Legionville needs cash for its school patrol campers
LEGIONVILLE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Legionville School Safety Patrol Camp is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer on North Long Lake but the road to this milestone hasn't always been easy.
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In recent years, the State Patrol safety camp, sponsored by the Minnesota American Legion, has experienced financial difficulties.
As a result, the public is being asked to support the camp's second annual fundraising rummage sale from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the camp north of Brainerd off Crow Wing County Road 3 in Unorganized Territory.
Through training by the Minnesota State Patrol, campers learn leadership skills as well as correct school crossing procedures. Nearly 1,500 campers, ages 10-13, each summer attend the training camp. Registration fee is $140.
Mariah Johnson of Brainerd was shown the proper way to hold a school patrol flag Monday by State Patrol Sgt. Curt Mowers at Legionville. School patrols are trained at Legionville every year.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Last summer, the rummage sale raised enough money to sponsor the registration fee for 20 campers.
Tom Sanford, Legionville camp director, said the registration fee is kept low to make it affordable for Legion posts and businesses to sponsor campers. But he said the camp's actual cost per camper is closer to $210.
"Somehow the camp has to make up $70 to pay for everything from the electricity bill to food," Sanford said.
Charitable gambling proceeds and donations, which both have been down, are used to offset the costs.
Now the rummage sale is being used to raise funds and increase awareness of the financial concerns facing the camp.
Kelsy Warta of Brainerd kicked a ball Monday during recreation time at Legionville. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
"The idea is to get people out here," Sanford said, noting those who attend the sale will have an opportunity to view the camp and get in on great bargains. "We were thrilled with last year's sale. Our goal is to surpass last year's total. Every nickel we make off this garage sale is a nickel we didn't have. It all helps."
Danni Miller, Legionville first-aid instructor, said, "We want to have this fundraiser so that children from Minnesota can come to this camp who otherwise may not have been able to."
If you go
What: Legionville rummage sale and brat sale.
When: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Legionville School Safety Patrol Camp, 9544 Legionville Road, off Crow Wing County Road 3 on the shores of North Long Lake.
Why: To raise funds for the training camp.
For more information, call 829-3094.
She said staff members were tossing around fundraising ideas last summer when someone joked about having a garage sale. "Well, why don't we have a garage sale," Miller said staffers decided. "It went really well for us last year so we decided to do it again."
Since this school safety patrol training program began, almost 100,000 kids have attended the camp. They return to their school districts throughout the state and in turn train their peers. As a result, more than a 1 million students have been affected by this training camp.
Carlee Palmer (left), Katherine Mueller, counselor, Kaley Thurstin, Madison Starr, Sylvia Kass, Sheala Osborne and Jade Berthiaume fished for sunfish Monday at Legionville. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Curt Mowers said the State Patrol believes in the importance of this safety camp. Since its inception and to the best of his knowledge Mowers said no serious injuries or fatalities have occurred where trained school patrols were on duty.
"We want to keep that going," Mowers said.
Sanford agreed. "Our goal is to carry on that tradition. If that goal fails, someone dies."
Mowers said this camp allows school patrols throughout the state to be trained to the same safety standards. "We want kids to be doing school patrol the same way in southern Minnesota, as the metro as northern Minnesota," he said. "For one thing, it lets the kids know that school patrol is important. It teaches responsibility. We think it fosters safety-thinking in kids even at that age. It makes them aware of their surroundings."
He encouraged the community to turn out and support this fundraiser.
Kallie Ritchie of North St. Paul played tetherball Monday during a break from instruction at Legionville. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Sanford said his goal is for Legionville to continue the traditions established by longtime Legionville pioneer Bob Miller, the State Patrol and the American Legion. "The camp provides that opportunity for children to learn school safety, bus safety and leadership skills," Sanford said. "It's a week that they'll never forget."
It's about safety, education and fun - the three priorities in that order, Sanford said. To provide that, it takes money, he added.
The Crow Wing County Fairgrounds served as the home for the training camp from 1936-1956, before Legionville moved to its North Long Lake home.
KATHI NAGORSKI may be reached at kathi.nagorski@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5859.