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Camp Ferguson Fund

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Camp Ferguson offers kids an opportunity to learn a variety of personal development skills in a fun, unique outdoor setting.

When Michael Brown was shot and killed August 9 many schools in the area made the decision to postpone the opening of the school year. That's when Camp Ferguson came to fruition, the idea to offer a free camp retreats for students affected by the ensuing protests and turmoil was born. 

It's been more than two years since the night the streets of Ferguson erupted and the cameras and reporters are gone. What remains the same is a divide among residents and visitors in Ferguson as well as in other  communities across our county. The children are suffering, they are missing out on valuable developmental skills and Camp Ferguson has been dedicated in providing opportuniites through nature that result in trust, new experiences, life long friendships, confidencec and more. 

On October 24-26, 2014 Camp Manitowa hosted the first Camp Ferguson fall retreat, at no charge, for 20 students from Westview Middle School in Ferguson, MO. It was a special weekend and Camp Directors Andy Brown and Dan Grabel realized that Camp Ferguson was something special and needed to continue. Westview Middle School and Jennings High School as well as the schools of social work at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, and Lindenwood University have all participated in Camp Ferguson. The Riverview Gardens Middle School is scheduled to visit for the fourth year in a row. Funding for this retreat in an immideate need. 

Read about the innagural retreat here:
Jewish Light article

We believe that a camp experience for these kids can provide a fun and much-needed respite from their daily lives, helps develop leadership skills, personal responsibility, and confidence.  They will have an opportunity to try new outdoor recreational activities such as fishing, canoeing, zip-lining, and teambuilding. 

Your donations will go directly to fund every student's participation at camp. This includes bus transportation from Ferguson to Camp Manitowa and back, all food and our professional chef who cooks it up, Camp Manitowa counselors who will staff the event,  student's supplies such as sleeping bags, rain gear, toiletries, and program supplies including retreat t-shirts and tye dye material, sports equipment, bicycle maintenance, fishing gear, and more!

Camp Manitowa is a sleep-away camp and retreat center located in Southern IL  founded by Dan Grabel and Andy Brown in 2011. Both are life-long St. Louisans and opening a summer camp has been a life long professional dream for both Dan and Andy. The camp runs 8 weeks of summer camp and hosts retreats for schools, families, and adults during the Fall and Spring

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Donations 

  • Jakey Hiudt
    • $36 
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Dan Grabel
Organizer
Ferguson, MO

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