Wood River Valley youngsters for many years have made great memories out of their summer vacations by joining up with church camps held in the Idaho mountains and lakes north of Ketchum.
And Camp Perkins and Camp Sawtooth are two of the best. Here are details about the two programs:
Camp Sawtooth
Camp Sawtooth, operated under a special use permit issued to the Snake River mission of the Presbyterian Church, is 78 years old in 2010.
The camp is 10 miles north of Ketchum via the gravel road behind the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters. Camp directors are Dave and Marcy Paul of Homedale. Youth leaders ages 19-and-older serve as counselors/staff.
Campers enjoy a variety of activities while living and learning in a Christian environment. Each camp is unique with all campers enjoying a program specifically designed for them by the program staff. Activities include outdoor games and crafts, hiking and swimming, picnics, road trips and evening campfires.
The check-in for each week is Sunday from 4-5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. Typically, the campers spend Mondays getting to know each other through team building games. They take road trips on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and explore the surrounding mountains with a picnic and a hike on Thursdays.
Lodge time each evening is filled with games, skits, singing, shared talents and laughter. There is never a dull moment at Camp Sawtooth. Evening chapel occurs around a campfire in the wooded setting.
Here are 2010 planned weeks along with special activities:
Redfish Lake/Alturas Lake camp dates are July 4-9 and July 25-30 for incoming students in grades 5-6 ($240 before June 1, $260 after); July 11-16 and Aug. 1-6 for incoming middle school students ($240/$260) with ice skating activity; and July 18-21 for grades 3-4 ($150/$170) with swimming;
Also, June 27-July 2 for grades 9-10 ($245/$265) featuring a trip to Baldy; and June 20-25 for grades 11-12 ($280/$300) with whitewater rafting as a treat. The deaf camp for grades 3-8 is July 4-9 ($240/$260).
Visit campsawtooth.org or call 208-337-3364 before May 15 for more details. E-mail is directorscampsawtooth@yahoo.com. Graduating seniors are welcome at Camp Sawtooth, and there are staff positions open. All volunteers earn 50% off the fee for their own child.
This year's Camp Sawtooth Work Weekend is May 29-31.
Camp Perkins
Lutheran-run, the camp is located on Perkins Lake downriver from Alturas Lake 42 miles north of Ketchum. It observes its 55th anniversary in 2010 and has treated generations to special summer treats.
This year's theme is "Unshaken." Among new offerings are a climbing tower that has three sides of varying degrees of difficulty, and a day camp at Valley of Peace in Hailey.
Camp Perkins offers a variety of camps, traditional and specialized, depending on your taste. The organization also has week and weekend camps for families seeking to find new ways to come together.
There are seven camp sessions over the summer. Weekly sessions begin Sunday afternoons. Campers are divided into cabin groups of eight, with assigned counselors responsible to the campers on a 24-hour a day basis.
Camp sessions for grades 3-6 are June 13-18, July 11-16 and July 25-30. The session for grades 4-7 is July 5-9. There are two sessions for grades 5-8, July 18-23 and Aug. 1-6.
High school session for grades 9-12 is June 20-25. This year's High School Week guest speaker is Robin Dugall, Project Director of Faith Communities Project of Meridian.
Cost for Youth Camps are $270. Register online. In addition to the basic camp cost, you can add activities like a 90-minute trail ride, rafting, sailing and photography. The programs include morning Bible study and nightly devotions.
Call the camp office at 788-0897 or visit campperkins.org
