Visiting the Trade Lake Camp after Keith Kennedy was found, one would never realize the site had been ground-zero for the intense week-long search which brought rescuers and volunteers alike from all walks of life.

There were about three cars at the camp the week after the search wrapped up and the tables were set for lunch in the dining hall as the camp for disabled adults continued serving its campers as if nothing had happened.

"We called all the group homes who were going to send campers this week to see if they would still come," Trade Lake Camp's Barb Denn explained. "The group homes contacted the guardians of the campers to find out if it was okay and only one cancelled for this week."

"One camper even called us herself to ask 'You're still going to hold camp, aren't you?'" Denn continued.

So it continues to be business as usual for the camp.

Even in the midst of the search, Trade Lake was still serving its campers.

"We called the group homes to see what they wanted to do about the campers the week Keith went missing," Denn remarked. "They all wanted the campers to stay in camp because 'They love it there.'"

In fact, the search may have spiced things up a bit for the campers.

"We had a van parked across the lawn so the campers couldn't see a lot," Denn explained. "I think they just thought there were a lot of people around, but didn't know why."

Because the dining hall facilities were being used to serve the searchers, the campers got to eat in the recreation room — something that doesn't normally happen.

"They thought that was the neatest thing," Denn said. All she heard all week were comments like 'Can we do this again next year?'"

While it might have been neat for the campers, the staff is glad to be making use of the dining hall again."There are still Health Department concerns, namely an on-site nurse 24 hours a day, but those concerns are being addressed.

"If it wasn't for Corrine Harmon being here since Sunday, we couldn't have camp," Trade Lake Camp owner Peggy Hjelseth pointed out.

In addition, the whole staff took emergency responder training while the camp took a hiatus for the July 4 holiday.

"That inspector won't be able to complain about us not being certified after we have that class," Hjelseth said.

The whole Kennedy situation doesn't seem to have hurt the camp's reputation — just the opposite.

"We only had five campers registered for the session after the Fourth of July weekend," Denn said. "Now we're full the rest of summer."

GPS tracking units

"After they got here and saw the situation, the Salvation Army said they would try to put together a fundraiser to help purchase GPS bracelets," Denn explained.

The bracelets, similar to a watch, come with a computer chip, and when the bracelet is locked on a wrist or an ankle, it activates the chip.

"If a camper gets lost, we would call law enforcement and tell them they need to search for the signal of that particular chip," Denn explained. "We wouldn't have the tracking device here."

The idea is a costly one, with Denn saying she was quoted a price of close to $10,000.

But there is interest in getting the bracelets for the camp.

"WCCO told me they'd be interested in contributing IF something were going to be done," Cindi Throngard said. Throngard served as unofficial public relations director for the camp during the week-long search.

There was even talk of someone writing a grant to help cover the cost.

"We wouldn't necessarily need 14 bracelets," Hjelseth pointed out. "We don't have that many campers every week."

Denn agreed.

"Maybe we could start with two or three and add more as we get the money," she said.