Things you should know if you are sending your child to camp.

SUGGESTED PACKING LIST FOR A SEVEN DAY STAY:
1 flashlight with batteries
6 - 8 shirts - warm & cool
6 - 8 pants/shorts
1 warm sweater
1 warm jacket
2 sweatshirts
10 - 12 underwear
8 - 10 pairs of stockings
2 pair pajamas
1 swimsuit and plastic storage bag
2 pair shoes - one pair that can get wet
1 hooded raincoat - VERY IMPORTANT
Comb or brush
2 washcloths and 3 towels
Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and shampoo
Deodorant, facial tissues
Suntan lotion - SPF15 or higher
Non-aerosol insect repellent
2 suitcases (maximum) and 1 laundry bag
Stationery/stamped, addressed envelopes

IF NEEDED:
Medications, including refrigerated ones
Hearing aids/batteries
Communication devices
Eating utensils and toilet equipment
Irrigation solutions and special bandages
Personal sanitary products
Positioning aids/braces

Keep in mind the extra walking at camp. If a wheelchair is needed occasionally and you have one, please bring it with you.

OPTIONAL ITEMS:
1 white or light colored t-shirt to tie-dye/paint
1 dress outfit (adults)
1 sleeping bag

DO NOT BRING:
Cell phones/pagers (applies to children only)
Knives/items which could be used as weapons
Linens/bedding (unless allergies are a concern)
Alcohol or illegal drugs
Money
Perishable food products

AVOID LOST BELONGINGS:
Things can and do get lost at camp.  Label all clothing and personal belongings.  Do not send things that are valuable or new.  Recheck the packing list before leaving camp and let someone know if something is missing. While camp is not responsible for lost items, if you call right away, we may be able to find them. Items and clothes will be kept for one month.

TRANSPORTATION:
Campers whose last names begin with A-M should arrive at camp between 1-2:30 p.m. on the first day of the session. Campers whose last names begin with N-Z should arrive between 2-3:30 p.m. Campers should be picked up before 11:00 a.m. on the last day of the session. Bus transportation is available from Courage Center for adults sessions only at $20.00 for a one way ride, $40.00 roundtrip. The bus leaves Courage Center at 1:00 PM on the first day of the session. The bus returns to Courage Center between 3-3:30 p.m. on the afternoon before the last of the session. Note: If you ride the bus, you must make your own Metro Mobility arrangements to and from Courage Center.  If you can not make your own arrangements for the return trip home, please have a friend or relative do this for you. Please note: all residences, group homes and agencies are required to provide transportation for their residents.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Any special instructions not previously indicated on the application or medical examination form can be given to the director or a counselor on the first day of the session. Correspondence to campers can be sent to:
Camp Courage (specify Woodland or Lakeside campus)
8046 83rd ST NW
Maple Lake MN 55358
Phone - 320-963-3121
e-mail: ccourage@lkdllink.net

DIRECTIONS TO CAMP:
Camp Courage is located:
50 miles from downtown Minneapolis - driving time is about 65 minutes.
65 miles from downtown St Paul - driving time is about 80 minutes.
20 miles from St Cloud - driving is about 30 minutes.

From Highway 55: The Camp Courage road is located 1/2 mile west of Maple Lake. A green Camp Courage sign will direct you north on County Road 7. Follow County Road 7 for 3.2 miles, the camp gate will be on the left.

From Interstate 94: Leave freeway at Exit 178 in Clearwater. Travel south toward Annandale on Highway 24 for 9 miles.  Turn left onto County Road 39 and follow for 3 miles. Turn right onto County Road 7, the camp gate will be on the right.

ABOUT CAMP COURAGE:
Camp Courage, located near Maple Lake about 50 miles west of Minneapolis, has 35 modern, barrier-free, winterized buildings. It has two campuses: Lakeside campus houses children or adults with physical disabilities and/or visual impairments, and Woodland campus is for children with speech, hearing, or language impairments. Each has its own cabins, dining hall/recreation center, and craft shop.

STAFF:
Trained counselors and program staff live in the cabins with campers, direct daily activities, supervise programs and provide excellent role modeling for young campers.  A doctor, three nurses, certified lifeguards, as well as program specialists, round out the staff. A Counselor in Training (CIT) program provides work experiences for 16 and 17 year old campers who show strong leadership traits. The staff to camper ratio is better than 1:2.

INTAKE PROCEDURES:
The medical form we send is an essential part of the application process. The completed form must be sent to us before attending camp. Upon arrival at camp, the nurse will collect all medications. A doctor will do a health check at this time. Often, care needs or medications change prior to the actual camp stay. In that case, instructions not previously indicated on the application or medical examination form can be given to the nurse, director or a counselor at intake. Note: we do check all campers for head lice as a routine precaution for everyone's protection.

HEALTHCARE:
All Medications must be in original containers and labeled with campers name, drug name, dosage, time medication is taken, doctor, prescription number, and the pharmacy supplying the drug. All medicine will be given by a nurse and any medication not used will be returned home with the camper. Be sure there is enough medication for the entire stay. In the event of a medical emergency, there are laboratory and emergency medical facilities nearby.

PROGRAM DAY:
Adults, teens and children attend camp on different dates. A typical day at camp begins with an 8:30 breakfast by followed by a morning schedule of programs. The schedules for Woodland and Lakeside campuses are similar, except that Woodland campers receive individual or small group speech services for about 45 minutes each weekday. These sessions are scheduled at various times during the program day. Recreation for younger campers is often done as a cabin unit to promote friendships. Adults and some teen groups are free to choose from a menu of activities and participate as individuals. Counselors, program staff, and clinicians assist with the programs. When lunch ends at 1:30, campers are given a rest hour until approximately 2:45 to give them a change to relax, read, or write home after their busy morning. At 2:45, afternoon programs resume with scheduled recreation similar to morning programs (pool, gym, riding, archery, games, etc.) or activities such as crafts, photography, or nature. Dinner time at 5:30 provides another break in the day before the evening program begins. Evening programs can range from a carnival of games, rides, and prizes for the younger campers, to dances for all ages, and a banquet night for the adults. Lights out varies by age.

VISITING:
Family members may visit during the camp session. Meals for family members at camp are allowed with one day's prior notice, a small fee will be charged.

FEES:
The registration fee of $75.00 is due at least two weeks prior to the first day of the session. Tuition is $186.00 dollars per day and is based on ability to pay.  We ask that campers pay what they can toward the cost of camp. Camperships are available through Courage Center. No one will be turned away because of inability to pay the full tuition. Sending tuition payment before the beginning of camp will speed up the intake process.

BEING AWAY FROM HOME:1
Start early in preparing your child for the idea of being away from home. Find out what expectations your child has, and what he or she is looking forward to and what seems a little scary. Stress the positive aspects of the upcoming session and coach them to share their fears with you or their counselor while at camp. While parents love to pack for the children, it is to the child's benefit to at least help with the packing. Use the suggested packing list as a general guideline and remind your child to use the list again when packing for the return trip home. Practice away from home skills, such as letter writing, talking with other caring adults, or hugging a teddy bear at night. Turn off the night light at home and practice using a flashlight. Allow time for your child to adjust to the new situation. The first communication you receive (which may be the very first afternoon) may sound a little hesitant, but we find most campers are quickly consumed by the activities and opportunities at camp and forget their first day worries. Support your child throughout the session with mail which is delivered daily. It is very exciting for campers to receive a letter or postcard. Families are welcome to tour the camp facilities before camp sessions begin. Call the camp directly to arrange a tour. We believe we are partners with parents and welcome guidance on your child's unique needs and habits. Feel free to work with us.

CAMPER AND STAFF EXPECTATIONS:  We look forward to helping campers have fun and learn new activities. We hope the following important information will help you understand our program and beliefs. Camp is a community experience that involves people living and playing together and relies on cooperation and good citizenship. For everyone to have fun, we need to keep some simple things in mind. We are all different with different skills, physical differences, emotional differences, etc. We believe campers and staff should make every effort to be positive about others and not make mean comments about others. We believe in following the Golden Rule and treating others the way you would like to be treated and only using other people's things with permission. We believe that people deserve privacy and respect. Boys should stay out of girl's areas, and girls out of boy's areas. Courteous, respectful behavior is expected from all campers and staff. Campers who are not behaving appropriately may be sent home. We welcome any questions regarding camp rules or behavior expectations. Each cabin houses 12-16 campers plus staff. Campers have their own bed and storage area, but privacy is limited due to cabin design. The counselors do strive to provide privacy in personal hygiene and in dressing and grooming assistance for all campers. Camp is a wonderful temporary community of friends that relies on cooperation and good citizenship. We welcome you to talk about problems, questions or concerns with staff members at any time. They will be glad to help you.