North Star Reach

Hi there, family and friends!

As most of you know, North Star Reach holds incredibly special place in my heart.  About 12 years ago or so, Doug Armstrong the CEO of North Star Reach and a transplant nurse, came up with the brilliant idea of creating a camp for children with many different types of illnesses and disabilities. I myself had gone to a camp for ventilator dependent children and it truly was a life changing experience. This camp experience transformed and altered the way I not only thought about myself, but the way I thought about my future.  Once I heard of Doug’s vision for this camp, I could not help but join in this incredible cause that is meaningful to so many!

North Star Reach’s mission is to provide children with serious medical challenges and their families, their own life-changing camp experience, free of charge! This not only gives these children an opportunity to thrive during their time at camp, but it also surrounds them with the community of other campers, families and staff to support them. Every part of camp is not only fun, but it is also medically equipped for the circumstances of the campers.

As of 2016, camp has been up and running and has had thousands of campers experience the “mooseness”!  Due to COVID-19 the “mooseness” and magic of camp has spread to their homes now. The children coming to camp are often immune compromised and will have to social distance much longer, making the need for camp and its community more vital than ever! North Star Reach replaced their spring and summer “at camp” experience with an innovative virtual camp! The staff at NSR have worked tirelessly on delivering a camp experience to campers and families in new ways through technology. This now means that although they are unable to gather at camp, they are still able to connect, create and continue their community and support online! I’m so proud of the unbelievable staff that runs this amazing organization that changes the lives of kids who otherwise would never get an opportunity to enjoy camp!

The fundraising events that had been planned for the year have been postponed, meaning this is a critical time to raise money in order to continue to support our campers now and in the future. We also want camp to be available to these kids when the world is able to gather again, but to ensure this we need your support and help!

A goal of $100,000 has been set to be raised by May 15! I know that these are difficult times that we are in emotionally and for some, financially, but I hope that you choose to consider making a donation of any kind to NSR! Camp truthfully changes everyone involved and every dollar donated is vital to its success! Unleash your inner “Mooseness”!

 Love to you all,
Laura