HAYDEN - Grant Nearing clambered into the narrow cockpit of the airplane, and the engine sputtered to life.

Piloted by Pete Kuckenberg, an experienced flyer from St. Maries, the small plane taxied to an open runway at Coeur d'Alene Airport-Pappy Boyington Field, took off and disappeared into clear blue skies.

It would not return for another 45 minutes or so.

"This is his first smaller plane (ride)," said Deanna Nearing of Kingston, mother of 11-year-old Grant.

Ten months before his voyage, the young man had joined Special Opportunities Affirm Recognition in Noteworthy Goals (SOARING), a nonprofit that assists youth in achieving goals and meeting challenges. Grant graduated from the SOARING program on Saturday and earned his scenic flight.

"It's done a ton for him. He's learned parts of the plane," Deanna said. "It gave him visual examples of how to deal with life and the issues he encounters."

Grant had experienced some anxiety issues before he joined SOARING, she explained. As he completed the program, those problems faded away.

"He doesn't really have issues with it anymore," Deana said.

Joe McCarron, a family therapist and pilot from Coeur d'Alene, founded SOARING in 1994. Before the graduation flights, the nonprofit celebrated its 17th anniversary with a fundraiser breakfast at Applebee's.

Since its inception, about 150 adolescents and teenagers have graduated from SOARING.

"Aviation is a metaphor for life," McCarron said. "And (the program) is all indigenous to Coeur d'Alene. Started here - started with a kid on probation."

The nonprofit is divided into four groups, each serving children with particular needs. The Falcons group is for military families; the Eagles for young people dealing with life issues; the Phoenix for children dealing with cancer or whose parents are ill; and the Angels, for church groups.

As McCarron works with a young person, he relays his life message primarily through aviation metaphors, he explained. For example, he might tell his students the most important part of an aircraft is the pilot, and therefore the most important part of a person is the brain - the brain makes the decisions.

The kids also research a particular aircraft, and are given a small replica of their plane. Grant's aircraft was the famous P-38 Lightning, a fighter from World War II.

"For a visual learner ... (SOARING) just put everything in a way he could see and understand it," Deanna said.

Fifteen-year-old Tristan and 9-year-old Jessica Leonard of Post Falls graduated Saturday as well. Kuckenberg - also known as "Pete the Pilot" - took them up after Grant's flight concluded. Their mother, Trisha, is in the Army and currently serving in Iraq.

At first, Tristan said, he was a bit skeptical of McCarron's offbeat methods. But SOARING worked for him.

"I think the experience was fabulous," Tristan said. "(McCarron) helped myself understand the problems. He helped me to help myself."

Daniel Leonard, Tristan's and Jessica's dad, said he likes the SOARING program. The military recommended McCarron, he recalled.

"It's something for (the kids) to shoot for. Something for them to look forward to," Leonard said. "Flying's always fun. Anything I can fly in is great."

Standing on the airport tarmac, watching the kids enjoy their graduations, McCarron reflected on his 17-year program. Sometimes, he said, he will encounter former students who've held on to their replica airplanes, many years after they had passed through the program.

"I'm a very nostalgic guy. It's so gratifying to come to the same airport where it started so long ago," he said. "I have so many rich memories of kids and parents."