Call today to reserve.
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Team QuestTeam-building programs for schools and companies. Visit  to see what awakening potential looks like.
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Arena Open House - Sept. 20th. Follow their for updates!
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Our respite services provide families with a much-needed break and are licensed by the MN Department of Human Services.
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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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 It's been great delivering life-changing experiences to so many campers this summer, in fact, we served about 100 more than last year! Options like the True Strides horse program, enVISION career sessions and Team Quest ropes courses delivered the dynamic experiences campers of all abilities are looking for. Nice weather and an exceptional summer crew made our first summer as True Friends really outstanding.
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 Summer might be over ... but camp is not! We have fall family camp in October, weekend respite sessions all year, Weekend Focus for ADD/ADHD campers and winter camp will be here before you know it! Sign up and join in the good times! |
 Camp love started at age 7 Kathy has been coming to Camp Courage since age 7. Now, at 62, she still considers camp the highlight of her year. Kathy describes her first night back at camp as a reunion. She looks forward to the big ice cream social held weekly to welcome the campers. There, it is fun to reunite with others she has met from previous summers. During her time at camp, Kathy enjoys tie-dying, fishing and camping out. "I love having the opportunity to be a part of things I normally am not, like camping or horseback riding. When I return home I am able to contribute to conversations by sharing my experiences from camp." When Kathy is not at camp she enjoys volunteering at Simon Ministries help center in Mankato, Minnesota. She takes pleasure in assisting others in need. Kathy concludes, "Camp is a great place to be. Every activity is enjoyable. Anyone and everyone needs to come to camp!" |
Volunteer Services
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Family tries True Friends for the first time
Kim and her family discovered True Friends after her son Dan aged out of his regular camp. He requested a camp on a lake and decided to try out Camp Friendship for the first time. Not wanting Dan to be alone so far away, Kim and her daughter Susan decided to volunteer for the week while Dan attended camp.
While at camp, Kim enjoyed waking up with the roosters, the cool mornings and family style meals in the dining hall. She also liked the archery range and exploring the grounds. When asked what she liked most, Kim said, "I loved interacting with the campers. It was also great to watch my daughter interact with them. I also liked being able to watch Dan at a distance, and sometimes up close, enjoy his camp time.  He loved it."
"At first I wanted to be with the younger campers," Kim said. As an aide in a self contained 3rd-5th grade room, it's what she knows best. "I was very pleasantly surprised that I loved being with the adult campers. They taught me so much about life lived with joy." Kim, Susan and Dan all plan on coming back to camp next year.
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Save the Date!
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 September 7 - Camp Friendship's 50th Anniversary -All are invited to an open house held at Camp Friendship. There will be camp activities, tours, lunch and more! Visit truefriends.org/Camp50th for more information and to RSVP. Over 120 people have RSVP'd already!
*The winner of the camp gift basket for early RSVP is Bill Engfer! Congrats!
September 20- True Strides Open House - Join us as we celebrate the dedication of the new horse arena at Camp Courage. This facility will serve as the home for our True Strides therapeutic horsemanship program. The event runs from 10 am - 1 pm. Click here for the complete schedule and list of events! October 11 - Courage North "Up and Running" - Fulfill your bucket list goal of running a 5K, Half- or Full Marathon at the Blue Ox Marathon in Bemidji while supporting camp. Join the team in running or donating to help fund scholarships for Courage North campers. Visit www.bemidjiblueoxmarathon.com to register or contact Emily Engel for more details at [email protected] Good luck to all! October 17-19 - Courage North Fall Clean-up - A meaningful way you can help the True Friends community, connect with co-workers, family and friends. Families are encouraged to participate. Contact Conor in Volunteer Services at 952.852.0113 or [email protected] |
Giving is Good
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 Craft Supplies Donated for Campers
True Friends was the fortunate recipient of a major craft donation! A sister of one of our adult Camp Eden Wood campers and her friends did a very extensive craft material drive for us through Thrivent Care Abounds. They delivered it to camp and you would have thought it was Christmas the way the counselors reacted to all the goodies -- especially the oodles of stock paper! It was so great to see such goodness people have in their hearts. Thank you for supporting camp! |
 ...survive summer camp! We would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to all of our summer staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the summer to make camp a great place for the campers. Through long days and nights, rain or shine, these dedicated individuals put on a smile to make camp a safe, fun and exciting place to be. Their motto, "Camp is for the campers!" is a great example of their passion for camp and the true care they show for the individuals they serve. Shown on the right are Maddie and Abby, two of our Counselors in Training at Camp Friendship this summer.
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Have you heard about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? See how camp participated in this viral trend that raises money and awareness for ALS by clicking here! |
 Our first Annual Report as True Friends is available for viewing here! Check it out for great camper stories, donor profiles, financial information and more. |
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