For some families in southeast Idaho, summer isn’t just about sunshine and free time—it’s a season for healing and growth. That’s the idea behind Hope Camp, a summer program run by Discovery Acre, a home-based child development center that's rethinking what camp can be.
Rather than focusing solely on fun and games, Hope Camp is built around a deeper purpose, equipping kids with lifelong tools for emotional and mental well-being. Kids take part in hands-on workshops designed to build confidence in their mental health. Activities range from watercolor painting and mindfulness exercises to outdoor adventures and animal-assisted therapy.
Everything at Hope Camp is intentional. The goal is to create a safe, supportive space where kids can better understand their emotions, learn to manage them, and connect more meaningfully with others.
“We’re really hoping to give kids strategies they can take home and apply in their everyday lives,” says Camille Coxsen, the founder and director of Discovery Acre.
For Coxsen, the project is personal. With a background in Communication Sciences and Disorders, she’s seen firsthand how hard it can be for families to find the right mental health support for their kids. What started as her own search for resources slowly turned into something bigger—a program built around community, connection, and care.
“Hope Camp was really inspired by our own children,” Coxsen shares. “Over the years, we’ve tried so many things, collected tools, and found support in unexpected places—our community, our environment. We realized we weren’t the only ones looking for help. So, we decided to take what we’ve learned and offer it to others who may be going through similar struggles.”
In a world where childhood mental health concerns are increasingly common, Hope Camp stands out as a proactive, nurturing solution. It offers not just temporary relief or distraction, but practical skills children can use long after the camp ends—skills like grounding techniques, emotional expression through art, and calming strategies they can use at school, home, or anywhere life takes them.
And while the camp has a clear focus on healing, it doesn’t forget the importance of summer. Laughter, nature walks, creativity, and connection are woven throughout each day, ensuring that while kids are growing stronger inside, they’re also having fun outside.
Although registration for this year’s Hope Camp is now closed, plans are already underway for next summer. Those interested in supporting the mission can learn more or make a donation by visiting discoveryacre.weebly.com.