The Tournament's History
The tournament began about 30 years ago at Jim's Bar in Melrose. The tournament founders, Jim and Mary Loecken along with family friend, Diane Bueckers decided to host a dart tournament to benefit children and adults with disabilities at Camp Courage. At the time Mary worked for the camp helping with horse and buggy trail rides. A few years after the tournament began to grow Diane's brother-in-law Tom Derichs joined in helping run the tournament and eventually took over running the tournament completely. In 2006 when Tom passed away, the tournament was named after him. Tom's children and family friend Dee Garlock continue to run the tournament in his honor.
Tom Derichs
2019 Winning Team: Rick Henze, Tessa Goihl, Scott Van Horn, and Lori Kissner
2019 Dart Tourney fun
Stacy Larson, Katrina Barlau and Sara Derichs
Shane Derichs and Dan Ward
Shawn Derichs and Dee Garlock
2017 Camp Courage Dart tournament
Camp Courage has a wheelchair accessible zip line
Water tubing is a camp favorite
Horse therapy is offered at our Camp Courage location too
Fishing off our wheelchair accessible fishing piers
2020 Winning Team: Rick Henze, Joe Tschida, Stacy Larson, Racheal Nonweiler
About Camp Courage
Camp Courage is an accessible camp for children and adults with disabilities. This camp was built in 1955 and consists of 240 acres along scenic lakeshore, woods and fields near Maple Lake, Minnesota on beautiful Cedar Lake. Campers have the opportunity to go fishing, tubing, horseback riding, zip lining and much more. Camp Courage also features our award winning, first-in-the-nation wheelchair accessible high ropes course and zip-line!
Camp Courage is owned and operated by the nonprofit True Friends. In 2012, the Courage Camps (which had been owned by Courage Center) merged with the nonprofit, Friendship Ventures, who also had camps and programs for children and adults with disabilities, and together are now the organization, True Friends.
About True Friends
True Friends is a nonprofit agency providing life-changing experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities. True Friends’ programs include camp, respite, horse therapy, retreats, travel, and team building; serving over 25,000 individuals annually. With locations near Maple Lake, Annandale, Eden Prairie, Bemidji, and Plymouth, True Friends serves individuals in Minnesota and throughout the United States. For more information visit www.truefriends.org or call 952.852.0101.
Our Mission
Provide life-changing experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities
Our Programs
Camp, Respite, Horse Therapy, Travel, Retreats, Team Building
Our Locations
Camp Courage in Maple Lake, MN
Camp Friendship in Annandale, MN
Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie, MN
Camp Courage North near Bemidji, MN
Travel Program and Office in Plymouth, MN
Contact Us
www.truefriends.org
952.852.0101
info@truefriends.org