Camp Courageous hosts annual pancake breakfast, open house this Sunday

The Annual Camp Courageous Pancake Breakfast and Open House will be Sunday in the camp’s main lodge near Monticello.

Visitors can tour the camp’s facilities and check out the recent additions to the camp, as well as enjoy a breakfast of pancakes and pork sausage from 8 a.m. to noon.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12, with all proceeds going to Camp Courageous.

During the event, visitors can enjoy a live re-enactment train robbery by the Red Cedar Regulators that will be at the train depot at 9, 10:45 and 11:45 a.m., along with entertainment by can-can dancers, according to camp officials.

Tours of the grounds, a bounce house and zip line, which will be open during the breakfast, will be available for guests. Camp Courageous Fruitcakes will be available as well as Courageous Coffee bags for purchase in the main lodge.

There have been many improvements to the camp in the past year, including the Mainliner Memorial Park, Rotary Music Park, new accessible piers at Lake Todd, and a future location for the multipurpose field, according to the Camp Courageous website.

The Mainliner Memorial Park was brought to life through ideas and financial support by Teri and Brian Connell, of Lake Delhi, who wanted to honor their fathers who served in the military, as well as the COVID-19 frontline workers, officials said.

The park consists of six limestone monuments, each representing a branch of the military with their service flag, which are located next to Durgin Pavilion, inside the train loop. On the opposite end of the memorial is a tribute to frontline workers.

The centerpiece of the park is a bronze statue of a female camper in a wheelchair with her hand on her heart, according to the website.

The Rotary Music Park features durable structures — like a large scale xylophone, drums and wind instruments — that make sound when campers touch them. Music parks have gained popularity for the sensory elements they provide, officials said.

Camp Courageous is located five miles southeast of Monticello off Highway 38 and 151-Exit 65.

For more information about the pancake breakfast, call (319) 465-5916.

Camp Courageous is a year-round respite and recreational facility for individuals of all ages with disabilities. The camp is run primarily on donations, with no formal sponsorship, government assistance, or paid fundraisers.

Camp Courageous consists of nearly 400 acres of land, 33 buildings and serves nearly 10,000 individuals with special needs on an annual basis. There were 3,264 campers served last year, according to the website.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com