Camp Knutson
to Dedicate New Buildings at Open House May 25
(BRAINERD, Minn.) - For the
past three years, Camp Knutson has been working on a $3 million master
plan to create a world-class camp for children with special needs and
their families.
While rebuilding efforts
continue, the changes are spectacular.
The long list of renovations
and new building projects that have been completed include a new outdoor
recreation center, a new family lodge/retreat center for special needs
children and their families, a beautifully-renovated dining hall, and
completely refurbished camper dormitories and cabins for camp activities.
This spring, add to that list
a completely remodeled boat house and adjoining new bath house that will
include new indoor and outdoor showers, a handicapped accessible restroom,
a changing room and sauna that will provide therapeutic relief for
children with skin diseases and others.
Dan and Sandi Thorson, of
Battle Lake, provided a financial gift to make possible construction of
the new facilities on the beachfront.
Dan Thorson has a special
connection with Camp Knutson. He served as a lifeguard for three summers
at the camp in the early 1970s, an experience that profoundly influenced
his life. Moved by the camp and its work with kids with hearing loss and
other disabilities, he decided to enter special education and served as a
teacher for five years after graduating from Augustana College in Sioux
Falls.
"Serving at a camp like this
takes you out of the 'me' and into the 'we' to serve young kids," said
Thorson, who is now a financial advisor/vice president with Merrill Lynch
in Fargo. "It's a thrill to see the transformation at camp. It's gorgeous,
and we feel blessed to have the opportunity to help these kids."
On Saturday, May 25, a
Dedication and Open House will be held at the camp from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to showcase the new building developments and what those
will mean for kids with special needs and their families. A special
program begins at 11 a.m.
The day's activities will also
include tours of the new welcome center/health services building now under
construction that will be completed in July. The new facility will be
designed with special equipment and facilities for care of children with
heart disease, severe skin diseases and others.
As contributions continue to
come in, plans are to build a third camper dormitory, as well as refurbish
staff lodging. All rebuilding efforts will culminate in a major
celebration on the camp's 50th Anniversary on August 23, 2003.
Camp Knutson, located on a
peninsula separating Whitefish and Big Trout Lakes near Crosslake,
Minnesota, began in 1953 when Congressman Harold Knutson gifted his summer
property to serve as a retreat for children with disabilities.
Camp Knutson, a program of
Lutheran Social Service, focuses on families with children who have
special health needs or disabilities. Different groups served include
children with hearing impairment, autism, developmental disabilities,
chronic illness, and debilitating skin diseases. About 700 campers are
served each summer.
For more information about the
Dedication and Open House event, please contact Rob Larson at
218/543-4232.
