An 'outside' chance of success

It's a simple concept aptly summed up by its title: More Kids in the Woods.

It's not about children getting lost in the woods, but rather finding themselves with outdoors experiences.

More Kids in the Woods is a federally funded program that supports projects that provide young people with hands-on outdoor recreation and conservation experiences.

And our own Glacier Institute and Flathead National Forest recently received $20,000 through the program, which will help extend what the institute has long done with outdoors education.

Part of the program is directed toward at-risk and disadvantaged youths who generally have fewer opportunities to experience the outdoors.

Recently a crew of inner-city teens from Houston got the chance to spend two weeks at Big Creek enjoying everything from hiking to huckleberries.

This kind of experience is what our community is all about, so we are glad it can be shared more widely. Nature's classroom is endless, and children who enter it today are likely to remain in a learning mode their whole lives.

Skydive Lost Prairie is a busy place this week.

It's Boogie time at the skydiving center near Marion, which means hundreds of flying fans are converging for the annual jump meet.

This week's Boogie is a special one.

It marks the 40th year for what has become one of the largest skydiving gatherings in the country. And on a more poignant note, the Boogie serves as a celebration of the lives of the five people who died in a skydiving plane crash in May at Lost Prairie.

A special memorial jump is planned Saturday on what would have been Whitefish skydiving instructor Joel Atkinson's 26th birthday.

Equestrian sports may seem a bit snobby in a state where horse sports generally means rodeo, but The Event at Rebecca Farm is good fun for everyone who loves sportsmanship, animals, and competition.

This year's event attracted nearly 500 riders and thousands of spectators, and once again the show was first-class. This is just one of four American qualifying events for the International Equestrian Federation Eventing World Cup Finals for CIC three-star riders. That basically translates into top-quality riding and a broad display of talent.

The Flathead is lucky to have this type of attraction, which requires a huge amount of work year-round. Thanks to the organizers and the participants who have produced another successful main event for the Flathead Valley.