<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Friends of Celiac Disease Research is delighted to announce its first annual summer camp for children with celiac disease in the Midwest. "Ben's Friends" will take place August 7th through August 10th, 2001. The camp will be held at Camp Courage in Maple Lake, Minnesota. The focus of this camp is to provide a well-monitored situation where children with celiac disease and their siblings, ages 8-17, can enjoy a real summer camp experience. The trained counselors and program staff live in the cabins with the campers, direct daily activities, supervise diets, and provide excellent role models for young campers. A doctor, three licensed RN's, certified lifeguards, as well as program specialists, round out the staff. Camp Courage is fully accredited by the American Camping Association. For more information on Camp Courage, please visit their website at www.couragecamps.org. The professional staff at Camp Courage will carefully monitor all children and provide a once in a lifetime experience of outdoor adventure that your child will talk about all year until "Ben's Friends" meets again in 2002. Children will be able to partake in a plethora of age appropriate recreational activities such as swimming, water-skiing, tubing, canoeing, sailing, fishing, nature hikes, and wagon rides. Weather permitting an overnight campout will take place, which will include a good old-fashioned gluten-free meal served fireside. Bev Lieven, Director of Education for Friends of Celiac Disease Research and Coordinator of Milwaukee Celiac-Sprue Crew, will be working with the Camp Courage staff to ensure a gluten-free menu and to oversee food preparation. Bev has been gluten-free since her diagnosis 19 years ago. Two of her children, now young adults, are also celiacs so Bev has experienced the gluten-free diet both as a patient and as a parent. For further information, please contact Friends of Celiac Disease Research at 414.540.6679 or via e-mail at [log in to unmask], in the subject line please indicate "Camp". Additional information, along with Medical Consent and Registration Forms, will be provided on-line at www.friendsofceliac.com effective March 23rd, 2001. Don't delay...registration for the first Midwest camp will fill up fast!!!