IDAHO, USA — Summer camps across the state will soon be welcoming kids.
And one summer camp - just outside of Fairfield - is making sure that medical conditions don't stop kids from having that experience.
Hidden Paradise is Idaho's first medially designed and accessible camp. It's managed by Camp Rainbow Gold, a nonprofit that supports children who have been diagnosed with cancer, and their families.
Camp Rainbow Gold is expanding services for Hidden Paradise, the first medical camp in the state of Idaho, to help make sure that any child has the opportunity to go to summer camp.
"Our programs allow the kids to come up, get away from the hospitals, away from the medical scenario, and just be a kid," Elizabeth Lizberg, CEO of Camp Rainbow Gold said.
Just be a kid at Hidden Paradise, an accessible summer camp that allows children diagnosed with cancer and other medical conditions to come to a welcoming environment and spend time away from their battles with summer camp staples like archery, mountain biking, and paddle boating.
“The campers being able to come and be somewhere that they can just be accepted and be understood. Being able to watch that and experience it, not only as staff, but all of our volunteers is really powerful, and it's what drives our passion," Lizberg said. "Because every child should be able to have an experience like summer camp without being excluded or feeling different."
Camp Rainbow Gold started in Twin Falls 40 years ago with summer camp programs for children with cancer.
"We've grown to include the brothers and sisters, and we even have camps for the entire family that come out and enjoy this property," Lizberg said.
They bought the property Hidden Paradise sits on in 2019 and have been able to welcome campers during the summer - but construction on some facilities was delayed due to the pandemic.
On Thursday, Camp Rainbow Gold broke ground on new facilities for the camp, including 12 ADA accessible camper cabins, and a "Med Shack."
"The Med Shack is where we send the kids for their medications and their support from nurses," Lizberg said. "And Blue Cross of Idaho has donated $2.1 million to help us build that new building."
During the groundbreaking, Camp Rainbow Gold thanked those who've collaborated to expand what they call an Idaho community project.
Governor Brad Little was at the ceremony, he says the new additions raise the quality of the camp for everyone and helps make summer camp accessible to Idahoans.
"What's critical for these kids is there's a medical facility here, a quality medical facility," Governor Little said. "Whether it's hemophiliacs, whether it's epilepsy, whether it's kids getting cancer treatment - this makes it to where all kids in Idaho can go to camp."
Camp Rainbow Gold says their services reach more than 400 families across Idaho every year.
"That's why Hidden Paradise is so important, because we are building it so that they are welcome and safe and can come up and just be a kid."
Hidden Paradise will welcome campers and kick off this year's summer camp next week.
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