Courage Center Camp Outcomes 2012

Courage Center Camps are offered at two sites in Minnesota: Camp Courage on Maple Lake and Camp Courage North near Itasca State Park.  For over 55 years, Courage Camps has been providing a safe place for campers to challenge themselves and develop life and leadership skills. The Courage Center camps offers an experience in developing personal strengths, such as self-esteem, honesty, responsibility and feeling in control of one’s life. The camps also have opportunities for creating friendships, positive peer and adult role models, and learning to resolve conflicts peacefully. Teen campers can also gain valuable, first-time work experience through the Counselor-in-Training program.

Of the nearly 11,700 Courage Center clients, more than 282 people attended Children’s Camp Courage and Courage North (2.4%) in 2011.  

Camp Courage Outcomes

The following data is from 79 children who attended Camp Courage or Courage North (26% response rate). 

Children's Camp Outcomes

• 95% felt safe at camp
• 95% felt that they were respected at camp

• 91% would recommend Courage Center camps
• 87% received services that met their expectations

90% of campers say their independence skills improved, 88% report that their friendship skills increase, 85% report their competence skills increased. The area of friendship included skills used in making and keeping friends, such as choosing people to be friends with, becoming a better listener, understanding your friends feelings, and trusting friends. Competence measured life skills including doing recreational activities, taking care of myself and meeting new people. Finally, independence included aspects such as needing less help from adults, making decisions by myself, and being less dependent upon family.

Children’s Camp Demographics

• 59% were Male, 41% Female
• 44% reported congenital or developmental disorder as their primary diagnosis
• 44% were between 13 and 15 years old
• 75% were Caucasian, 9% Asian, 6% multi-racial, 4% African American and the remaining ethnicities were reported as less than 2%

The majority (44%) of camp attendees reported a congenital disability which includes: spina bifida, cerebral palsy and other congenital or developmental disorders. Sensory disabilities were the next highest reported (12%) and include being heard of hearing or deaf, and visually impaired or blind.

Adult Camp Courage Outcomes

The following data is from 65 survey respondents who attended Adult’s Camp Courage or Courage North (38% response rate). 

Adult’s Camp Outcomes

• 97% increased or strengthened their friendships
• 95% felt welcomed
• 94% felt respected
• 94% felt safe at camp
• 94% would recommend Courage Center camps

Adult’s Camps Demographics

• 50% were Male, 50% Female
• 63% reported congenital and developmental disorders as their disability
• 24% were between 18 and 22 years old
• 91% were Caucasian, 3% multi-racial, 2% African American and the remaining ethnicities were reported as less than 2%

The majority (63%) of camp attendees reported a congenital disability which includes: spina bifida, cerebral palsy and other congenital or developmental disorders. Brain injuries were the next highest reported diagnosis (15%).