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Lutherhaven Ministries CLOSES
Shoshone Base Camp Purchase!
Once-in-Forever Federal Lands Sale
After seven years of work with our congressional delegation and regional Forest Service officials, two separate bills signed into law by President Bush, and five years of fund-raising nearly 3/4 million dollars, Lutherhaven Ministries completed the purchase of Shoshone from the federal government: almost 35 scenic acres and 13 buildings in a beautiful mountain retreat setting for $705,000. We closed the deal on December 18, 2009, signing the papers and receiving the patent for the land.
Over ten years ago...in 1998...Lutherhaven Ministries accepted a Special Use Permit from the Idaho Panhandle National Forests to operate Shoshone Base Camp, a US Forest Service training center on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River at Shoshone Creek.
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By the numbers...
1998
Lutherhaven awarded Special Use Permit to
operate Shoshone
2002
Initial conveyance
legislation introduced in U.S. Senate
2005
Final bill signed into law by President Bush
2009 Sale closes on
December 18
17
Original acres under Special Use Permit
33.16
Acreage purchased
13
Buildings
130
Beds
$705,000
Final sale price
300-500
Years old: the oldest red cedar on camp
3.25 million
U.S. Forest Service acres
surrounding Shoshone
1
Moose
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Shoshone developed into a vital outdoor recreation, environmental education, community outreach and servant leadership training center for Lutherhaven Ministries.
For instance, over the past two summers more than 1,000 teens from 23 states across the nation have traveled to Shoshone for one of our new Idaho Servant Adventures, using the camp as their base for service and outreach opportunities to the people and communities of the Silver Valley.
Altogether these dedicated young adults have contributed more than 17,000 hours of service to our neighbors!
The purchase of Shoshone Base Camp is truly a gift from God! Donations large and small came in from all over the nation to fund the sale, including gifts from staff and former staff, Board and former Board members, foundations, organizations, corporations, youth groups, and Sunday school kids..
Many, many thanks to the Trustees of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust of Vancouver, Washington, who put our fund-raising over the top with a $300,000 grant for the purchase of Shoshone.
Lutherhaven has a decade-long relationship with the Murdock Trust. The foundation funded the Lutherhaven dining hall and chapel renovation projects for $150,000 each as well as Lutherhaven's four year-old internship program. Altogether the camps have received more than $710,000 from the Trust over the last 8 years.
Other major donors for the Shoshone purchase include...
The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation
The Inland Northwest Community Foundation
Economic Research Institute, Incorporated
...plus hundreds and hundreds of individuals, congregations and organizations throughout the United States.
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