After years of seeking a permanent home, Camp Rainbow Gold buys Soldier Mountain Ranch and Resort
By Eric Valentine
After months of searching, the Boise/Ketchum-based nonprofit that helps children with cancer and their families has found a permanent home.
Camp Rainbow Gold announced today its purchase of Soldier Mountain Ranch and Resort in Fairfield. The site will eventually serve as a permanent facility for Camp Rainbow Gold’s oncology, sibling and family camps.
“We feel confident we have considered every detail, reviewed every inspection report and carefully taken the time to ensure the right fit,” said Elizabeth Lizberg, executive director. “We’re thrilled for this opportunity to secure the future of Camp Rainbow Gold.”
Now Comes The Heavy Lifting
Camp Rainbow Gold said it is now forming a development committee and establishing a master plan for construction and renovation of the property. The organization’s last similar effort involving a parcel in the East Fork area north of Hailey was met with concern from neighbors before it was eventually nixed.
“We intend to take this one step at a time and be very thoughtful and fiscally responsible throughout the process,” Lizberg said. “As such, there is not yet an expected move-in date and Camp Rainbow Gold will continue to hold camp programs as scheduled at our current leased locations.”
Camp Rainbow Gold is an independent nonprofit organization established in the mid- ’80s as a week of camp for a handful of children diagnosed with cancer. It has grown to offer oncology camps, sibling camps and family retreats, college scholarships and a teen support group. Its programs are sustained by community fundraising, private donations and volunteer efforts. Camp Rainbow Gold provides services to more than 400 Idaho family members, is supported by more than 300 volunteers from across the nation and has been accredited through the American Camp Association since 2002.
Amanda Watson, board president of Camp Rainbow Gold, said they also realize there are other organizations in the area with similar needs for a medically accommodating camp location.
“Creating an Idaho-based medical camp presents an enormous opportunity for Camp Rainbow Gold and other nonprofits to collaborate,” said Watson. “We have seen and experienced a growing need for medically accessible camp facilities. As part of our master plan, we intend to consider other medical-needs camps, bring them to the table in the planning process and make the camp available to other organizations to ensure this camp can have the greatest positive impact on Idaho possible.”
After completion of a master plan, Camp Rainbow Gold will launch its capital campaign, “A New Place Like Home,” to bring this entire vision to life and has hired Lonni Leavitt-Barker, a Camp Rainbow Gold family camp participant, longtime volunteer and former board member, as campaign manager.
For more information about the property and how you can get involved, visit www.anewplacelikehome.org.