Camp Reece, a camp for individuals with disabilities ages 4-90, is just getting out but the memories will never will. Camp Reece takes place one week a year at Lake Darling Youth Center and is a unique camp for two reasons. Number one is that it is the only county out of 99 in Iowa that provides a camping experience to individuals with disabilities solely on private donations from Washington County Citizens and recieves no local, state, or federal monies. Second is that the fee to participate in this week long camping experience is $150.00 and down. If a camper does not have the money a citizen from Washington will donate the money. It takes around $20,000 to run the camp for this one week, and the $150.00 entry fee,if paid in full, does not even cover the real cost of each camper. This camp has been going on since 1968 and because of the compassion of Washington County Citizens it will live for a long long time.
Tracy Altenhofen,45, was fishing off the shores of Lake Darling with a little help from LaVerne Zigolowsky the activity coordinator when he caught this whopper!
LaVerne let Tracy fight this whopper until Tracy felt he needed some help. When he saw this fish his eyes became big and the biggest grin blessed us all.
After making sure everyone down at the fishing activity had seen his fish he kindly took it over to the pool to show his peer campers. Never seen a pool clear so quickly.
Tracy felt like he should let it go back into the lake so the fish could give someone else the enjoyment he had. LaVerne explained how to let the fish go and why it was done in such a manner and Tracy did the rest kindly telling the fish as it swam away " I'll be back next year to catch you again!!!!"
Three Cheers to Tracy Altenhofen and LaVerne Zigolowsky(for assisting him and doing a super job teaching 125 campers how to fish and they did just that CAUGHT A LOT OF FISH!).
Want more info contact me at tothemurphys@hotmail.com or at Mike Murphy, Camp Reece Director, 319-694-3400.
Respectfully,
Michael P Murphy