"Where Spirits Fly: the story of Camp Knutson," a book about Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota's Camp Knutson on the Whitefish Chain in Crosslake, was recently released by Camp Knutson volunteers.
The camp has provided a nurturing place for children with special needs to find acceptance, support and love for more than 60 years.
A hard cover, the book is 120 pages of history in photo-rich, coffee-table format. The stories detail the camp's history of changing lives, the kids it serves, and the everyday grassroots community efforts that continue to keep the camp vital.
Stories include glimpses into the lives of the children it serves; of confidence gained by visually impaired children learning to water-ski in the 1950s; of the relief and acceptance felt by kids with heart disease when they meet other children facing the same issues they do; of the sheer joy of being able to participate in usual childhood pleasures often challenged by medical conditions.
Camp Knutson is a service of Lutheran Social Service, one of the largest nonprofit social service organizations in Minnesota. Today, Camp Knutson provides camping experiences for children and young adults with special needs related to autism, Down syndrome, heart disease, chronic skin disorders and HIV and AIDS.
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"Where Spirits Fly: the story of Camp Knutson" is available for purchase in Crosslake at Lakes Area Gallery and Frame Shoppe (Crosslake Town Square), Lake Country Crafts and Cones, Crosslake Lutheran Church and the Old Log Church.
The book is also available at Camp Knutson, 11169 Whitefish Ave., in Crosslake on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and noon. It also will be for sale at the Camp Knutson Night Under the Stars event Saturday, July 19; the Camp Knutson Quilt Auction on Saturday, Aug. 9; and the Camp Knutson pancake breakfastSaturday, Aug 30.
