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History at Camp Lincoln and Camp Hubert Nisswa Minnesota
History

A Century Of Excellence Rooted In Tradition

Camp Lincoln's long, rich history stretches back to 1909 when William Blake, of The Blake School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded Blake Camp on the shores of Lake Hubert. The Blake Camp served as a reward for boys who achieved stringent academic goals. In 1923, a pivotal moment in Camp Lincoln's History unfolded when former staff member, Brownie Cote acquired the camp, renaming it Camp Lincoln for Boys. This marked the beginning of a transformative era, as former counselor and athletic luminary, Chuck Everett, Sr., and former food service worker, Fred Rogers joined forces with Cote, crafting a partnership that would redefine the camp's legacy. Together, they laid the groundwork for what would become a nationally acclaimed camp program, leaving an indelible mark on generations of campers to come.

As the son of Brownie Cote, who purchased the camps in 1923, Sam has literally grown up in the camping business and has made it his life’s work. As a child, he was a camper in the majority of the cabins at Camp Lincoln, was a Counselor-In-Training (CIT), and a staff member for a number of summers. While not at the lake for the summers, he grew up in the Twin Cities area and attended Colgate University where he majored in economics, was on the swim team, and was treasurer for his fraternity. He joined his father working full-time for the camps in 1968 and has played a major role in the American Camp Association (ACA) serving as Northland Section president for two years and ACA Board member for several terms. He has also been an Association of Independent Camps (AIC) Board Member for three years. Sam and his wife, Mary Jo, have four children: Kelly, Cathy, Ruggs, and Polly. With 12 grandchildren to date, the Cote Family already has fourth generation campers continuing the legacy at Camp Lincoln and Camp Lake Hubert. In his spare time, Sam enjoys sailing, tennis, hiking, and is a member of the Edina Rotary Club.

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