History of the Veterans Campground
Read about the Veterans Campground below and then follow this link to their website.
In 1926, the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp (DVRC) started from a local farm that was donated to help disabled veterans recover from World War I. The original main farmhouse was converted to a dormitory-type house for these shell-shocked veterans. During WW II, shell-shocked was called battle fatigue; today it is called post traumatic stress disorder. Through the years the camp's main focus of providing rest and recreation for military and veterans has not changed, only the name of the disabled veterans' affliction.
Today the campground is open to all military, veterans that have been Honorably discharged, their families, and sponsored friends. The campground has a wide variety of recreational activities for the entire family, to include camping (cabins, tents, and RV sites), boating, fishing, tubing, swimming, softball, volleyball, horseshoes, canteen, children's gameroom, and a spacious YELLOW RIBBON PAVILION for parties, gatherings, and picnics.
Yellow Ribbon Camp
In January 2010, the Veterans Campground was recognized and awarded Yellow Ribbon status by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and the military's Yellow Ribbon Committee. This is significant, as Yellow Ribbon communities and organizations are those that have demonstrated the purposeful commitment to helping military members transition back to citizens, while supporting military families.
The Veterans Campground is proud of the Action Plan its Board of Directors submitted to Washington County (the nation's first Yellow Ribbon County), outlining events the camp has planned in order to support military members, veterans, and their families. We are confident our activities for 2011 and beyond will aid veterans in reconnecting with family life. Being designated a Yellow Ribbon campground is both an honor and a call to keep veterans, military members, and their families the continued focus of our mission. The Veterans Campground is the only and "original" Yellow Ribbon campground, as we have been assisting military veterans with rest, recovery, and recreation since 1926.
Camping and Recreation for All
The campground is open to all Honorably discharged military veterans: active duty, Guard/Reserves, veterans, retired, disabled, and military families throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the campground relies on donations and volunteers to host most activities (i.e., fishing, boating, and hiking) that provide relief and recreation. With so many more Guard and Reserve deployments, more veterans and their families are turning to the camp for family fun and recreation while their loved one is deployed, and during their transition back to civilian life. This greater demand required a large expansion of the camp, which incurred increased costs to our operating budget. As a non-profit organization, donations and grants are welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Visit the website http://www.vetscampmn.org/ to learn more.