Cottonwood Field Office and Extreme Adventure Club Strengthen Youth Engagement Through Annual Float Trip on the Lower Salmon River

On July 21, the Bureau of Land Management’s Cottonwood Field Office, in close partnership with the University of Idaho’s Extreme Adventure Club, hosted 34 youth ages 8 to 14 for a full-day float down the Lower Salmon River. Traveling from Twin Bridges to the White Bird Gravel Pit, the event marked the third year of this coordinated effort to expand outdoor opportunities for local youth and strengthen community connections to public lands.

This annual float is the product of a strong and ongoing partnership between the BLM and the Extreme Adventure Club—an organization whose mission is to promote health and wellness within the community through educational events, programs, and presentations. By offering lifetime activity experiences to youth ages 8 to 14, the Extreme Adventure Club provides structured opportunities that complement the BLM’s commitment to public land stewardship, recreation access, and youth engagement.

Employees from the BLM Cottonwood Field Office, staff from the USDA Forest Service, and several volunteers worked together to support the trip, rowing boats, teaching river skills, and ensuring a safe and memorable experience along one of Idaho’s most iconic river corridors. In addition to some enjoying their first rafting experience, many of the kids had the unique opportunity to practice rowing the BLM rafts themselves under the guidance of agency staff—an interactive lesson that helped build confidence, reinforce safe boating techniques, and offering an introduction to outdoor adventure that was both educational and exciting.Throughout the day, youth received hands-on lessons about river safety, responsible recreation, and the importance of public lands in local communities. The group also enjoyed swimming, jumping from boats, running rapids, and included a lunch stop at BLM's Skookumchuck Recreation Site. These moments of fun were paired with discussions about wildlife, land stewardship, and the outdoor opportunities available close to home.

Throughout the day, youth received hands-on lessons about river safety, responsible recreation, and the importance of public lands in local communities. The group also enjoyed swimming, jumping from boats, running rapids, and included a lunch stop at BLM's Skookumchuck Recreation Site. These moments of fun were paired with discussions about wildlife, land stewardship, and the outdoor opportunities available close to home.

The collaboration between the BLM and the Extreme Adventure Club reflects a shared dedication to community wellbeing. This partnership ensures that local youth gain access to meaningful outdoor experiences that promote physical fitness, environmental awareness, and a deeper appreciation for Idaho’s diverse public land resources. The event also supports the BLM’s mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

With continued interagency cooperation and strong community support, the Cottonwood Field Office plans to carry this tradition forward each year—providing safe, educational, and enriching experiences that help inspire the next generation of public land stewards.