HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.a. Camp Courage Wagon Train 3 '
CnV1 P.O. BOX 510
✓Zl� � 2$75-145TH ST. W.
osernoun� ROSEMOUNT. MINNESOTA 55068
612-423-4411
T Mayor Napper
Council Members Willcox, Wippermann, Oxborough, Rlassen
FROM: Susan Johnson, City Clerk lT�� # � �
DATE: February 15, 1990
RE: Camp Courage Wagon T=ain � � �D
The Camp Courage Wagon Train is coming to Rosemount on June 18th. Attached
is a letter from the Trail Bosses of the 1990 Camp Courage Wagon Train
requesting approval from the city that they be allowed to stop in Rosemount
for lunch and then proceed on to Farmington. I have also attached for your
information a copy of a brochure about Camp Courage Wagon Train, how
proceeds are used to allow disabled children and adults to attend Camp
Courage or Courage North and a little about history of the wagon train. ;�
The wagon train could' consist of up to 400 people, approximately 200 riders
on horseback and 40 horse drawn wagons. Last year' s wagon train raised
approximately $100,000 through pledges, corporate sponsorships and wagon
train button and souvenir sales occurring during this week long event.
Each year the wagon train has a different route. This year, the wagon
train will start in Lake Elmo, travel to Cottage Grove, Hastings, Coates,
and then onto County Road 42 heading west to 145th Street and into the
downtown area. From Rosemount, they will travel south on Highway 3 to
Farmington and spend the night. From Farmington the wagon train will
travel to other communities until they reach Camp Courage.
Participation by the city would be as follows:
(1 ) To provide a location for their lunch stop for approximately 1 1 /2
hours:
Staff is recommending that the lower west city hall parking lot and
the unpaved 1ot, as well as any other adjacent city property, be made
available. We will ask the American Legion to allow city staff to use
their parking lot on that day.
In the event of a downpour on this date, the wagon train will use the
parking lot at the Dakota County Technical Institute. Although this
parking lot is much larger than the city hall parking lot, the Wagon
Train, weather permitting, prefers to be in the downtown area which
would attract more spectators and hopefully more donators.
(2) To provide water for the horses:
Fire Chief Scott Aker has agreed to have fire department members
available on this date to provide water. Water will come from fire
hydrants to fill portable drop tanks supplied by the fire department.
Horse owners will then fill their buckets from the drop tank.
CITY OF ROSEMOUNT
DAROTA COUNTY� MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 1990-
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CAMP COURAG$ WAGON TRAIN
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rosemount has been
notified that Rosemount will be one of the many communities the
Camp Courage Wagon Train will travel through during the third
week of June, 1990; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rosemount has been
requested to provide a location to accommodate the Camp Courage
Wagon Train during their lunch period on June 18, 1990; and
WHSREAS, the City Council of the City of Rosemount is aware and
has an interest in the variety of activities and experiences
offered to disabled children and adults at Camp Courage; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rosemount is cognizant
of the funds totalling over $450,000 that has been raised from
Camp Courage Wagon Train fund raising activities since 1979.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City
� of Rosemount welcomes the Camp Courage Wagon Train into its
� community on June 18, 1990; and
BB IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of
Rosemount offers its city hall parking lot and adjacent property
for use by the Camp Courage Wagon Train; and �
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of
Rosemount applauds the volunteers who have been and will be
involved in the Camp Courage Wagon T=ain and their efforts to
raise money to allow disabled children and adults to attend Camp
Courage.
ADOPTED this 20th day of February, 1990.
Vernon J. Napper, Mayor
ATTEST:
Susan M. Johnson, City Clerk
Motion by; Seconded by:
Voted in favor:
Voted against:
R �
A child with cerebral palsy who has no use of � � � "�, ',,� � ' � ; �' = �
her legs squeals with joy as she rides horse ` �. "' F' �
back for the first time. ��
An elderly stroke survivor who uses a wheel , �'.,�'`�k��.-
chair smiles with pleasure as he catches a ''�
fsh while on a specially-adapted pontoon `��
boat. ��, s
�_,�
Creating opportunities. That's what Courage � �����
camping experiences are all about. Courage �
Center's two residential camps offer safe, acces-
sible,natural environments where children and
adults with physical disabilities and communica-
tion disorders discover abilities they never knew ,*
they had or they thought they had lost. Campers
are often inroduced to hobbies or sports they
develop further at home or at school. Self-confi-
dence grows. Self attitudes improve.
CAMP COURAGE,located neaz Maple Lake,
Minnesota,has 36 modern,barrier-free,winterized
buildings on 305 acres of land,plus two 18-acre
islands: Humphrey Island on nearby Mink Lake
and Winther Island on Lake Koronis.
Campers can choose from a variety of activities HOW YOU CAN HELP
including swimming,horseback riding,exploring
nature trails and ponds, fishing,canceing, sailing, The Camp Courage Wagon Train depends heavily
riding in a pontoon boat,riflery, archery,wheel- upon the support of a variety of individuais and
chair athletics and overnight camping, organizations.
_ _- .__ _
Camp Courage provides a variety of programs •Service clubs and organizations throughout the
including sessions for campers who are physically region can provide financial support and
disabled or visually impaired, those with speech, assistance in azeas such as transportadon and
hearing or language impairments (Campers benefit serving of ineals along the route. Conducring
from daily speech therapy with a Master's level special events is another way to be a part of the
clinician.),and a special session for children with Wagon Train experience.
cancer(Qualified medical staff trained in oncology
attend this session.). •Corporate sponsorships allow businesses of all
sizes to have a banner on one of the wagons
COURAGE NORTH,located near Itasca State which promotes their products and services.
Park in northern Minnesota, has 14 modern build- �
ings surrounded by 95 acres of towering pines, and •Individuals and businesses can help by making
1,400 feet of shoreline on Lake George. Courage a pledge-per-mile or other gift to one of the
North provides special programs for children and participants on the Wagon Train.
teens who aze deaf or hearing impaired,physically
disabled campers,and chiidren recovering from •The Camp Courage Peddler's wagon is open at
burns. each stop so that members of the public can
purchase a Wagon Train button or other
An array of activities are available for campers at souvenirs.
Courage North including swimming, waterskiing,
fishing, boating, hiking,biking, backpacking, The Camp Courage Wagon Train is a great way
nature and crafts,and overnight camping. Activi- for teamsters, service groups, large corporatians
ties are less structured than at Camp Courage and and small businesses, and members of the general
are often planned by the campers themselves with public to work together and celebrate the pioneer
staff serving as resources. spirit of America!
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Wagon �'�ain Histor�y Would not be broken. The wagon train had formed a chain of
families. Severe weather took its toll;the Novack wa�on was
The Camp Courage Wagon Train began the week before Labor hit by lightning. The past and present were as one.
Day 1978 when Darrel Franson of Albany,Wisconsin and Dick This oneness was mazked a second time in Northfield with a
Pengilly of New Ulm,Minnesota set up a one wagon relay, raid on the train by the Jesse James Gang. But the community
starting at Windom,travelling to New Ulm and condnuing from spirit was complete with a reception by the whole town of
New Ulm to Camp Coarage. A distance of 175 miles and a Lonsdale that was wly unbelievable. That year the Wagon
donation of$1,500 was raised this first year. �e seed had Train raised$67.000 for Camp Courage.
been planted.
Television and newspaper coverage was outstanding with
On July 4-13,1979,the wagons roiled again for Camp Co�rage. KSTP-TV's Good Company,six television stations and scores
This trail started from Fort Francis,Ontario. The PauLsen of newspapers reporting on the progress of the Wagon Train.
family,wgether with the Franson's,made it every step of the
way. The distance was 1,600 miles and the average day was 42 Some 50 wagons,300 people with 190 horses and mules
miles. The longest day was 62 miles from Grand Rapids to gathered on June 13,1986 at Pipestone. This train would be
Aitkin,travelling from 6 a.m.to 8:30 p.m. Temperawres were 184 miles of some of the most changeable weather that a
over 90 degrees. The custom officials advised them that they Wagon Train had ever experienced. From cold to extreme heat,
were the first horse drawn wagon to cross the International from heat to endless rain,we were reminded of the past once
Bridge in several decades. $1,525 was the total collected for more. In Litchfield we learned that the wagon wheels of the'85
1979. train had crossed the path of the Sioux Massacre that took place
in the 1800's. Because of excepdonal community support,we
In 1980 during the third week of June,they became a train with raised$50,000 for Camp Courage.
two Franson wagons and 15 or 16 other wagons joining for the
ride. They traveled from Courage North(Lake George,MN)to Starting again in Wisconsin,the 198?Wagon Train traveled
Camp Courage,226 miles,with total donations increasing to 185 miles from Menomie to Camp Courage. 57 wagons,500
$2,500. This was also the year the"Wagon Train Song"was people and 300 horses faced their biggest adversery,the
wriuer►and service clubs were asked to help with donations. weather. With temperatures ranged from 95 to 105 deg�rees,it
was ten days of sweat,litde sleep and hazd miles. This is atso
In 1981,the orip started the third week in June,starting from the year that Tom Thumb became involved as our major
Forestville Stat�Park to Camp Courage. Now 14 wagons had corporate sponsor. They continued the wagon train spirit by
joined along with 30 or 40 outriders. This wagon train raised convibuting publicity and$40,000 toward our total of$118,000
$7,258. The corner stones were set in place and from here the in camperships.
tradition of horses and wagons and horses and riders would be
one beat in the heart of Courage Center. The 1988 Camp Co�rage Wagon Train left Brainerd,Minnesota
to travel 180 miles and had 30 to 35 wagons,over 100 riders
1982 was the year Courage Wagons started from Lake City and and 350 horses.It was the second year of extreme heat,and the
crnssed St Paul. This was also the year of the first runaway- drought of'88 took its toll. Feed for the horses was hazd to get
one of George Becker's wagons,driven by Greg. There were along tt�way because crops had failed. A totai of 17 horses
10 to 12 wagons on most of[he trip,with 30 to 40 outriders. were taken from the train because of the exveme heat Many
They raised$7,500 for Camp Courage. towns were celebradng their centennials and we learned the
problems from the heat hadn't changed in 100 years. Our
During the third week of June 1983,over 200 miles were spirits were as high as the temperature,however,when we
traveled,starting at Detroit Lakes and again ending at Camp brought$65,000 home to Camp Courage.
Courage. 12 or 15 wagons and their outriders raised$7,948.
This ycar buckskin clad trappers,farmers in early American The1989 Wagon Trains represent a new page in our history. It
dress,and womcn in long dresses and prairie bonnets were seen is the first time we have had two Wagon Trains. It was also the
on naaonal television thanks to P.M.Magazine. first Tom Thumb Chuck Wagon. Tom Thumb donated and
served all the meals for Wagon Train I. 3'his was a learning
The first wagon train to start from another state left from experience for all of us. Our Wagon Train family had been
Grantsburg,Wisconsin,the third wcek of June 1984.There spli�Wagon Train I started fmm A1beR Lea,and Wagon Train
were approximately 17 wagons and up to 105 outriders. II started frnm Austin. Just as different wagons of the past
Contribudons in 1984 increased to$21,813. would meet in St.Louis,whene some would go on the Santa Fe
Trail,and others the Oregon Trail on their way west,we would
By June 14-23, 1985,the lazgest wagon vain to date traveled meet just outside of Gtencoe,Minnesota. By having two trains
from Rochester,Minnesota to Camp Courage,wi�h 56 wagons it was as if one had lost half Iheir voice,not W get it back until
and 325 horses. the two trains met again az Glencce. Fach vain can take pride
in the job accomplished this year, as approximate totals were:
In 1985.shades of the late 1800's were presen� Farmers of that Tom Thumb contribution:$20,000:Wagon Train II
time had to contend with severe weather,and hard work was contribution:$26,000:Wagon Train I contribution$54.000.
3 common place. The bonds of family were like a chain,and The combined totai was about$100,000.