Camp Eden Wood eyes site improvements while celebrating 100-year history

Tucked away on a dirt road in the northern end of Eden Prairie sits a 50-acre camp with 100 years of history.

Though originally a camp for children with tuberculosis, Camp Eden Wood now serves adults and children with a wide range of disabilities. 

The team behind the camp is celebrating its century-long history this year, while also gearing up for major improvements to one of the camp’s original buildings. 

Looking back to 1925

The camp was first called Glen Lake Children’s Camp and was built as an extension of the Glen Lake Sanatorium in 1925. The sanatorium housed adults with tuberculosis, while the nearby preventorium and camp served children exposed to or infected with the disease. The camp was built using money from local philanthropists George and Leonora Christian, whose son died from tuberculosis when he was 27. They were dedicated to fighting tuberculosis, even before losing their son, and establishing a space for children with TB at the site was part of their long-term vision. Back then, sunshine and fresh air were considered top treatments.

The camp operated until 1950, when the advent of antibiotics helped control TB. The sanatorium had its last patient in 1976 and was demolished in 1993. But the campgrounds remained. 

Arc of Hennepin County operated the summer camp for people with developmental disabilities starting in the late 1950s, before the county transferred control to Eden Prairie in 1983. True Friends, the nonprofit currently leasing the space, took over in 1995.

Kathie Case, president of the Eden Prairie Historical Society, said it’s a special property. It’s one of only two sites in Eden Prairie on the National Register of Historic Places, the other being the Cummins-Phipps-Grill house. Most camps of its kind were simply torn down, but Camp Eden Wood still boasts some of its original buildings.

“One is the dormitory where the kids slept, and it still continues to be used today,” Case said. “That’s been updated, but they have kept the integrity of the historic building. The other one is the mess hall, which they call Birch Hall today.”

The dormitory got a new roof last fall, and extensive changes are planned for Birch Hall. Funding for the project requires larger grants than the society typically has access to, but sharing the history far and wide helps in fundraising. The hope is that as more people learn of the project, more people will contribute. 

The EP historical society also assists by providing images and historical details to the Minnesota Historical Society and similar entities. Case said the photos and stories are a big part of what helps the organizations secure grants. 

It’s wonderful that the camp, with its up-north feel and wooded surroundings, continues to serve children facing health challenges and disabilities, she said. She hopes to see the mess hall project completed soon to continue that mission.

“That’s really an important structure to make sure that it stays there another 100 years and is used and enjoyed by all,” Case said. “It’s important to always have someone that is leasing it that not only cares for children, but also cares about the site (and) how important it is to our city.” 

She said the ongoing impact and continued beauty of the site are thanks to the city and the lessee. From the early days of the city having control over the camp, officials decided to lease the property to groups that would champion children with disabilities. True Friends has upheld that mandate while also adding new buildings and improving the overall accessibility of the site.

Celebrating a century with eyes on the future

Though it’s a beautiful piece of land with a rich history, many people in the area still don’t know it exists, Case said. Even people who live nearby often don’t realize a piece of local history lies down Indian Chief Road. As Ruth Kewitsch, True Friends senior director of development, puts it, it’s “too hidden of a gem.” 

Last year, the city marked 100 years since the founding of the Consolidated School. That included a parade, musical performances and a community resource fair in commemoration. Case said it felt like the whole community celebrated, and she’s optimistic the camp’s anniversary will prompt similar enthusiasm. 

On June 12, the camp’s actual anniversary, staff and campers marked the occasion with cupcakes. Case and her husband, Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case, will host a more formal 100-year celebration at Camp Eden Wood from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9. The event will include food, live music and tours of the camp.

“I hope that people come out to experience this wonderful thing that we have here in Eden Prairie, and the good that it does, and always has done, for children,” she said. “The people that are running the camp today are so dedicated and working so hard on every piece of it, caring for the historic significance and also caring for children.” 

Beth Novak-Krebs, senior planner with the City of Eden Prairie and staff liaison for the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC), said that while some residents are familiar with the city’s historic resources, she would love to see awareness grow. Locals can check out the various sites on the HPC website. Or better yet, they can experience local history firsthand at the camp’s 100-year celebration. 

“The Heritage Preservation Commission – part of their mission and goal is really to educate the public about these sites and the importance of them and the history behind them,” Novak-Krebs said. “I think that this 100-year anniversary celebration will go a long way in helping to educate folks about the camp.”

Novak-Krebs said using historic sites for a purpose is important because it promotes preservation through continual upgrades. Now, Birch Hall is only used for short stretches throughout the year due to the lack of heating and cooling systems.

Maintenance is essential to preserving historic sites, and the HPC ensures that work maintains historical integrity. During her time as staff liaison, most of the improvements to historic buildings have been minor, such as installing a new roof or repairing plaster.

But the Birch Hall renovations are much bigger. True Friends has done a structural survey and preliminary plans for the work it wants to do, but the approvals are still in progress. On top of a significant fundraising project for True Friends, the HPC still needs to review the plans and make a recommendation to the City Council, which will vote on the project.

“This one is a long process, because it is on the National Register, and the state historical society will be involved in reviewing the plans and signing off on the plans,” Novak-Krebs said.

Improving accessibility inside and out

Novak-Krebs said she’s glad to see continued interest in such a beautiful piece of property that has served the community well for many years.

John LeBlanc, president and CEO of True Friends, said the more he learns about the history of the camp, the more he is awed by it. Taking care of the physical site is an important part of stewarding the camp’s mission.

“It’s a special place, and Eden Prairians should know about it,” LeBlanc said. “They should be proud about it and support it, because we serve people from all over, but Eden Prairians have an opportunity right in their backyard to participate.”

True Friends regularly invests in the camp. Much of that consists of maintenance, such as installing new siding or replacing mattresses, and it all requires money. The group has a list of improvements planned, including stair and asphalt upgrades, but the primary focus of fundraising is Birch Hall, which will require a whopping $1.5 million.

Restoration plans include a new roof and insulation, the addition of bathrooms, modern heating and cooling and more, all in accordance with historic preservation guidelines. Despite the lofty total, the goal at the end is for the building to look largely as it does now. The original floors and windows will remain alongside the Rumford-style fireplace, but the space will be functional all year.

“We have to move with the times to make the space usable,” LeBlanc said. “If we don’t, people aren’t exposed to it; then it’s the best-kept secret.”

LeBlanc has also made it his personal mission to improve the accessibility of the surrounding woods. He’s led extensive volunteer efforts over the past four years to remove buckthorn and other invasive species. He’s optimistic that a new canopy of white pines, oaks and basswoods will cover a forest floor of hackberries and other native species in decades to come.

Upkeep of the facilities and surrounding property allows True Friends to better serve the community. The primary focus and mission is using the camp for adults and children with disabilities, both in the form of the camp and through True Friends’ respite and travel programs. 

The respite program runs on weekdays and weekends. It gives disabled people ages 5 and up the opportunity to experience a range of activities while their caregivers rest, work or take care of other tasks. The travel program offers everything from day trips around the Twin Cities to Caribbean cruises for disabled adults. 

When the property isn’t being used for disability programs, it’s rented out. The priority is on disability-focused groups, but businesses, schools and other community organizations also use the challenge courses and other activities for team building. Some come overnight, and some come just for the day, but the camp sees between 3,000 and 5,000 guests a year.

Expanding programming to expand experiences

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the camp saw 5,000 to 6,000 visitors a year. People from 18 countries staff the camp, but the pandemic affected the camp’s ability to offer programming. Day camp was held at Eden Wood this year for the first time since 2020.

“It’s taken us years to build back our summer staffing levels, (which) is really what’s held us back,” LeBlanc said. “This year, we had a goal of recruiting and hiring 170 people across three locations, and the last numbers I saw, we were at 173, so that increased number of people allows us to expand to this third site and to provide these services.”

Camp Eden Wood is smaller than True Friends’ two other camp facilities and lacks a usable waterfront, so programming at the other camps was prioritized for the last few years, though the respite program and rentals continued. The respite program runs alongside camp, but the space won’t be rented again this year until day camp ends Aug. 1. 

No matter which program they’re running, the goal is to get people to step outside their day-to-day experience. Trying new things, such as archery or fishing, helps people build confidence and independence. Whether it’s doing challenge courses, making new friends or simply peeing in a bush, it changes how people see themselves. 

“They just want to have a summer camp experience like neurotypical kids or kids without disabilities,” LeBlanc said. “Many of the people we serve in our programming are people who wouldn’t have that experience anywhere else.”

He estimates that 50% to 60% of campers wouldn’t be able to participate in camp activities at other facilities – most Eden Wood campers require staffing levels unavailable at many camps.  

“We’re responsible for those experiences, and so we want to have good, powerful life-changing experiences to keep that tradition alive in this beautiful location,” he said. “A beautiful location is a beautiful location, but it doesn’t mean much until you’re also impacting lives.”

‘A piece of heaven’

Cassidy Dorr, a parent in the respite program, had her first experience with the camp in 2016, when she helped create the respite center. Now, her son spends much of his time in that very building.

“It is the most magical place,” she said. “I pinch myself all the time. It is amazing.”

Dorr’s son Triston is autistic, nonverbal and blind. She needed to find a place for him to go after he completed a post-high school transition program so she could continue to work. Places that specialize in care for autism couldn’t accommodate his needs as a blind person. She also wanted to ensure he was participating in the community in a meaningful way.

Their case manager told them Triston’s friend Charlie would be attending the respite program at Camp Eden Wood, so it became the perfect solution. For the past two years, Triston has spent every weekday at camp, except for snow days and holidays. The program offers music therapy, sensory resources and other activities in an accessible space, while also incorporating trips off-site. 

True Friends accommodates doctors’ appointments, schedule changes or other unforeseen challenges, Dorr said. She’s happy to spread the word about their work at galas, in ad campaigns and in other ways. Being a caregiver is difficult, but True Friends has made it easier.

“I can go to work every day, Monday through Friday, and know Triston is safe and having a good time,” she said. “I don’t ever question that. It’s such an ease to be able to work and to know that he’s safe.”

They go to the community center to swim twice a week and visit dozens of places, such as the Mall of America, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and zoos. Triston’s favorite staff member, Ethan, has become like family.

Dorr said Triston has always had to work hard to be a part of the world. He was born blind and has been in various forms of therapy since he was young, but he loves music and uses it to communicate how he feels. He has perfect pitch, and though he’s nonverbal, he finds his voice by singing. Participating in music therapy and the other programs at Camp Eden Wood has allowed him to find his place.  

“To see him thrive like this at 24, it melts my heart,” Dorr said.

She knows from communicating with other families across the country that they’re lucky to have a place like Camp Eden Wood just 10 minutes from their home. Dorr is impressed by the dedication of everyone at Camp Eden Wood, from maintenance workers to the CEO.

The camp is “a piece of heaven” for her family, so she hopes the upcoming renovations will further the Christians’ original vision for the site and help serve more families.

“The fact that their wishes are being respected this many years later … having camps for kids and families, is so awesome,” Dorr said. “Hopefully, it’s around forever.”