What a treat it was to have (L-R) Cid (Cindy) Chatfield and Jan Meier recently visit Camp Courageous.  Nearly 50-years ago, they were both involved in program leadership roles at Camp Courage/Courageous.  Camp so appreciates the opportunity to capture this history!

Jan Meier’s history with Camp Courage/Courageous started early before there was much of anything on the 40-acres that was soon to become Camp Courage, before the construction of the first 5-buildings in 1973.  Jan was asked to be the first Camp Director when she walked the land with Bud Ewell (Cedar Falls), Fr. John Gallagher (Jesup-Board Chair), & Sally Frudden (Charles City-Board Program & Personnel Committee Chair).  Bud Ewell and Jan Meier had worked together from the Fall 1972-Fall 1974 at River Hills School in Cedar Falls, a school thatserved students ages five to 21 with profound to moderate mental and physical challenges.  They were brainstorming and Jan said she could not take the Camp Director role because she was with the Franciscans of Dubuque at that time and was getting ready to make her canonical year (year of intensive study). Jan found out later Fr. John Gallagher had even called Sr. Margaret Clare (then President of the community) to convince her to talk to Jan about putting off her year of study. She declined.   Jan finished her 2nd year at River Hills and went to Dubuque to make her Canonical year.  After that year Jan went back to Waterloo (living at St. Edward’s Convent) and worked for AEA 7 at the old hospital on Independence Ave. with 30 Severe/ Profound children, brought to their home county from the state institution (Public Law 94:142).  In July 1976 Jan was involved in a terrible accident in which a 7-year-old girl died.  A year later, after 4 years with the Franciscans…she left the community and continued to work on Independence Ave with her “kiddos”  and continued graduate work at UNI.  In the spring of 1978, Bud came to Independence Ave. walked into Jan’s classroom and knelt on the mat next to her where she was working with the kiddos and said, “ I need you!”  “I need you to work at Camp Courageous with me.”   “I need you to help us build a community!”  Jan found out he had already talked with Larry McDonald, their former principal at River Hills.  Larry was then higher in AEA 7, and Larry said with 2 weeks’ notice Jan could go to Camp Courageous.  Jan worked at Camp Courage/Courageous from 1978-1980.  Camp then hired Jeanne Muellerleile to take Jan’s place and Jan moved to Oregon.  Jan spent 45-years working with AMAZING “other abled” kids and adults in Iowa, Oregon, Florida, Texas, and North Carolina until she retired March 1, 2018. Jan feels she has been indeed blessed!  She is enjoying retired life in Winston-Salem, NC with her wife, Pat.  They have been together for 32 years!  Jan remains close to her Franciscan Sisters (former & present).  We wish Jan all the best of good health and happiness in her retirement and thank her for blazing the trail Camp Courageous followed.  (Jan Meier, 2417 Joshua Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27127  (336)918-6799  janmeier13@yahoo.com)

Jan writes:

Cid & I took an Adapted Aquatics class together through the Red Cross in Waterloo❣️ That is where we met👍 The connection was instantaneous and I was DELIGHTED to have Cid join our camp staff in Fall 1978‼️ We have remained Friends since then and I am always delighted to reconnect with Cid & Carol in Dubuque🤗 I have been lucky enough to remain connected with several staff members through FB over the years‼️ I can honestly say that Camp Courageous was indeed a FAVORITE time in my life…we built an incredible supportive community together, worked with AWESOME campers, and worked outdoors year-round❣️❤️ What more could anyone ask for❓ But I am most grateful for the long term commitment and  superior skills that Charlie & Jeanne brought to CC…the growth is unbelievable ‼️I am proud to say that I was part of the decision to bring them BOTH on board❣️ 

With Gratitude

Jan

Cid (Cindy) Chatfield, Dubuque started at Camp Courage/Courageous in 1978 as an intern from the University of Northern Iowa and worked through 1980.  She later came back in the 90s and worked a couple years.  She was an exceptional leader…very dedicated to the campers and their needs.  That dedication for those with special needs carried on in her career at Hills & Dales and at Luther Manor, all in Dubuque.  Cid’s dear parents realized firsthand the hard work, long hours, and dedication of the staff and would invite the staff over for meals, regularly.  After working 48-years in the service to others field and serving 3-years in the United States Army (Sgt) Cid retired July 3, 2023.

Leadership History:

On July 1, 1973, Gary Turbes was hired to assume the duties of Executive Director of Camp Courage. A graduate of Wabasso High School, Wabasso, Minnesota, he studied in the Seminary. Previously, he worked in Charles City, IA where he helped start a home and school for the mentally challenged that served 9 counties. Gary moved to Monticello, obtained a part-time job at Cuckler’s Manufacturing, and volunteered full time to establish Camp Courage.

The first staff consisted of Executive Director Gary Turbes, Program Director Georgia Koch, an Assistant Program Director, two instructors, five counselors and a nurse, Rose Gore. The counselors were volunteers from the special education department at the University of Dubuque. The camp opened to campers on June 2,1974. The cost for a weeklong stay was $60 and 211 campers came during the summer of 1974.

Gary Turbes resigned in 1976 to spearhead group homes in Sioux City, IA, Mid-Step Services, where he recently retired after nearly 50-years in leadership. (Gary & Jan Turbes, 6030 Stone Ave, Sioux City, IA 51106)

On January 15, 1977, Bud Ewell was hired to serve as Executive Director of Camp Courage.  Bud resigned as Executive Director on December 1, 1979, and accepted a position with the Realtor’s Association in Des Moines.  Bud and his wife, Sharon, moved to Norwalk from Monticello.  Sadly, Bud’s wife, Sharon, died January 9, 2024.  (Bud lives at Edencrest Assisted Living, 2901 Cedar St , Unit 407, Norwalk, IA 50211.)

In April 1980 Charlie Becker assumed the duties of Executive Director and is in the process of transitioning from that position to the CEO of the Camp Courageous Foundation once a new CEO for the Camp is found.

Jeanne Muellerleile was hired in April of 1980 to take Jan Meier’s job as Camp Director.  In May 1982, Jeanne resigned, and Dave Mixdorf was hired to assume the position of Program Director.  Jeanne Muellerleile returned to camp 18-months later as Director of the camp’s program in November of 1984 and retired in April 2019.

They all blazed wonderful trails for the future and brought about thousands of precious memories for the campers, staff and volunteers.

-Charlie