Camp Courageous

09/05/2026

The holidays are coming, and we’re collecting new Holiday gifts for our campers for our Holiday Parties in just a few months!

Every gift brings so much excitement to our campers. If you would like to participate in our Christmas Gift Drive, please click on the link below for some suggested gifts or grab an extra gift while you are out shopping. The joy on the campers' face is priceless!

Link if you would like specific items to choose from:
https://a.co/0fQJLrmU

Or you can drop off the gifts Monday-Saturday from 8-4 at the camp main office or by appointment by calling 319-465-5916 and asking for our head Elf!

09/04/2026

Camp Update for September 5th, 2026 Listen now at https://campcourageous.org/podcast/camp-update-for-september-5th-2026

09/04/2026

You asked ... We listened!

Camp Courageous swim lessons are back! Make a splash with us as we relaunch our swim program this November🏊‍♀️🏊🏼‍♂️

We will be offering FREE swim evaluations for anyone who is uncertain of their swim level. We look forward to seeing you at the pool!

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

New Camper Cabin…Yes, It Is Personal -

Camp Courageous values your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. Camp will never sell your personal information or disclose it to third parties for purposes that are not directly relevant to the business of Camp Courageous and services provided by the camp.

09/03/2026

Can-Am for a Cause, Vehicle Unveiled at Camp Courageous!

A brand-new Can-Am is officially ready to hit the trails at Camp Courageous!

Yesterday, campers, staff and board members gathered together to celebrate the arrival of a brand-new Can-Am Defender MAX Limited 6×6 through the Can-Am for a Cause program.

Camp Courageous was one of only two organizations in Iowa selected through this year’s program, thanks to the nomination and support of Brunkan Equipment.

Joining the celebration were Jeremy, Amanda and Dan from Brunkan Equipment, along with Daryl Peterson representing Can-Am, to officially welcome the new Can-Am to Camp!

The new Can-Am will be put right to work across Camp’s 400 acres, helping transport campers, staff, supplies and equipment.

A big thank you also goes to WD Electronics for donating blinkers for the vehicle to help ensure safety on all of the turns around Camp.

Camp Courageous is incredibly grateful to Brunkan Equipment, Can-Am and WD Electronics for making this possible and for a gift that will benefit campers for many years to come!

09/03/2026

Fall 2026 Bi-Annual Quilters Retreat at Camp Courageous - What happens when 34 Quilters come together and hold their Fall 2026 Quilters Retreat at Camp Courageous?!

You get lots of laughter, friendships, amazing creativity, and an outpouring of love and generosity for camp!
Camp was thrilled to welcome 34 talented ladies into the gym for four days where their machines were busy, creating lots of beautiful handmade items while they enjoyed their time together making memories.
These amazing ladies donated hundreds of pillowcases, some beautiful quilts, bath towels, paper towels, homemade bags, and homemade coolers to help Camp Courageous continue to provide a welcoming and comfortable experience for all of the campers.

We are incredibly grateful to these wonderful ladies for choosing camp as the place to gather, create, and give back. Their generosity will touch the lives of so many in the weeks and months ahead.



From all of us at Camp Courageous, thank you for making a difference, one stitch at a time. We look forward to having you back in the spring.

09/03/2026

All Aboard the Camp Courageous Train - “All Aboard” the Camp Courageous Train!! We kicked off our Fall session with some rockin adult campers ready for a fun week at camp. Campers are getting the opportunity to conduct their own week at camp by making their schedule, and participating in fun activities like riding the train, making luggage tags for their travels, climbing to new heights on the rock wall, and going to the lake for a voyage in the canoes or paddle boats. We also welcome some new fall staff that are training this week!!

09/02/2026

Fruitcakes, Quilts and a Whole Lot of Heart -
Last week was a busy one at Camp Courageous as volunteers from communities across Iowa came together to help with one of our favorite annual traditions—Fruitcake making!
Volunteers traveled from Hiawatha, Iowa City, Alburnett, Cascade, La Porte, and many other communities to lend a hand measuring ingredients, filling pans, decorating, packaging, and everything in between.
One of those volunteers was Ruthetta Mitchell of Decorah, who joined us for the first time and spent three days helping with the Fruitcake process. But Ruthetta didn’t come to Camp empty-handed! She also brought along a beautiful collection of handmade quilts to donate for our campers.
Most of the quilts were lovingly made by members of the WELCA quilting group, with Ruthetta proudly holding one that she made herself. Each quilt represents countless hours of work and a whole lot of care, and we know they will bring comfort and joy to the campers who receive them.
We are so thankful to Ruthetta for spending several days volunteering with us, to the WELCA quilting group for thinking of Camp, and to every volunteer who helped make this year’s Fruitcake production possible. It’s the generosity of people like these that makes Camp Courageous such a special place!

09/01/2026

After 45-Years of Support, Dale & Caryl Rammelsberg Continue To Go Strong In Their Support of Camp Courageous! - A very special thank you to Dale & Caryl Rammelsberg of Cedar Rapids for visiting Camp Courageous with a carload of much-needed items, along with a generous check for the new Camper Cabin Project!

Dale and Caryl are a true joy and have been supporting Camp Courageous since the early ’80s. Over those 45 years, there isn’t much they haven’t been a part of. It was so much fun to tour the Camp with them and see all the changes—things you don’t always get to see when attending a breakfast.

Their visit also brought back so many wonderful memories, including a Cruise benefit for Camp Courageous where we decided to try horseback riding…something that was certainly uncharacteristic for all of us! And then there was the time the Camp Courageous team helped move the Rammelsbergs on the coldest day of the year a few years ago. 😊

So many wonderful memories with a truly wonderful couple. We are incredibly grateful for their decades of friendship, generosity, and support of Camp Courageous.

Thank you, Dale & Caryl, for all you have done—and continue to do—for Camp Courageous! ❤️

cwb