I was hired as the Executive Director of Camp Courageous in April of 1980. The Camp Courageous Perpetual Fund started a month later, on May 29th, 1980. On May 29, Dr. Earl DeShaw, a Camp Courageous volunteer, proposed creating the Camp Courageous of Iowa Perpetual Fund after carefully reviewing all aspects of the camp. The camp would use interest from the Perpetual Fund to help meet operating expenses, allowing the principal to grow. Dr. DeShaw, then 80, told the camp board he planned to devote the rest of his life to Camp Courageous and the Perpetual Fund. Since Camp Courageous has been, and continues to be run on donations, without government support, the Perpetual Fund became its primary source of income. His goal was to find 100 people to give $1,000 a year for 5-years and raise $500,000.
I was a teacher in SE Iowa and had a desire to return to NE IA. I had student taught in Monticello, and thought was a nice community to raise a family. I replied to a help wanted ad I saw in the Des Moines Register. I had gone to a Y-Camp and leadership Camp when I was young and as an American Government teacher, I would use my free period to take those with disabilities to our local Y to learn to swim. In addition, I helped raise money to send these students to a camp in Des Moines.
Camp Courageous is a small and humble organization, so we all wear all the hats. In the early years, the staff was very small, so I helped to register campers on Sundays and also assisted with maintenance or facilities when it was needed.
Originally, I thought I would be in the position for 2 years, like the Peace Corps. But the relationships grew…from the board, campers, staff to the volunteers. We were at rock bottom, and we began to light in the tunnel. I think a secret to Camp Courageous’s success has been longevity in key positions, from the board, staff and volunteers. Jeanne Muellerleile, Camp’s Director of Programs was with Camp nearly 40-years, Sharon Roller, the camp’s Medical Director was with Camp full-time for over 30 years, and the list goes on and on. The philosophy has been recruiting the best, treat them the best, and hope they retire at Camp. It is all about the people and Camp Courageous has been blessed with exceptional friends, board members, staff, and volunteers.
(This can be from your time as CEO, or your time there overall.) (I have been CEO all 45-years.) I have been very pleased with the growth of the Camp. Camp Courageous has grown from a few hundred campers to nearly 10,000, 40-acres to 400-acres, 5-buildings to 35 buildings, and hundreds of volunteers to thousands. It gives me great joy when campers, along with their family and friends say, “coming to Camp Courageous is the highlight of their loved ones year.”
One of the proudest perspectives I’ve seen change in the past 45-years has gone from separating individuals with disabilities to mainstreaming in our school systems. When I came in 1980, Camp Courageous was not accepted like it is today. It humbles me that today, schools will travel for as much as an hour to have their proms at Camp or a wedding. The stigma has greatly lessened and that is huge.
Covid was a huge wake-up call for me. No matter how well we had every aspect of Camp Courageous down to a science…COVID turned it upside down, particularly with hiring staff, the key to Camp’s success. In 45 years I have seen just about everything, so nothing gets me too excited. The beauty of the management of Courageous, it can turn on a dime, there isn’t a lot of hierarchy, just good people doing what is best for the campers.
The Camp has grown from 211 campers served in a summer program in 1974 to nearly 10,000 campers in a year-round program today. It has grown from 40-acres to 400; 5 buildings to 35 buildings, and from a staff of 12 to 100. In addition, it has grown from a few hundred volunteers to thousands.
At the end of each weeklong session, there is an Awards Ceremony, where every camper will receive an Award for something that made them special. It is an activity parents/guardians are welcome to attend. There are many tears in the audience as each camper receives their award. And the true joy felt at that time is so heartwarming.
The short answer is I am ready and camp is ready. It is beautiful to have this happen when I’m feeling 100% mentally and physically. I am excited to help with the smooth transition
As Camp Courageous transitions to new leadership, the first few months will be heavily focused on helping this person build strong relations with our staff, campers, families, volunteers, and donors. It will be a gradual hand-off of every aspect of Camp to the new person and when the new person is ready, they take the reins, and I will step aside and give 100% attention to the Foundation
It is my hope and desire for Camp Courageous to touch more lives than ever before with it continuing to be the highlight of the year for those campers who attend. I would like to see it continue to be 100% run on donations and with a huge volunteer influence. And continue to grow in all areas, facilities, staffing, volunteers, and programs. Maybe Camp’s Travel Program will bring the first camper to the Moon!
The day-to-day interaction with an exceptional, board, staff, campers, volunteers, and supporters.