By David Warner
The first week of the Town of West Yellowstone's Smoking Waters summer recreation day camp program started off right at the top.
Campers spent their mornings with smokejumpers from the jump base north of town. It was a magnificent success" said Jennifer Vogel the town's recreation director. "We have several kids who are now aspiring to be smokejumpers."
The children participated in a Junior Smokejumper Training Program, sponsored by the National Smokejumper Center.
Activities consisted of lots of genuine, guaranteed smokejumper physical training (PT); talks and demonstrations about topics like firefighter tools, shelters, jumping gear, the history of smokejumping, the real Smoky story, and fire ecology; and lots of time for kids' questions and comments.
Campers also rode their bikes to an old burn area, and enjoyed a burn area scavenger hunt.
Friday, the program's final morning, was extra special. It started out with firefighters making practice jumps at the Old Airport with campers cheering from far below.
Next came a long bike ride to the jump base, and a tour conducted by the base commander Jim Kitchen. Then came a barbecue lunch, and a bonfire.
Finally, graduation ceremonies were held, where all the young participants were officially named Junior Smokejumpers.
Smokejumper Jennifer Lalicker was in charge of the week's fun.
A Missoula resident, she was assigned to West Yellowstone for the summer as a Youth Programs Coordinator.
Now that the Smoking Waters week is finished, her most important task will be to conduct Junior Smokejumper Programs in the West Yellowstone City Park. Programs will be held Tuesday through Saturday from now till August 31.
They begin at 10:30 am and last until 11:30 am. Jennifer hopes to meet lots of young tourists this summer, and introduce them to the high-flying life of the smokejumper.
Orginial stroy here