COTTON — When Dave Endicott of Jenkins bought 11 riverfront acres near Cotton as a present for his nature-loving wife, little did he know it would become a healing, welcoming retreat for more than just them.
Endicott lost his brother Christopher to suicide in 2021.
"Suicide's not something that people feel comfortable talking about, understandably," Endicott said in a recent Bright Spot conversation on the KAXE Morning Show about grief, mental health and healing.
Helping others became a way to deal with his own grief. Endicott had the idea of sharing his land with others also dealing with loss.
He announced on Facebook the opportunity for a rustic camping space for those impacted by suicide or mental health challenges.
"I figured I'd have 10 friends read it, and three of them would make a stupid comment, and that would be the end of it," Endicott said.
Lo and behold, Camp Christopher was quickly completely booked from mid-May to mid-October that year. Endicott began hearing from hundreds of people who wanted to share their stories.
"No matter who you are, where you are, however you are, you're welcome to this place," he said.
Camp Christopher is free, but reservations need to be made in advance. The camp has electricity but no running water. Old School Lives in Cotton offers free showers and emergency shelter if needed.
Find more information online or on Facebook.
Many have wanted to pitch in at the camp, and Endicott encourages donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness or any other organization that supports mental health.
"This piece of land and this Camp Chris has been for my wife and I just a huge healing piece for us," Endicott said. "But I still have those moments where the high tide's in, and I'm overwhelmed by the emotions of loss."
Listen to our full conversation above to hear more about the reality of grief and how it has affected Endicott and connected him to others.
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The Bright Spot is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
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