![A tree around at the time of explorer David Thompson is among the habitat that Sandpoint Kiwanis Club members wanted to protect at its 160-acre Camp Stidwell. To do that, the club entered into a conservation easement agreement with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy to protect the rustic campground and restrict development.](https://hagadone.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/02/24/Camp_Stidwell_Thompson_Tree_022523_t1170.jpg?5cc718665ab672dba93d511ab4c682bb370e5f86)
A tree around at the time of explorer David Thompson is among the habitat that Sandpoint Kiwanis Club members wanted to protect at its 160-acre Camp Stidwell. To do that, the club entered into a conservation easement agreement with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy to protect the rustic campground and restrict development.
February 25, 2023
Stories this photo appears in:
![Camp Stidwell placed in conservation easement](
https://hagadone.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/02/24/Camp_Stidwell_Lake_View_022523_t160.jpg?773850a9d7421baff2f792d5b4bd28ce20373d52
)
Camp Stidwell placed in conservation easement
Agreement between Sandpoint Kiwanis, INLC protects site, restricts development
A tree at Camp Stidwell has been around since before David Thompson first explored the region — or the United States was even a country. "Who wouldn't want to preserve this?" Kiwanis Club secretary Dick Vail said of the tree — and the entire 160-acre site on the south end of Mirror Lake. "Nature worth preserving." The club recently took steps to protect the area in perpetuity, signing a conservation easement with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy.