BONNERS FERRY — Field trips will be easier for students in the Life Skills class at Valley View Elementary with their new seven-passenger van.

“The van allows us to go on field trips that the students otherwise wouldn’t go on,” said Matt Dinning, Life Skills teacher.

The students recently went to Schweitzer Mountain Resort to go tubing. Before the van, they would not have gone because it would have meant riding in a bus for a long time and staying all day with the rest of the students.

But the van allowed the students with profound disabilities to go tubing for a few hours and leave when they wanted.

“It is nice to have flexibility with the Life Skills students,” said Valley View principal Gary Pflueger.

The van will also be used to take students on community field trips to establish and build relationships and to practice life and social skills.

Field trips will include going to the grocery store to use money to buy groceries, visiting the local gym to learn about fitness, recycling items at the landfill, and visiting police and fire stations.

“I feel really blessed,” said Dinning. “The van opens doors for us. It is neat how the community supported the cause. The kids enjoy it.”

After Dinning acquired the 1996 minivan in December from Bill and Jessica Vickers for a token amount, Cory Bowlby worked on the van for many hours at a discounted rate. Valley View PTO donated money to purchase the van.

Specialty Auto Glass donated a new front windshield and Riverside Auto Center donated a full detail. Dyck’s Oil and Auto sold tires at a discounted price.

“Businesses stepped forward to get the van ready,” said Dinning. “It should last us awhile.”