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Camp Discovery Looks Forward to 2008 - 2/7/2008

Recorder Herald, Salmon, Idaho

“Thank you so much for sharing the spirit of Camp Discovery. The love, generosity, and hospitality were greatly appreciated. May you always enjoy the adventurous spirit of the peaks and valleys of the great Salmon River Country.” This was just one of the many complimentary responses received from the parents and children who attended Camp Discovery in 2007.

Hosted at Indian Creek Guest Ranch and at the Tonsmeire ranch on Hayden Creek, Camp Discovery was able to offer fun, rejuvenating outdoor experiences for children with hemophilia and adults undergoing cancer treatment. Campers enjoyed fishing, riding horses on mountain trails, campfire cookouts, wildlife viewing, and the thrill of rafting on the Salmon River.

The Salmon River and surrounding country provide the perfect setting for those in need of a therapeutic diversion from serious illnesses that have dramatically impacted their quality of life. Not only do the camps provide an adventurous and fun recreational outlet, they also provide an opportunity for campers to connect with family, friends and to share similar medical and emotional experiences with their peers.

The realization of Camp Discovery stemmed from Joe and Fran Tonsmeire’s dedication to offer the healing benefits of nature to children and adults who have been challenged with life threatening illness.

“It’s particularly painstaking to see children and their families having to deal with the mental and physical demands of harsh treatments. We’ve seen the magic that a river experience can have on people and we think it will provide a much needed healing atmosphere for these young people,” explained Fran Tonsmeire.

Whether it was the scenic or whitewater section, river activities were the highlight for many of the 2007 camp participants. As a result, in 2008 Camp Discovery will include two camps on the Salmon River. In mid-August, Idaho Adventures will host a multi-day non-wilderness trip for teens and parents with hemophilia or who are in cancer recovery. Wilderness River Outfitters will host a wilderness Main Salmon river trip the first week in September for adults who have undergone cancer treatment and are in recovery.

The third camp will again be ranch oriented, complete with horses, fishing and river activities for younger children with hemophilia and their parents. Scholarships for all camp participants will be provided by Camp Discovery, a non-profit 501(C) (3) corporation.

In addition to providing camping experiences, Camp Discovery also sponsors an arts and crafts program for children confined to the hospital while undergoing cancer treatment at St. Luke’s in Boise.

Two recent grants were instrumental in the 2007 success of Camp Discovery. One was from the Steele-Reese Foundation and another was from the Miles and Virginia Willard Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation. These grants provided scholarships for the participants, and helped with travel and operating expenses associated with the camps.

If you are interested in donating, volunteering, or know someone that may be interested in attending a camp please feel free to contact Mary Wright, Camp Discovery Executive Director at (208) 303-0040 or email Camp Discovery through their new website www.campdiscoveryidaho.org. Camp Discovery would like to thank the Salmon community for its continued support in 2008.

Upcoming Events

Kayak Raffle Winners
June 18 BBQ Great Success!
July 7-13 Teen Adventure
Sept 1-7 Adult Adventure
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	River Discovery · P.O. Box 712, Salmon, ID 83467 Physical Address: 40 Lovers Lane, Salmon, ID 83467 Phone: (208) 303-0040 · Fax: (208) 756-3708 · Email: riverdiscovery@gmail.com	Home \| Links \| Privacy Policy \| Site Map