Thanks to U.S. Forest Service and others—kids spend more time outside in Wyoming

Star-TribuneBy WHITNEY ROYSTER

JACKSON -- It's a sunny August afternoon, and 12 pre-teens are peering into running waters of the Snake River, picking out insects on their index fingers.

"Which one is that?" they ask, running toward one another and a laminated index card with sketches of various bugs. Later, they will learn fly fishing techniques and raft down different portions of the famous Wyoming river.

Meet "More Kids in the Woods," a program sponsored by various partners in Teton County including the Bridger-Teton National Forest. One of 24 national recipients, Bridger-Teton officials applied for the grant -- totaling $11,800, with local partners raising an additional $24,000 -- to allow kids to spend more time on public lands.

"We decided that we have many kids in Jackson that may never have the chance to run the river, take a walk in the forest, etc.," said David Cernicek, river manager for the Bridger-Teton. Cernicek was responsible for applying for the "Healthy Kids, Healthy Watersheds" grant on the Bridger-Teton.

The "Snake River Days" was last week's program put on by the U.S. Forest Service in Teton County. It was also sponsored by the Snake River Fund and Teton County Parks and Recreation Department.

The program, designed for middle school students, was to introduce children to the Snake River watershed through activities and experiences including river hydrology, canoeing, aquatic entomology, fly fishing, kayaking and whitewater rafting, and wildlife watching.

Natasha Sweatt, 13, said she enjoyed the program because she learned fish need food, shelter, water and space.

"I learned what kind of bugs live in the water -- that they come out of the water and change," she said.

Gaitlan Topp and Shea Fischer, both 11, said they liked learning how to kayak.

Emma Bode, 12, said she enjoyed learning about bugs and snails and "things that live inside the river." Bode moved to Jackson from Oregon in February and has not had a chance to spend time on the Snake River.

She also liked learning about the river -- where it comes from and where it goes.

The Forest Service awarded $500,000 to the various "More Kids in the Woods" programs, which ranged from a Harlem, N.Y., program to expose students to surrounding forests, wetlands and restoration sites throughout the New York City region, to a Baltimore program working with underserved youth to explore and understand their environment and to assist teachers in providing meaningful outdoor experiences for their students.

The Medicine Bow National Forest outside Laramie also received a grant to provide at-risk youth the opportunity to experience nature in a quiet setting, where the emphasis is on learning, strengthening self-esteem, and fostering a sense of overall well-being.

More than 250 groups applied for awards.

Other programs in Teton County have included a "Mighty Stewards" program for grades 3 through 5, in which students learn to be "responsible caretakers" to the natural world. They learned about exotic plants and wildlife-friendly fencing.

Another program was a 10-day adventure camp where students hiked, camped and canoed through Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

Programs include a nominal fee, and scholarships are available. For example, the Snake River Days cost $30 a day.

Other partners for the "Healthy Kids, Healthy Watersheds" program include Friends of Pathway, the Latino Resource Center, Jackson Hole Ski Club, and Teton County Schools.

The Teton Science School has been involved in the program, and its director, Jack Shea, has been working to expand the program to more areas in the state.

The school hosted four "More Kids in the Woods" programs in July, and partner organizations have been meeting monthly to discuss the program's future, according to Steve Jansen with the science school.

One possibility is pursuing a grant from the national Children in Nature program.

For now, partners are pleased with the success of this year's pilot program.

"The neat part of the grant is it was the catalyst that brought all the partners to the table to share what they were doing and had available," Cernicek said. "From that, great projects came together once folks talked. We are very much are committed to continuing to work toward making incredible outdoor memories for kids like the ones that fill the back of your memory bank that have influenced who you are, where you live, and what you do professionally and in your off time."

Environmental reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@tribcsp.com.

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