Lonni has worn a lot of hats at Camp Rainbow Gold, and not just the silly ones during Shines.
Her first hat was the Camper hat. Lonni’s family found Camp after her son, Kean, was diagnosed with leukemia at age two (because her family prefers life on “expert mode,” Kean also has Down syndrome and autism). Once the St. Luke’s Oncologists encouraged the family to send their daughters to Sibling Camp, and that single decision changed everything. Camp quickly became the brightest light during some incredibly dark and exhausting days.
Next came the Volunteer hat. Along with a group of amazing friends, Lonni helped launch Baldapalooza, a family-friendly music festival that raised funds for Camp Rainbow Gold and the Hall of Heroes at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital. What started as a grassroots idea grew into a three-year event that ended on a high note, with Andy Grammer headlining the final year.
Then Lonni tried on the Board Member hat, serving on Camp Rainbow Gold’s Board of Directors for just under two years. Eventually, she swapped that hat for a hard hat, stepping into a staff role and leading the Capital Campaign to build Hidden Paradise, Idaho’s only medical camp.
These days, Lonni’s favorite moments happen when she can sit back and watch kids of all ages laugh, smile, and fully enjoy everything Hidden Paradise has to offer. In those moments, every stressful, joyful, frustrating, and exhausting part of building and remodeling feels completely worth it. As a bonus, she can now hold her own in conversations about bat mitigation, fire suppression plans, pond health, wetlands compliance, and ice dams – clear proof she’s earned that hard hat.
Before Camp life, Lonni was an Emmy-winning investigative reporter working in television newsrooms in Las Vegas, Raleigh/Durham, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. She is married to her own real-life MacGyver, Byron, who can fix, build, or rig just about anything. Together, they have four children: Holland, Greer, Reese, and Kean.
Lonni is grateful for every hat she’s worn and is honored to help build a place where families can rest, heal, and just be kids.
Q&A
What’s your go-to campfire story – funny or spooky? Both. My favorite story is one my husband tells about being charged by a grizzly bear while hiking in Glacier National Park. I never get tired of it, and it permanently changed how I feel about hiking!
S’mores: burnt, barely cooked, or perfectly golden?Perfectly golden. I often skip the full s’more and go straight for the marshmallow. The trick is eating the crispy outer layer, then sending it back to the fire for another round.
What’s your favorite Camp meal? Maple bacon donuts – hands down! Tater tot casserole is a very close second.
Who is your hero of fiction? Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. For his quiet courage, unwavering integrity, and deep empathy.
