— By Kaden Pate, Previous CRG Camper and Scholarship Recipient –
I first went to Camp Rainbow Gold when I was in first grade. It was the first time that I remember leaving my parents and family for an extended time. I was super scared and nervous to get on the bus. But within 10 minutes of the trip, I began to open up to the leaders and other campers around me. People were so friendly and accepting that I forgot all about missing my family. I still remember my first leader who we nicknamed “Huckleberry”. He was super chill but at the same time was able to keep up with our whole cabin and all of our shenanigans. He was outgoing, really funny, and made everyone feel like they belonged. If someone felt a little bit shy, like I did at the time, he was the perfect person to get them to open up and feel like they were included.
Camp gave me friends that I still remember and keep in contact with to this day. One lives in Meridian and the other in Homedale. Since I live in McCall I think it’s pretty impressive that camp had such an effect that it gave me the ability to make friends in pretty far away places, especially when I didn’t have a car. Camp Rainbow Gold didn’t only give me the confidence to make new friends, but it also gave everyone the courage to put themselves out there. It was the first place that a girl actually admitted to having a crush on me. And with support from her cabin, she asked me to dance at a dance that we had at the end of camp. It was probably the cutest thing ever to see two first graders dancing together.
The activities at camp were awesome. They have activities for almost everyone including archery, arts and crafts, survival games, board games, 9-ball, shuffleboard, and a playground. They also had special events like mountain biking, going to a hot spring, fishing, lake day, or kayaking. My favorite activity was archery but all the activities ended up being fun; Even the arts and crafts shack which is amazing, because I usually get really bored during arts and crafts. Every night all the campers would gather around a campfire and sing songs and tell jokes. One night we even had smores. I went back to Camp Rainbow Gold as a camper three or four times. Each time my camp experience only got better. As an experienced camper, I looked forward to seeing my friends and my old leaders. The activities were always the same but they never got old. There was always some new special activity that gave camp a little pizzazz and new people to help feel at home. All the volunteers and camp staff were always so welcoming. The chefs made really good food and we were always allowed to go into the cafeteria to make hot cocoa during the campfire. The nurses were always really nice and welcoming which helped make camp accommodating to kids in all different stages of cancer. The art shack leader always had fun, interesting projects that could occupy even the most adventurous kid (such as myself). And the other activity leaders did an exceptional job of engaging me.
After a few years of not going to camp, I decided to go back as a junior volunteer at Camp Rainbow Gold’s family camp. Family camp is a little bit different than the oncology and sibling camps but it was still fun. I was given the opportunity to be a leader for a family and was able to watch as my family (assigned) and others grew close together over the few days that they were there. As a junior volunteer I aspired to be like my leaders and the staff members that were there when I was a camper. Being able to give back by volunteering for camp rainbow gold has been a blessing beyond measures for me. Not only has Camp Rainbow Gold given me the opportunity to connect with other kids my age that have gone through the experience of cancer, but they continue to support me in my daily life by providing scholarships. Camp Rainbow Gold has been generous enough to give me over $5,000 for the last two years of my college career which has allowed me to chase my goals of one day becoming a physical therapist so that one day I can help people as a job.
Camp Rainbow Gold has been one of the highlights of my life and has been there, supporting me, as long as I can remember and they continue to do so! So thank you Camp Rainbow Gold and I am proud to be able to give back through your organization.