Many Friendship Ventures participants return to camp programs year after year to have more fun and reconnect with friends. It turns out that camp staff do too!

Shannon Styers, Mehri Davis and Stephanie Zaborowski all met as summer staff members at camp in 2002. They became friends and returned to winter camp later that year. They all worked several summer camps, and since that first winter, have returned for six years, making winter camp an annual reunion. Another friend, Kim Pfirrman, has joined them for three years.

Steve and Craig waited for nibbles while fishing on Clearwater Lake

Davis, completing her degree at Ohio University, first worked at Camp Friendship in 2001, and returned that winter, so she has worked seven consecutive winter camps. The following summer she met the others.

Zaborowski, a substitute teacher in Minneapolis, loves coming back to Camp Friendship to visit. Whether the draw is her friends or camp participants is unclear. “It’s a combination of the two,” she said. “It’s exciting to see campers again; I just have to come back and visit every year.”

Sophia played in the snow at winter camp

Styers, a middle school teacher, says the greater appeal is seeing participants again. “As much as I love my friends I come back to camp more for the campers and the feeling of Camp Friendship,” she said. “It’s hard to say how we decided to have this reunion. My theory is that we all need at least a week at Camp Friendship per year to sustain us.”

That’s exactly how most participants feel about camp too.

Friendship Ventures Embraces Special Staff Members:

Steve showed his affection for staff friend Kristin

As an organization that offers opportunities for people with disabilities, Friendship Ventures has formed special relationships with several men who have developmental disabilities. Steve Holst and Kevin Harren have participated in camp and travel programs over the years, but have become even more involved in the organization, now working for and living at Camp Friendship.

Steve began attending summer camp at Camp Friendship, then volunteered to help in the dining hall. He was hired one summer for kitchen and housekeeping work, then stayed to offer his assistance year-round. Now, after 29 years, Steve is a friend to all: year-round staff, camp staff, camp participants and volunteers alike seek out Steve for a joke and a laugh.

For three years, Kevin has been a valuable member of the maintenance staff. A former staff member knew Kevin and thought he would be a great addition to Friendship Ventures. He began as a volunteer, and when it was clear that he fit well on the staff, he moved to camp and started work full time.

Steve and Kevin have become special members of the Friendship Ventures staff, and other staff spend some off-hours time with them as well. “We all look out for the best interest of these guys,” said Laurie “Chet” Tschetter, program director at Camp Friendship. “Many of the full-time staff members have taken on different roles to support them. Together we make sure they have a good quality life.”

Kevin hits a home run during his MVP wiffle ball season

Some staff members have responsibility for helping with everyday needs such as grocery shopping and haircuts, and many pitch in to foster Steve and Kevin’s social lives. That has led to groups of Friendship Ventures staff forming cheering sections at Steve and Kevin’s adaptive sports activities. Earlier this year, both men participated in adaptive basketball and wiffle ball. Steve finished his basketball season by being named MVP, and Kevin received the very same honor in wiffle ball.

As residents of Camp Friendship, Kevin and Steve love the times when camp is in session. They enjoy the increased energy level, join in evening activities and renew special friendships among summer staff and campers. They also participate in Ventures Travel LLC programs, using their vacation time off to travel. Steve has also helped out on other trips as a volunteer.

Another special relationship at Camp Friendship is with Tom Holahan, another young man with disabilities, who, along with job coach Joe Fernandez, spends his days working at Camp Friendship. The four, often joined by other male staff members, have a standing Friday tradition: guys’ lunch.

Both hard workers, Kevin and Steve are valuable members of the Friendship Ventures team. Over the years they have also become great friends to everyone.

Eden Prairie Friendship Lions Club Launched
Lions Clubs all over Minnesota have shown strong support for Friendship Ventures for many years; in fact, collective contributions of over $2 million since 1988 make them our largest service organization donor. Local clubs all over the state have adopted Friendship Ventures, raising funds, spreading the word and providing hands-on service at all three sites.

Now, Friendship Ventures introduces our own virtual Lions Club, the Eden Prairie Friendship Lions Club. This web-based club has no meeting site or schedule, but convenes through email, allowing members from every community in Minnesota (and beyond) to join.

“This Lions Club has an advantage because of the ease and convenience of being a member,” said Internet Lions Club President and Friendship Ventures Director of Development Verlyn Menning. “All activities and meetings will occur through email, so members have flexibility in their involvement.”

One benefit of a club that operates via email is that it is accessible to people who have physical and/or developmental disabilities who cannot or choose not to participate in a local club. “Our desire is to have a good mix of people with developmental and physical disabilities, Friendship Ventures staff, group home staff, and great, kind, all-around good neighbors who love to serve,” Menning said. “Because this Lions Club is connected to Friendship Ventures, club members gain the feeling of belonging to an organization that’s actively giving service.”

The mission statement for Lions International reads: To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.

To that, the Eden Prairie Friendship Lions Club adds a mission of planning activities and projects that invite and encourage members with disabilities to become involved serving others in their communities.

Membership in the club requires dues both to the Eden Prairie Friendship Lions Club and to Lions Club International totaling $50. A donor has given $300 toward partial membership dues for qualified people with disabilities who cannot afford the dues. Once the club attains 20 paid members it can be chartered and officers will be elected. If you are interested in joining this pioneering club or have questions, contact John Warner at 612-202-7197 or jwarner@friendshipventures.org.

Helen Keller, who had sight and hearing impairments, was a big part of the initial formation of Lions Club International. In her spirit, Eden Prairie Friendship Lions Club hopes to provide many people with disabilities, and those who support them, the feeling of belonging to an organization that is actively giving service.

Summer Camp Registration Open
Summer fun is just around the corner, and it’s time to get in on it. Registration has begun for camps this summer at Camp Friendship, Camp Eden Wood and Camp New Hope. Most of the same fun sessions as in past years are being offered, and all will feature water fun, outdoor exploration and the chance to make new friends. Click here to see the summer fun brochure and schedule.

Winter Focus on Friendship
Have you seen the latest Friendship Ventures newsletter? If not, you can take a look online. Find out how families who have two children with disabilities cope, read about international camp staff members and learn how Friendship Ventures is collaborating with a number of other partners to offer help to families of returning veterans. And there’s a special story about Ventures Travel LLC and how trip leaders make every vacation special. Click here to be directed to see the newsletter.

Thanks to Donors

Special thanks to these donors for their recent contributions to fund scholarships:

Andersen Corporate Foundation, Bayport
Archie D. & Bertha H. Walker Foundation, Minneapolis
Otto Bremer Foundation, St. Paul
BTD Manufacturing, Detroit Lakes
Bryan Rock Products, Inc., Shakopee
Caliber Foundation, Minneapolis
Sexton Foundation, St. Cloud
Speedy & Honey Altman Memorial Camp Foundation, Washington D.C.
Net Gain Technology, St. Cloud
RAO Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis
Rogers Lions Club
Anderson Trucking Service, Inc., St. Cloud
Sy & Sons Incorporated, St. Cloud
Hugh J. Andersen Foundation, North Oaks
Hardenbergh Foundation, North Oaks
The Harper Family Foundation, Omaha, Neb.
Robert S. Starr Foundation, Bloomington
Arnold's Equipment Inc., St. Cloud
Rosemount Lions Club
Falcon Heights Lauderdale Lions Club
James and Marion Miller Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, St. Cloud
Dan and Susan Miller Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, St. Cloud
Sime Foundation; Long Lake
UBS Financial Services, Inc., Wayzata, matching gift donation
Thompson West, Eagan
Bituminous Roadways, Inver Grove Heights
First National Bank of Osakis
Heart of the Lakes Triathlon, Annandale
Royce & Janice Fund of the St. Paul Foundation
Kandiyohi Power Charitable Trust, Spicer
Ramsey Lions Club
Coon Rapids Lions Club

And thanks to donors for their contributions for special projects:

Steve's Excavation, St. Cloud, for in-kind services at Camp Friendship
McDowall Company, St. Cloud, for in-kind construction services
Albertville Lions Club, to support adoption of Goldfinch cabin
Eden Prairie Lioness Club, for renovation at Eden Wood Center
Aitkin Lions Club, for Project New Hope
Charity Incorporated, for Camp Friendship renovation projects

Thanks to all donors!

You Can Help:

To give a gift to children and adults with disabilities, Click to access our secure, on-line giving site. Your support will make all the difference in the world.

Friendship Ventures is a non-profit agency that creates unique educational, recreational and social opportunities for people of all ages with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. We also offer conference and retreat services and professional team-building programs to the communities we serve. Friendship Ventures operates Camp Friendship near Annandale, MN, Eden Wood Center in Eden Prairie, MN and Camp New Hope near McGregor, MN.

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