Every outing with the Kootenai Outdoor Adventure Program is a special one, but the students of the 2026 summer edition have memories that few others have experienced.

The winter storms that left countless trees on the ground and a washed-out road made some of the group’s endeavors more challenging than usual.

Nearly four dozen students from grades five through eight and their high school mentors spent time overcoming blowdowns as well as a fishless lake.

“The program coordinates with the Forest Service for hydrology, forestry and sometimes Leave No Trace,” KOAP leader Bill Moe said. “We also connected with FWP for fishing at the Troy Pond this year.

Moe joked that Libby Elementary School secretary Helen Robinson has an old fire lookout named after her.

“It stands close to Canada and Lake Geneva, which happened to be fishless this year, but the views made up for it!” Moe said. 

Robinson Mountain Lookout sits at 7,404 feet above sea level. Built nearly 100 years ago, the former fire lookout was built in 1929 and abandoned in 1948. It was restored in 1983 by the Kootenai National Forest and is available for rent.

“We saw a lot of big slabs of quartz on the ridge line between the lookout and Lake Geneva and we could also see Glacier National Park and Lake Koocanusa from there,” Moe said. "While the boys group made it to Lake Geneva they noticed the main trail had been cut out but soon found out that a cut across trail from the lookout to Lake Geneva had windfall galore blocking the trail!"

The girls group tried a different route to Lake Geneva and a washed-out road forced them to divert to Boulder Lakes.

Another memorable outing was a hike to Grouse Lake where the youthful anglers caught cutthroat trout and cooked them in a fry pan for a special meal.

The kids also spent time at a local man’s camp property along a gentler part of the Yaak River, kayaking and exploring.

The six-week summer program includes one week for fifth-grade boys and one week for fifth-grade girls, two weeks for girls in sixth through eighth grades and two weeks for boys in sixth through eighth grades. They hire up to four high school boys and four girls to be mentors for the students in sixth through eighth grades.

“The need for outdoor education, physical activity, mental fortitude, team work and being off of the devices is more important than ever for all kids,” Moe said.

The kids also learned hydrology from Three Rivers Ranger District Hydrologist Ben Hegler, forestry from Kootenai National Forest’s Ed Sedler and fisheries from FWP fisheries biologist Brian Stephens.

For more information or to get involved, call or text Moe at 291-0873. Moe can also be reached at [email protected].

    Female members of the Kootenai Outdoor Adventure Program enjoyed hiking to Lincoln County's mountain lakes during their summer events. (Photo courtesy Bill Moe)
  

    Alexander Tsirigotis tries his luck at catching a fish in Shannon Lake during the Kootenai Outdoor Adventure Program this summer. (Photo courtesy Bill Moe)