There’s nothing like getting out in the boonies, enjoying the sights and sounds of nature, and leaving all the cares of everyday life behind. It’s an especially welcome respite for kids with cancer and their families, which is where Camp Rainbow Gold comes in.

Camp Rainbow Gold, administered by the American Cancer Society, provides three camps every summer: Oncology Camp for kids ages six through 17 who have been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives; Sibling Camp for brothers and sisters of kids with cancer; and Family Camp for the whole clan. The camps, near Ketchum, allow those touched by cancer the opportunity to let go of their medical worries, enjoy the same kind of summer fun—fishing, horseback riding, crafts, campfires, and hiking—that others kids do, and be with people who fully understand what they’re going through.

Because treating cancer generally leaves huge financial burdens in its wake, Camp Rainbow Gold camps are free for all who attend. Cash donations are always welcomed and appreciated, but so are other items that help make camp the experience of a lifetime. Here’s a wish list:

• Travel-size sunscreen, lip balm with sunscreen, toothpaste, deodorant, and hand sanitizer
• Toothbrushes
• Eight large bottles of hand sanitizer
• Flashlights
• Six 6-ft. round tables
• Six 6-ft. long tables
• 200 garbage bags
• Sleeping bags
• 250 water bottles for camp (in an effort to stop using disposable plastic)
• Laminating film
• Art supplies (beads, all types of paper, glue, markers, poster board; crayons not needed)
• Bicycles and bike helmets for all ages
• Fishing rods

If you would like to make a donation, please contact Camp Rainbow Gold at (208) 422-0176 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To find out more, visit camprainbowgold.org.

Donna Bankhead is a local contributing writer from Boise.