An open letter to our Board of Directors: past, present and future:

Dear Board Members,

Thank you. Thank you for giving of your time, talent and treasure to build and support Camp Albrecht Acres for our deserving campers.

Thanks for looking over our financial statements each quarter; we know it can be a drag. It's the small, seemingly insignificant tasks that you perform that allow us to continue to run effective and efficient programming for our campers. We are grateful to have persons who care enough about our campers to spend time on these administrative tasks to ensure the camp season will run smoothly and be funded.

Thank you for entrusting your own loved ones to our care each summer. We love having connections to our campers, and we know it helps to solidify the 'reason why' for many of our board members to personally know campers who attend programming at Albrecht Acres. We are grateful for you sharing your passion for CAA through encouraging your own friends and family members to attend not only camp programs, but our events and fundraisers as well.

Thanks for planning and coordinating many of our biggest fundraisers each year, and dipping into your own bank accounts to support our campers. We are incredibly grateful to our community for supporting our campers, programs and initiatives, and we know many of our programs wouldn't be possible without your support.

Thanks for spreading our mission of inclusion in your homes, workplaces and the community. Your role as Board Members does not end when you walk out of a meeting, or off of Camp grounds. We appreciate all the work you do in our community to be a voice for those who cannot be their own voice, and to promote inclusion in the Dubuque area. 

We appreciate you.

           ~CAA Staff and Campers

"Little by little, a little becomes a lot." 

This Tanzanian proverb sums up for us the impact that a whole community making small choices can have on Camp. Little changes in daily actions can grow to create a large impact on our community, and we want to share with you a few ways you can help Camp Albrecht Acres without really even thinking about it!

Amazon Smile
In under two minutes your Amazon account can be linked to "Amazon Smile"- the EXACT SAME site as Amazon, and Amazon-driven, which takes a portion of the items you purchase and donates it to the cause of your choice. At no cost to you, but two minutes of your time, this is a great way to assist with financial donations to Camp Albrecht Acres without changing your routine. Spend on items you would already be purchasing and feel good about helping the cause you love! While it may not seem like your contribution is making a difference, if every person who reads this blog makes the change we could create massive impact for our campers.

Change Jars
Do you throw your pocket change into a jar when you get home, or the cup holder of your car? Take that change in and donate it to your favorite cause! Pretty simple, but a great way to get that unwanted, cluttered change out of your house and for a good cause!

Goodsearch
Another simple computer website change that makes an impact is using the web browser "Goodsearch," which links to the exact same search results you would normally get using the search engine, Bing. This site makes a donation to the charity of your choice simply through your searches. Each search donates 1 penny to your cause; sounds like it's not going to help? Wrong! We search things on the internet multiple times a day, you'll be surprised how quickly dollars start racking up!

5s for A Cause
One simple money-saving technique is to set aside every $5 bill that comes into your hands. That $5 shouldn't make or break your budget, but at the end of the year you'll have a nice chunk of funds to donate to your cause! Knowing you are setting aside the bills for a good cause should make it easier, as well! 

These simple ways to fundraise on your own can make a huge difference in the lives of our campers. We thank you for your support, as always, and hope this list helps you find new ways to make a difference for all the causes you enjoy supporting!
​

​Yesterday evening over 130 Dubuque area residents came together to support Camp Albrecht Acres in an incredible display of generosity and support. The evening began with fellowship and light appetizers provided by Cast Iron Skillet catering and entertainment by the talented local band, Sam and the Others. Board members, camp staff, campers, volunteers and people new to Camp altogether spoke about their memories of camp, why they support camp today, and got to know one another.

During the program, three campers spoke to the crowd about their experiences at camp and shared their favorite camp activities, food and memories. We heard about how new friendships are made, that camp food is pretty great, and the swimming pool is a highlight of camp activities! The campers did an amazing job sharing their experiences and reminded everyone in attendance why we do what we do!
 
There are many reasons to support Camp Albrecht Acres, and while these campers’ stories reminded us of a few, the evening showed there are far more reasons to give to Camp than one might originally think. Many of the persons in attendance are related to, friends with, or know a camper. Having a personal connection with an individual with special needs is a great reason to support camp. Board member, Nicole Gantz shared her story with camp staff and we want to share it with you:
When I learned by newborn baby had Down syndrome, my imagination ran wild. One thought was wondering if Joshua was going to be able to have a “normal” existence; whatever that is really. Would he fit in in society? Would he find his place in life? Would he get to experience everything that other kids and adults had the opportunity to? These are probably common fears of parents with kids with special needs. So, I support Camp Albrecht Acres because they provide kids and adults with special needs the opportunity to have a typical camping experience in a safe, beautiful and caring setting. This camping opportunity gives parents the pride knowing they are providing their children with the most “normal” experience possible.
 
Nicole’s story gives us some perspective on why we should all consider donating to camp, but just because you might not have a personal connection like Nicole’s doesn’t mean you can’t help further enrich the quality of life of Dubuque area persons with special needs! As Nicole went on to mention, “The camp does not qualify for federal or state funding, so this camp can only exist through the generosity of its donors and supporters and the dependence on grants. Consider donating dollars to the camp to give our fellow special needs friends and family an ultimate camping experience. You’ll be glad you did.”
 
We are proud to announce that yesterday evening our guests in attendance recognized the importance of this camp for our campers and their families and friends. Through a live auction, a “Fund the Need” camper donation campaign, and the generosity of all who came out, we raised enough to sponsor 66 campers’ registrations this summer!
 
Camp Albrecht Acres has never turned a camper away due to financial need, and because of our generous community and events like last night, we hope to never have to. Each year Camp Albrecht Acres covers the funding for around $80,000 in camp fees. As we enter our 40th year providing camp opportunities for our campers we are especially grateful for the support we have received from our community. A Night of Celebrating All Abilities was a great way to reflect on that support and was an eye-opening experience for many in attendance.

We are incredibly thankful for the evenings' sponsors, the Board of Directors committee who planned the event, specifically Barb Kurt, Libby Streinz, Nicole Gantz, Angie Mozena and Lori Stewart, the Markham Auction Team, Steeple Square for being a fantastic venue, Sam and the Others for providing entertainment, Cast Iron Skillet for the amazing appetizers, the volunteers present and all those in attendance who supported our campers not only at this event but throughout the years.