Danebod Family Camps is excited to announce a leadership summit and camp sampler that will take place on Saturday, May 13th at St. Peder’s church in south Minneapolis. 

The leadership summit will begin at 1:30 pm and we especially encourage those interested in future leadership opportunities to attend. If you know someone who may not be on the Danebod email list (particularly younger campers whose contact info hasn’t been shared with DFC), please invite them to join in on the fun as we exchange ideas across the camps and generations!

The Danebod Family Camp Sampler will begin with a potluck at 5:30 and will include singing and dancing for all ages. We encourage current campers to spread the word to friends and family who may be interested in the Danebod experience!

Details below (and attached to this email):

Danebod Summit and Sampler!

Saturday, May 13th 

St Peder’s Lutheran Church

4600 E. 42nd St. Minneapolis, MN, 55406

Interested in Leading?  Join us at 1:30 p.m. for:

Danebod Dance and Song Summit  

(Leadership workshops for leaders new and used)

Workshops:

Bring a Song, Tune, or Dance  Exchange:  Leaders from both camps share dances, tunes, and songs that “work.”  Bring something to share or just soak up the new stuff.  

(Song 2:00-3:15  Facilitators: Patrice Pakiz / Phil Grant–Room A)

(Dance 2:00-3:15 Facilitators: Val Leussler / Shira Schwartz–Room B)

Learn to Lead Exchange:  New and potential leaders learn a song (or dance) to master and practice-teach. 

(Song 3:15-4:00 Phil Grant / Patrice Pakiz / SvenErik Olsen)–Room A)

(Dance 3:15-4:00 Facilitator: Shira Schwartz, Val Leussler–Room B)

Start and Run a Folk Dance Band: 3:15-4:00   (For musicians, band leaders, and sound geeks interested in: starting, running and “sounding” a band. Facilitators: Dave Leussler. Neal Swanger–Room C)

Teach/Play/Dance/Sing Together:  4:00-5:30:  All come together to practice our new skills before taking them to the wider community after dinner (see below.) Facilitators: Patrice Pakiz, Val Leussler / David Leussler 

Interested in coming to camp? Join us at 5:30 p.m. for:

Danebod Family Camp Sampler

Pot-luck dinner 5:30  (Eat, meet, greet and FAQ.)

Singing 6:30  (Songs for all ages featuring our practice leaders (see above)

Folk Dance (live music)  7:15  (Dances for all ages featuring our practice leaders and Wild Rhubarb

Closing song:  Phil Grant

The leadership summit will begin at 1:30 pm and we especially encourage those interested in future leadership opportunities to attend; these workshops will be informal and there is no expectation of future commitment. If you know someone who may not be on the Danebod email list (particularly younger campers whose contact info hasn’t been shared with DFC), please invite them to join in on the fun as we exchange ideas across the camps and generations!

The Danebod Family Camp Sampler will begin with a potluck at 5:30 and will include singing and dancing for all ages. We encourage current campers to spread the word to friends and family who may be interested in the Danebod experience!

Please reply to danebod.secretary@gmail.com with questions, updated contact information and brilliant ideas!

Blue skies,

David Leussler, Summit & Sampler Organizer

SvenErik Olsen, Danebod Family Camps Secretary

Greetings Danebod Campers:

Danebod June & July 2023 camp registration is now open!

JUNE CAMP: June 18th – 24th 

Directors: Xander Nielsen & Mary Jo Cristofaro

Early Registration Deadline: May 5th

JULY CAMP: July 9th – 15th

Directors: Britta Walker & Kirsten Olsen

Early Registration Deadline: June 2nd

Registration Materials consist of:

• Registration Form
• General Camp Information document
• Covid-19 Waiver

For your registration to be considered complete, you must complete and return both the registration form and the Covid-19 Waiver. 

Please carefully read the General Camp Information document. Details regarding the camps’ 2023 Covid-19 policy can be found on page 2. Further information and guidance will be provided to campers by the Danebod Family Camps (DFC) executive committee and the June & July camp directors as CDC and Minnesota Department of Health Covid-19 guidelines are updated. In the meantime, please direct your questions to: danebodsecretary@gmail.com. 

Blue skies,

SvenErik Olsen

Danebod Family Camps Secretary

Danebod Summit and Sampler!

Saturday, May 13th 

St Peder’s Lutheran Church

4600 E. 42nd St. Minneapolis, MN, 55406

Interested in Leading?  Join us at 1:30 p.m. for:

Danebod Dance and Song Summit  

(Leadership workshops for leaders new and used)

Workshops:

Bring a Song, Tune, or Dance  Exchange:  Leaders from both camps share dances, tunes, and songs that “work.”  Bring something to share or just soak up the new stuff.  

(Song 2:00-3:15  Facilitators: Patrice Pakiz / Phil Grant–Room A)

(Dance 2:00-3:15 Facilitators: Val Leussler / Shira Schwartz–Room B)

Learn to Lead Exchange:  New and potential leaders learn a song (or dance) to master and practice-teach. 

(Song 3:15-4:00 Phil Grant / Patrice Pakiz / SvenErik Olsen)–Room A)

(Dance 3:15-4:00 Facilitator: Shira Schwartz, Val Leussler–Room B)

Start and Run a Folk Dance Band: 3:15-4:00   (For musicians, band leaders, and sound geeks interested in: starting, running and “sounding” a band. Facilitators: Dave Leussler. Neal Swanger–Room C)

Teach/Play/Dance/Sing Together:  4:00-5:30:  All come together to practice our new skills before taking them to the wider community after dinner (see below.) Facilitators: Patrice Pakiz, Val Leussler / David Leussler 

Interested in coming to camp? Join us at 5:30 p.m. for:

Danebod Family Camp Sampler

Pot-luck dinner 5:30  (Eat, meet, greet and FAQ.)

Singing 6:30  (Songs for all ages featuring our practice leaders (see above)

Folk Dance (live music)  7:15  (Dances for all ages featuring our practice leaders and Wild Rhubarb

Closing song:  Phil Grant

The leadership summit will begin at 1:30 pm and we especially encourage those interested in future leadership opportunities to attend; these workshops will be informal and there is no expectation of future commitment.

The Danebod Family Camp Sampler will begin with a potluck at 5:30 and will include singing and dancing for all ages. We encourage current campers to spread the word to friends and family who may be interested in the Danebod experience!

Please contact danebod.secretary@gmail.com with questions, updated contact information and brilliant ideas!

Blue skies,

David Leussler, Summit & Sampler Organizer

SvenErik Olsen, Danebod Family Camps Secretary

Greetings campers!

Is it just me, or does it feel like it’s getting colder? Regardless of what mother nature is up to, I am so thrilled that we are just a few months away from the 2023 Danebod Family Camp season! Around this time every year, many folks anxiously wait to register for the most treasured of annual reunions, and I am glad to share that members of the executive committee are finalizing the details on the form and will be sharing it in the next week or so!

The executive committee recently gathered for the first ever Spring meeting to review, discuss, and plan the 2023 camp season. The meeting was very beneficial, allowing board members to rekindle ideas, follow up on action items, and meet with the incoming camp directors on various topics. Among the topics of discussion was the 2023 COVID policy for campers which can be found in the meeting minutes here. I feel that the guidelines set will make camp more inclusive for those who wish to attend, while making sure those who have concerns around COVID-19 are comfortable. If you have any additional questions or concerns around the policy, please feel free to reach out so we can address them.

During the Spring meeting we also discussed the future of leadership at the camps. Recent experiences have discovered challenges in finding and filling resource positions when our “regulars” are unavailable to attend camp. To help increase the talent pool, the executive committee has appointed a team to coordinate a Danebod Sampler happening on May 13^th of this year. We are looking for energetic folks with a passion for leadership that would like to learn how to lead singing or dancing by participating in some training during the sampler. Our hands-on event would then cue up the individuals for the incoming camp season where they will get further education on leadership. If you are interested, more information will be sent out in the coming weeks.

I think that’s all I’ve got for now, but I sincerely hope to see many of you this Summer!

Blue Skies!

Rus Weikle

President, Danebod Family Camps

Hello Campers:

The minutes from the Danebod Family Camps’ (DFC) 2022 Fall Board Meeting are available here.

The 2022-2023 Key Dates document can be found here.

Please email danebodsecretary@gmail.com with any questions or corrections.

Blue skies,

SvenErik Olsen

DFC Secretary

Hello Campers:

The 2022 Annual DFC board meeting will take place on Saturday, October 8th, beginning at 9:30am. It will be held at the Danish American Center at 3030 W River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55406. A Zoom call-in option will also be available for those who chose not to attend in person. Those details will be available when the agenda for the day is finalized.

Blue skies,

SvenErik Olsen
Danebod Family Camps Secretary

Dear Danebod Campers:

We are excited to be planning to resume June and July camp sessions in the summer of 2022.

JUNE CAMP: June 19th – 25th 

Directors: Janet & Nansi Brown

Early Registration Deadline: May 8th

JULY CAMP: July 10th – 16th 

Directors: Quinn & Gus Maynor

Early Registration Deadline: June 1st

Registration materials can be found HERE

The registration materials consist of:

• Registration Form and deposit (Check made payable to Danebod Family Camps)
• General Camp Information document
• Covid-19 Waiver

For your registration to be considered complete, you must complete and return both the registration form and the Covid-19 Waiver. In addition, documented proof of Covid-19 vaccination must be included with your registration. (Note: this does not apply to campers under 5 years of age; they may be registered and may attend camp without being vaccinated, as they are not currently vaccine eligible). 

Please carefully read the General Camp Information document. Details regarding the camps’ 2022 Covid-19 policy can be found on page 2. Further information and guidance will be provided to campers by the Danebod Family Camps (DFC) executive committee and the June & July camp directors as CDC and Minnesota Department of Health Covid-19 guidelines are updated. In the meantime, please direct your questions to: danebodsecretary@gmail.com. 

Blue skies,

SvenErik Olsen
Danebod Family Camps Secretary

Greetings campers!

How exciting is it to see the sun shining more, the days getting longer, and the prospect of summer just around the corner? I’m sure many of you may recall that this time of year has historically been accompanied by camp registration forms in the mail, but the unrelenting pandemic has made that feeling of joy unfamiliar for far too long.

It is with great excitement to announce that the Danebod Folk School Committee in Tyler has given us the green light to hold June and July Family Camps this year!

With the pandemic still very present in the world today, the Family Camp Executive Committee has identified several stipulations that will be put in place to help protect our campers and the people of Tyler. These include limiting each camp capacity of campers to 130 people; all campers that are eligible must be vaccinated against COVID-19; and all campers will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test no less than 72 hours prior to attending camp. Additionally, in the event of a COVID-19 surge or variant, the Executive Committee will cancel camp.  If camps are cancelled or if pre-registered attendees have to cancel at the last minute due to illness, full deposit refunds will be provided to those affected.

We fully recognize that some of these requirements may go against people’s opinions or beliefs, but we need to ensure the health and safety of everyone who chooses to attend camp this year.

Our Executive Committee Secretary, SvenErik Olsen, will be sending out registration forms before the end of the month which will be accompanied by a detailed letter of the 2022 Danebod Family Camp COVID-19 stipulations. If you have any questions or concerns around camp this year, please feel free to send me an email or give me a call.

Blue skies!

Rus Weikle

President, Danebod Family Camps

Hello all:

Please see the documents below from the Danebod Family Camps 2021 Annual Board Meeting that took place on Saturday, October 9th.

2021 Annual Board Meeting Minutes

2021 Annual Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

Revised Danebod Family Camps Guidelines

Proposed 2021-2022 Key Dates

The DFC board elected new executive committee members to four year terms: President Rus Weikle and Vice President Gerta Sorensen-London. The positions of treasurer (Janis Weikle) and secretary (SvenErik Olsen) will next be up in 2023 and 2024 respectively. 

Please send any questions, corrections or concerns regarding these documents to SvenErik at danebodsecretary@gmail.com or simply reply to this email. 

A Message from DFC President Rus Weikle:

Greetings fellow campers!

Every fall a few of us gather (this year virtually) to meet and discuss what many would call the “nitty-gritty” of Danebod Family Camps. During discussions of financial reports and structural guidelines I found myself thinking about how much has changed in the last few years; to say I miss camp is an understatement. I’m sure many of you can relate when reflecting on the memories we have made year after year, and while it feels like camp may never again be the same, I want to assure you that our highest priority is to find a safe path back to Tyler for everyone. We do not know for certain when in-person camps will begin again, but rest assured we will keep you closely informed as we get closer to Spring.

In the meantime, many campers have expressed interest in leading singing and dancing, teaching a craft, being a director, or serving as a board member for the camps. I know from personal experience that the opportunity to learn these trades during camp is very challenging, and can be difficult to coordinate during the other 51 weeks of the year. One of our biggest initiatives in the coming year is to identify and mentor future generations of resource leaders by hosting a Leadership Summit that would offer a day-long session of teaching these trades. If you have an interest in becoming a resource leader to help sustain our future family camps, please watch for further communication on this event coming soon. 

Lastly, I want to extend a huge thank you to Maia Olsen. Maia served on the board as president during the pandemic and accomplished so much while balancing work, life, and everything else! Her leadership and guidance over the last few years has prepared us for success in the coming years, and while she is no longer president, she has volunteered to stay on the board as a July member to help continue the momentum of our progress. Thank you, Maia!

Blue skies,

Rus Weikle

President, Danebod Family Camps

Dear Danebod Campers:

We hope you are healthy and safe as the COVID-19 virus continues to impact all aspects of our daily lives. We are heartened that vaccinations are ramping up and that we will make great strides in conquering the pandemic during the coming months.

As some of you may have heard, the Danebod Lutheran Church Council and the Danebod Folk School Board have made the decision to once again cancel June and July 2021 sessions of Danebod Family Camps due to the pandemic. There has not been a decision yet on the August session. 

The DFC executive committee and June & July directors respect the decision-making process of the church council and folk school board, and we agree that this difficult decision was the responsible one under the circumstances. While we are all again disappointed that we won’t be convening in Tyler for these sessions, we look forward expectantly to the day when we will be able to do so. 

In the meantime, the Danebod Family Camps executive officers will be holding a virtual working session on Sunday, March 21st from 1:00 – 3:00 PM central time. We will continue our ongoing work on updating the camp guidelines and governing structure. We will also be discussing potential plans for virtual activities for summer 2021. All campers are welcome to attend.  Please check your email for a Zoom link to this virtual meeting. If you wish to have your email address added to the list, please email danebodsecretary@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Maia Olsen, President

Rus Weikle, Vice President

Janis Weikle, Treasurer

Sven Olsen, Secretary

Janet & Nansi Brown, June Directors

Laura & ErikPeter Walker, July Directors