Volunteers help clean up Camp Stidwell

Ninety-six hamburgers, 50 hot dogs and plenty of huckleberry ice cream fed the many volunteers who gathered on Saturday to perform a “Service for Others Day” at Camp Stidwell.

Camp Stidwell now consists of three large group rustic camps. New walking trails were established, new tenting camp sites were prepared, questionable trees were dropped, and all campsites were raked and cleaned. The Coeur d’Alene High School Key Club attended in force.

"Talk about what youth and enthusiasm can accomplish," Dick Vail of the Sandpoint Kiwanis Club said.

Also helping out were members from the Coeur d’Alene Kiwanis Club and Panhandle Kiwanis Club. Scout members from Troop 111, and Troop 308 of Sandpoint, and Troop 202 of Coeur d’Alene were tasked with major projects.

Royal Ranger members from Spokane Valley made major dents on a new wilderness trail, Vail said.

"For three hours - tractors, chain saws, rakes, pulaskis, limb trimmers, pruners, shovels, and more rakes — were never idle," he said. "The camaraderie, meeting, and visiting new friends was a large part of this enjoyable experience.:

Vail said all of the work came in time for a major Eagle Scout presentation on May 8, and a youth group of 250 booked for May 15, followed by a full summer schedule.

Vail said Sandpoint Kiwanis Club and Friends of Stidwell members offered their thanks to all who came to help and put in so many hours to help others. "It was really a great experience," he said.