IdaHome--July/August

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Dear Reader,

I read a story in the news recently in which a deer who had been trapped in a trash can lid, her leg suspended above the ground for months, delivered a fawn. During her entrapment, the doe learned to live on three legs, evading rescuers who hoped to free her. One day in early June, she emerged with her baby, both of them standing on all four legs. Since, she has begun to heal, and neighbors report that she is limping less and less.

What’s the lesson here? Is it an allegory on the ways in which the human world encroaches upon the natural one? Is it about the persistence of mothers? Or the adaptability of the spirit?

What strikes me is that somehow, things worked out, whether or not we saw it happen. The right tree or shrub to help her navigate her body out of the hard plastic, a dirty puddle to add slip, the grit and stamina of late pregnancy. It happened in a thousand tiny ways, but it all had to happen in the right way.

Convergence—the same forward motion that brought the right pieces together for that doe means that, somehow, we’re all sharing this space together now. This issue is about those same kinds of improbable journeys and nonlinear paths that bring us all to the places we inhabit.

I got to write about California Condors, an exceptional bird with a hopeful future, and all because of an outof-office email reply I received, the lead itself is an unlikely journey. Mike McKenna writes about Idaho salmon, who both travel and have altered course in a big picture way, and April Neale introduces us to some of the newer faces of "Outdoor Idaho."

We’ve also got a beautiful look at Boise’s diverse variety of murals and, better yet, the humans who’ve made them happen. Look for a story by IdaHome intern Sophia Roemer too, who hopped in a VW bus and saw, among other things, some of the same murals.

Albert Frank Asker, the most knowledgeable man in Idaho when it comes to comics, has a fun story about, among other things, Tarzan’s journey through our state…or at least his creator’s.

Finally, we explore the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival with Arianna Creteau, which features a huge variety of culturally significant events, displays, and FUN! She’s also got an interview with Emma Bates, an incredible runner with strong Idaho ties.

Cherie Buckner-Webb is off this month, but she’ll be back in the next issue with her invaluable words. By the time we print, I will have just returned from the Oregon Coast, which I’m hoping is a straighter, gentler path.

Smooth sailing, Heather

publisher

KAREN DAY karen@idahorem.com

editor

HEATHER HAMILTONPOST heather@idahorem.com

art and design

JSNGRAFIX KALEY WRIGHT design@idahorem.com

director of operations

MARIELLE WESTPHAL admin@idahorem.com

staff photographer

KAREN DAY

cover photograph

SUMMER JACKMAN

social media

APRIL NEALE april@idahorem.com

marketing, sales, and distribution

HEATHER LINHART heatherlinhart@idahorem.com

IdaHome Magazine, LLC

P.O. Box 116

Boise, Idaho 83701

208.481.0693

© 2023 IdaHome Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by the authors and contributors to IdaHome Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor and publisher.

ON THE COVER

Leo Teton presides as Grand Marshal of the Eastern Idaho State Fair in the annual EISF parade in Blackfoot, ID, 2021. Teton was photographed by Summer Jackman, a wildlife and nature photographer from Blackfoot, ID. She currently has an exhibit, “Seasons of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem” on display at the ISU Museum of Natural History in Pocatello, ID. Her work with Leo Teton has been published in Cowboys & Indians and IdaHome magazines.

CONTRIBUTORS

Albert Frank Asker is the editor-in-chief of Idaho Comics Group, an indie comic book publishing house out of Boise that publishes the officially licensed Tarzan and the Comics of Idaho, and Idaho Comics. The “unofficial sequential art historian of the Gem State,” he has given many presentations on the history of comic books in Idaho. You can learn more about Idaho Comics Group on their Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

Sophia Roemer is a college student currently living in Boise. Chasing a degree in history, she is passionate about learning and experiencing everything life has to offer. Boise has brought a unique perspective to her life that she will take forward with her forever.

Sonya Feibert is a writer, improv nerd, and performer in Boise. She's an avid Treeforter and an enthusiastic patron of and participant in the storytelling and comedy scenes. On sunny days, find her hanging at a local coffee shop or hiking in the foothills.

Mike McKenna is an award-winning author and journalist from Hailey. Mike’s writing has appeared widely, from Forbes, People, and Trout to numerous regional newspapers. He has served as the editor of The Sheet and Sun Valley Magazine and is the author of two prizewinning guidebooks, including Angling Around Sun Valley

Arianna Creteau is a freelance writer based in Northern Idaho. A dessert enthusiast, avid hiker and amateur runner, Arianna spends her weekdays working a desk job and weekends chasing adventure. Her previous work has been published in Boise Weekly

April Neale is an entertainment features writer and has read her work on NPR and Spoken Interludes and writes for various industry trades and entertainment websites. Neale is a member of the Critics Choice Association, Alliance of Women Film Journalists, Hollywood Critics Association, Television Critics Association, and other professional entertainment organizations.

Heather Hamilton-Post is a writer and editor in Caldwell. She holds degrees in both agriculture and creative writing and is herself surprised by that. When she’s not writing, catch her at a sociallydistanced baseball game with her husband and young sons. Find her work across the web and buried in the lit journals you didn’t know you had.

Community + Culture + Recreation + Real Estate

Karen Day is a photographer and the fearless captain of our fleet of pages and mighty crew. A list of her creative passions and true job description risks making her appear insane, rather than insanely talented. Her habit of climbing onto the ledge of possibility offers us continuous adventures and little sleep. All aboard!

www.idahomemagazine.com

FIGHTING FOR THE FISH

BY MIKE MCKENNA

“Idaho is a 5-star hotel for salmon, but the road to get here is in rough shape.”

Those are the words of Mitch Cutter, the Salmon and Steelhead Associate for the Idaho Conservation League.

There once was a time when the rivers of Idaho—especially the Snake, Clearwater, and the world-famous one named after the state’s iconic fish—were literally teeming with salmon and steelhead. But those days are long gone. Where once millions of salmonids used to thrive, now barely any make it back to their historic breeding redds (the name for a spawning bed in a river) scattered throughout waters of the Gem State.

In fact, back in 1992 just a single salmon, dubbed Lonesome Larry, was the only fish to make it back to Redfish Lake outside of Stanley. Sadly, in the three decades since, things haven’t improved much and the photographic lake is now best known for its stunning mountain vistas, and not for the fish it was named after.

“Lonesome Larry was a bellwether,” Nic Nelson, the Executive Director of Idaho Rivers United, said. “When you look at Idaho, we have some of the most pristine salmon habitats in the world, but the population continues to be in decline and this is bad news for our state for a lot of reasons. Recovery, though, can happen. There is reason to be hopeful. There is a path forward.”

“When you look at Idaho, we have some of the most pristine salmon habitats in the world, but the population continues to be in decline...”

PHOTO BY CONRAD GOWELL

LANDLOCKED YET FAMOUS FOR SEAFOOD

At its closest point, Idaho is about 300 miles from the ocean. Nonetheless, the Gem State has been home to ocean-going fish for centuries.

Famous “seafood,” like sockeye and coho salmon, make the 900-mile trek each year from the Sawtooth Mountains to the sea to grow bigger or back to spawn. There are a handful species of anadromous fish that have historically called the waters of Idaho home. There are a couple different kinds of Chinook salmon (spring/ summer and fall runs) as well as coho and sockeye salmon (also known as “redfish”), and steelhead (a sea-run rainbow trout).

There once was a time when the seasonal runs of these fish were so thick that legend had it that you could walk across the Salmon River near Stanley on their backs and barely get your feet wet.

“You could sneak your arm out over the bank and catch them by hand,” recalled Steve Rayborn, a native Idahoan who calls Bellevue home and has fished for steelhead and salmon in local waters for more than a half century.

Chinook salmon, native to the Salmon-Challis National Forest, are present in the mainstem of the Salmon River and in several of the larger tributaries to the Salmon River.

PHOTO BY TIM PALMER

PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHO RIVERS UNITED

CANNED AND DAMMED

Not too long before the turn of the 20th centur y, it was estimated that as many as 3-4 million anadromous fish passed through the Snake River annually. They would return to spawn in the cold, c lear streams and lakes scattered throughout Idaho, from Salmon Falls Creek on the Nevada border to the Lemhi River near Montana to the famed tributaries of the Clearwater River in the northern reaches of the state.

Perhaps their most famous spawning waters can be found in the Sawtooth Valley, which is where the Salmon River

starts some 900 miles from the Pacific Ocean and more than 6,500 above sea level. Soon after it begins, the river passes by Redfish Lake. The lake was named for the sea-run fish that have been calling it home for centuries.

As the West got discovered, more and more pressure was put on the salmon’s native habitat. Aggressive fishing tactics that fed canneries lining the banks cut down on fish returning from the sea in the early 1900s. This era was followed by a proliferation of dams across the region, which made the species’ journey even more treach-

erous, especially for young fish trying to get to the ocean to grow.

Before the Columbia and Snake Rivers were dammed up, it was estimated that a smolt, or a young fish, could reach the ocean from the heart of Idaho in six days. It now takes an average of six weeks.

“America and the West was expanding and needed resources,” Cutter said, about the “dam building era” that was chronicled in Marc Reisner’s classic book, Cadillac Desert. “They were pretty successful in creating and sharing power from all these dams. But it came at the expense of the fish.”

Salmon are not only essential to Idaho, but a vital cultural and practical species. 70% of Idahoans support efforts to save salmon and steelhead, who are facing more obstacles than ever. LEFT: PHOTO BY TIM PALMER / RIGHT: PHOTO BY CONRAD GOWELL

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

SWIMMING UP CURRENT— CURRENT STATE

Even though the trend for most anadromous species in Idaho has been steadily spiraling down for well over a century, there are reasons to be hopeful.

U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson (Idaho District 2) helped create the Columbia Basin Initiative to remove some dams. Native American leaders from the Nez Perce and Columbia Tribes have also supported the proposal.

The current presidential administration is the first to officially engage in salmon recovery in the Northwest, stating that supporting fish recovery for salmon and steelhead to be one of their top environmental priorities.

Surveys have shown that well over 70% of all Idahoans support efforts to save salmon and steelhead.

“There is much more momentum than there has ever been,” Nelson said. “Recovery can happen.”

While the road to recovery isn’t going to be an easy one, it is possible. Dams are, in most cases, no longer considered to be the most cheap and clean way to produce power. Recreationists and small communities like Riggins and Stanley have raised their voices in support of the species.

“These fish are the lifeblood of so many small communities in Idaho,” Cutter said, adding, “What would they be without them?”

There’s a good reason why so many places and iconic objects in the Gem State are named after these impressive species. From the town of Salmon to Redfish Lake to some of Idaho’s most popular beers—like those crafted at Sockeye Brewing—salmon and steelhead are part of the bedrock of

Idaho’s character. Heck, the state’s only professional hockey team is even called the “Steelheads.” So it’s only fitting that we Idahoans should start fighting even harder for them.

As Cutter said, “We have these fish here now, but we may not have them forever if we don’t do something about it.”

“There is much more momentum than there has ever been. Recovery can happen.”

Want to help? Start by conserving water in your own home and yard, volunteering for river cleanup, and writing to your elected officials.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHO RIVERS UNITED

PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHO RIVERS UNITED

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHO-BAN

BY ARIANNA CRETEAU

Dustina Abrahamson, a Shoshone-Bannock tribe member, grew up attending powwow circles. She was once Miss Shoshone-Bannock, and her ties to the festival connect her to its beginnings in 1964. en-Recreation Director Reeves Nawoosky (Comanche), started the Annual Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival and collaborated with Willie George, also known as Chief Running Bear, to garner interest. Willie George is Abrahamson’s great grandfather. Since then, enough interest has drawn in massive crowds and this summer, a packed four days will bring around 800 dancers and thousands of spectators. “While it’s a big family event and plenty of fun,” said Abrahamson, who is now the Powwow Coordinator for the upcoming 58th Annual Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival, “ultimately, it’s all about culture.”

Much like a summer fair, the festival is a busy weekend of nonstop events hosted in Fort Hall, Idaho, August 10-13. ere’s entertainment and activities for all ages, including kids’ day games, hand games, parades, a powwow, a veteran honoring, a feast, a rodeo, Indian relay races, an art show, and more. Indigenous people, international visitors, and locals come together to honor indigenous history, culture, and people.

“We’re very proud to do this, especially in Southern Idaho,” Abrahamson said.

Each year, the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival emphasizes a new theme. After a two-year Covid hiatus, last year’s theme was “coming back stronger.” is year it is “honoring the strength and resilience of our ancestors.”

Traditional indigenous ceremonies were banned in North America not so long ago, and until the 1920s, they were slowly allowed once again by federal governments. “We’re still carrying on these traditions and activities that people have been doing for hundreds of thousands of years. Having this festival is a way for us to showcase our rich culture,” Abrahamson said.

Indigenous people from across North America travel to participate in the festival, which began as a powwow, eventually evolving into the festival it is today. Of course, there’s still a powwow, which is the largest in Idaho. At powwows, many styles of dance are inter-tribal, allowing people to participate and compete in common and more standardized dances

to popular songs. e host drums are comprised of singers and musicians from singular tribes or collaborating tribes performing at the powwow, and this year includes powwow drum groups TBZ- e Boyz from St. Paul, Minnesota and Fort Hall locals Bad Agency.

While the festival is mostly free, expect to pay admission for the Indian relay races, which are a part of Shoshone-Bannock culture and originated over 100 years ago on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. e relay teams, which consist of three horses and four team members, require riders to ride a lap with each horse bareback,

dismounting without help and, harder still, without losing control of their horses. e races, which draw a crowd every year, happen each day at noon and celebrate generations of racers.

In addition to an abundance of space for a dance arbor, gambling arbor, vendors, and more, festival grounds o er plenty of parking and onsite camping for out-oftowners, and organizers encourage people from all backgrounds to join and experience the festival, which Abrahamson says reminds folks that indigenous traditions, language, and culture are still being practiced and kept alive.

Miaus Menuh Teton (Shoshone-Bannock) of Lincoln Creek District of the Fort Hall Reservation. Miaus is a champion Indian Relay Rider for the Teton Team and 2nd generation relay rider, learning from his grandpa, Randy “Leo” Teton, and Clarence Teton. Miaus started riding for the team at 14 years old and still continues today, winning throughout Indian Country. PHOTO BY SUMMER JACKMAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHO-BAN NEWS

ESTO PERPETUA:

‘OUTDOOR IDAHO’ LIVES FOREVER

BY APRIL NEALE

“Outdoor Idaho” passed its 40th season on October 13, 2022 for Idaho Public Television, and through the curated genius of longtime retired producer, writer, and host Bruce Reichert, “Outdoor Idaho” and “Idaho Experience” writer/producer Bill Manny continues that vision of the series.

Idaho PT V ’s grand travelog remains beautifully lensed, in part because astonishing things occur in Idaho’s geological formations. For example, it is perhaps bewildering to people beyond our Idaho borders that divisive topics seem to unite the various political factions within Idaho that love for preserving the beauty and resources of the state.

The air, rivers, salmon, and wolf, are passionately cared about and intensely debated, and “Outdoor Idaho” explores them all with fresh perspective, delighting new Idahoans and filling longstanding Idahoans with pride. The show has an unfair edge, as the Gem State’s enviable public lands and diverse terrascapes are unmatched in the lower 48.

Unquestionably, Idaho is a sexy state, an adventurer’s paradise with curvaceous hillsides, jutting alpine peaks, shifting dunes, seductive geothermal crystal-clear hot springs, and verdant rainforests. Yes. Idaho is a woman; the state motto confirms this. “Esto Perpetua. May she live forever?” The state offers up an embarrassment of natural riches and eye candy for a producer to craft compelling and—at times—controversial tales, from historical moments to modern ecological and agricultural innovations.

It’s an addictive watch, and Reichert knew this when he quipped to a 2022 City Club Awards audience: “I know in some circles, ‘Outdoor Idaho’ gets the blame for migration into the state, and OK, maybe we did one too many shows on the Sawtooths. But the show has never aired in California, and I hope to hell it doesn’t,” when accepting the Stimpson Award for Civic Engagement.

Reichert’s achievements are honored by Manny, who started his improbable journey with the series in 2018 after a long newspaper career. He paid homage

to his friend that carved the path he now walks. “’Outdoor Idaho’ will be starting our 41st season this fall. And we are so lucky to have this incredible legacy that Bruce Reichert and his team over those 40 years left us. There would be nothing for us. We’re lucky to have the goodwill, credibility, track record, integrity, and quality they built over those 40 years. We’re building on that legacy. The show will evolve; we’re trying to find new ways to incorporate new participants and audiences while keeping all those loyal people who love Outdoor Idaho and have made it such a success,” he said.

“‘Outdoor Idaho’ will be starting our 41st season this fall. And we are so lucky to have this incredible legacy...”

IdahoPTV Executive Producer Bill Manny on Idaho’s Diamond Peak in 2020 during the filming of the “Outdoor Idaho” program Idaho’s 12ers. PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHOPTV AND “OUTDOOR IDAHO.”

Melink conducts many interviews in nature and rustic and rugged settings for “Outdoor Idaho.” PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHOPTV AND “OUTDOOR IDAHO”

Today, Manny’s team includes two exceptional producers, lead producer Laura Melink and producer/director Forrest Burger, each keeping the engine of “Outdoor Idaho” revved. They seek out and get into those hard-to-reach areas and capture the moments we dine on for inspired television.

Burger has a bit of Idaho connectivity—a legacy family getaway in northern Idaho. “My family wanted to pursue a quality of life and found Boise. New York wasn’t for me. I’m an Oregonian,” Burger said. “Boise allowed me to do documentaries again. That’s what I wanted to do.”

While the “Outdoor Idaho” team would never play favorites, there are a few places that occupy a special place in their hearts. “If you were to nail me down to my favorite place in Idaho, it’s north Idaho. My family has had a place on Hayden Lake since 1946. I’ve been going there for my whole life. But aside from that, I love Stanley. You have to love the Sawtooths and Salmon too. Driggs and Victor, where you see the Tetons just over the border into Wyoming, is quite special,” said Burger.

Lauren Melink left Washington and lived in Oregon, but her love for Idaho

is deep. “The terrain is something I didn’t expect in Idaho, and when I tell people about it, they’re shocked by the east Idaho ranges that are so magnificent. North Idaho is luscious. I grew up in western Washington and didn’t realize this rainforest landscape existed. If you’re a boater, there are lakes all over the place. If you’re an angler, there are high alpine lakes to fish in, and if you love the desert rangeland vibe, hundreds of miles of trails await. There are amazing hikes. Idaho has so much to offer—a unique landscape, a handful of mountain ranges, hot springs; it’s a pretty special place.”

Part of the change that Manny referenced sees the roles of female staff increasing, but he assured that their presence behind the scenes was always there. “Women have been involved in this show from the beginning, and we’ve had women producers and staffers throughout the years. But today, we have a female team, a producer, and a videographer working together. If you encounter ‘Outdoor Idaho’ in the field, you’ll see Lauren Melink and Mya Long, our lead videographer. That’s a unique moment in the show’s history.”

IdahoPTV Producer Forrest Burger in action. PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHOPTV AND “OUTDOOR IDAHO”

Below: Melink in action: Although female staff are moving to more visible roles, their presence behind the scenes has been a constant. PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHOPTV AND “OUTDOOR IDAHO”

Idaho Public Television delivers all of your PBS favorites and award-winning local programs. Find our five FREE broadcast channels, stream us online, or watch through the PBS app.

Reaching over 800,000 VIEWERS each month!

GETYOUR STATEWIDENEWS

OUTDOOR IDAHO explores the beauty, the drama, and the science of Idaho’s natural places while examining the significant environmental and resource issues facing the Gem State. For 40 seasons, Outdoor Idaho has remained the most honored outdoor program in the West.

DISCOVER IDAHOARTIST S

The online video series createid showcases artists and other makers in Idaho. From iconography to ice carving, weaving to watercolors, createid illuminates the many ways Idahoans are making their creative marks.

Visit idahoptv.org/createid to learn more.

IDAHO REPORTS turns a spotlight on the vital issues affecting all Idahoans. Now in its 51st season, the program is the longest-running public policy show in the West and is now also available as a podcast.

IDAHO PBS KIDS CHANNEL is available over the air on our .5 channel, streaming on demand, and through many cable and satellite providers.

FOR FAMILIES, IdahoPTV provides a variety of materials and workshops that help children and parents learn and grow together.

FOR EDUCATORS, IdahoPTV supports teachers with online and in-person workshops, classroom training on using tech and more. IdahoPTV knows the value of great teachers!

FOR COMMUNITIES, IdahoPTV supports the entire learning ecosystem by providing fun and engaging resources and hands-on activities at community events all across the state.

IDAHO EXPERIENCE, our historical documentary series, gives viewers a deeper understanding of the events and individuals that have shaped Idaho. Since its first season in 2018, the series has been honored with five Northwest Regional Emmy Awards.

COMMUNITIES

SCIENCE TREK is an integrated web and broadcast project that introduces science topics to elementary-age children, provides educational materials for teachers and parents, and inspires students to investigate science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers.

I am out of the office flying a California Condor chick from Phoenix to the The Peregrine Fund in Boise, read Don Reiman’s out-of-office reply.

One of the stranger automatic responses we’ve received, certainly, at once succinct and full of whimsy.

Reiman, who is President and Founder of Echelon Group, is also a private pilot who volunteers time to organizations that assist in transporting folks with medical needs. He works with The Peregrine Fund, a nonprofit organization that has raptor conservation projects all over the world, as part of his day job, so when he saw that they needed a pilot, it was an easy decision. He’s flown several missions in the past, including transporting falcon chicks, moving a condor egg, and flying adult birds ready for release, although this time, the flight was extra special—but we’ll get to that later.

For now, know that from tip to tip, a California Condor’s wingspan is about 9.5 feet, which is just over 2.5 feet taller than American former basketball player Shaquille O’Neal. Like Shaq, they rock a bald head, soulful eyes, and a smirky smile that suggests a certain willingness to see what comes next. Capable

of living over 50 years, the California Condor is one of the longest living raptors in the world, assuming they can survive. A big assumption, as it were. In 1982, their numbers plummeted to only 22. Still critically endangered, the population now rests somewhere just over 500.

It turns out that there are a lot of ways for a bird to die.

Their primary killer—and reason they remain critically endangered—is lead poisoning. When hunters kill a game animal, like a deer, the bullet breaks up into tiny pieces. Should a California Condor happen upon these animal corpses, there’s a high likelihood that they’ll ingest led, which leads to led poisoning, which leads to death.

Leah Esquivel, who serves as the propagation manager for The Peregrine Fund, is in charge of all condor and falcon breeding. Since 2016, she’s worked for the organization, although she’s been fighting alongside California Condors for even longer.

“I got a degree in zoology and knew I wanted to work with animals, I just didn’t know in what capacity. My first internship was in California working with the wild population out there,” she said. “And I just fell in love with condors.”

The condor egg, which can be as big as 4.5 inches long and nearly 3 inches wide, requires a larger brooder than rescuers had. Instead, they rotated it by hand six times per day. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PEREGRINE FUND

She isn’t alone. Jane Naillon, Director of Brand & Communications at The Peregrine Fund, says they’ve become her favorite bird and definitely her favorite raptor. There’s something otherworldly about the enormous, quirky birds who delight in the feeling of sun on their backs and poop down their legs to stay cool.

And, although the state is doing a lot of work for the California Condor, they don’t live in the Idaho wilderness. Approximately 57 call the breeding facilities at The Peregrine Fund home, if only temporarily. See, for these birds, there’s a high likelihood of travel.

In March of 2023, the stark realities of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was settling into the California Condor’s Arizona habitat. The flu wiped out 21 birds, including Condor 316, who had just settled into her nest. The Peregrine Fund, a conservation group dedicated to preserving birds of prey across the world, captured her and attempted rehabilitation, but, at least in this case, was unsuccessful. Her partner, Condor 680, stayed in the cave, prompting additional exploration, which revealed an egg. Alone, he’d guarded it for around three weeks, a responsibility usually shared by both parents throughout the 57 or so days of incubation.

So, although they suspected the egg was likely dead, staff from The Peregrine Fund and Liberty Wildlife took it from the nest and transported it four and a half hours away. Against

all odds, the egg was viable. But rather than risk transporting it to The Peregrine Fund’s Boise facilities and potentially transmitting HPAI, Liberty Wildlife hatched the egg in Arizona. On May 8, it pipped, but in the wrong place. When it was clear the chick needed help, Veterinarian Stephanie Lamb stepped in to help. Eventually, she held in her hands a baby condor, which tested negative for HPAI.

Nesting condors raise only one chick at a time. Condor 1221, pictured with a stuffed animal, is now raised entirely by her condor parents. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PEREGRINE FUND

“I think The Peregrine Fund is one of the most underappreciated assets we have and it is right here in Boise.”

“So my partner Elizabeth Langley and I flew from Boise to Phoenix, where we picked up a veterinarian and a photographer and a seven day old condor chick in a tupperware container the veterinarian held in her lap with a heating pad,” Reiman said. “Four days later, we got an email saying that the adoption had taken place successfully and the chick was thriving and being fed by its new parents.”

Typically, Esquivel and her team are transporting birds from the breeding facilities (The Peregrine Fund is one of four) to the field sites, which happens every year as chicks come of age, or they’ll transfer eggs between breeding facilities for management reasons— one facility may not have enough pairs to raise a chick, for example. “We just want to make sure that all birds are being reared by condors rather than puppets,” she explained. “It’s a little more rare to have an egg or a chick come from the field to breeding facilities.”

Unofficially, the chick is called Milagra, which is Spanish for “miracle.” On the record, she is California Condor 1221, and Esquivel was happy to report that

See majestic California Condors locally at The World Center for Birds of Prey, which plays an integral part in rebuilding the bird’s population.

she’s doing great and acting like any normal chick raised by condors. Although early photographs of her at Liberty Wildlife with a stuffed animal are cute, it was a means to an end before she settled into her new, happy home.

Milagra’s foster parents have been together for a few years, although their union hasn’t produced a fertile egg. A blessing in disguise, because the male has other offspring and his genetics were overrepresented in the population. Still, the two of them are good parents, and have fostered other chicks into adulthood.

Esquivel described the two as “great together” and said that, like most bird species, Cal-

ifornia Condor pairs stay together for years. Males and females play equal parts in raising the chicks— males incubate eggs and feed the chicks too, and because of their long reproductive cycle, the chicks stay with parents for up to two years in the wild before the cycle begins again.

Milagra will likely be released into the wild, so she isn’t on display for the public-–only the propagation staff have access to the chicks, who maintain biosecurity and keep the birds wild. But California Condors are a sight to behold, and the World Center for Birds of Prey welcomes visitors to view the birds kept as future breeders on display at the center.

Massive efforts to rebuild the bird’s population have resulted in the number of wild California Condors outpacing those in captivity, which Esquivel said is the result of teamwork. “Nonprofits, government agencies, the Forest Service, normal people—all these sources of help coming together to help. It’s amazing.”

“I think The Peregrine Fund is one of the most underappreciated assets we have and it is right here in Boise,” Reiman said. “When you think about how rare California Condors are and the story behind this chick, it’s pretty special.”

To support California Condors, become a member of The World Center for Birds of Prey in person or online.

PHOTOS BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST

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Art for the People:BOISE, CITY OF MURALS

BY SONYA FEIBERT

Art for the People:

Bike or walk along the Boise River Greenbelt going west, and you’ll see a colorful reminder to “Go with the flow.” On a tough day, go down 15th Street and find the mural reminding you that “You are loved,” a block away from one letting you know “It’s OK to ask for help.” When you’re missing home, look for the vibrant colors and Day of the Dead-inspired designs that echo your culture.

Talk to the artists and arts organizations behind many of the murals around Boise, and there’s a word that comes up again and again: community.

As Greg Hahn, one of the people behind the Garden City Placemaking Fund (GCPF) and the Executive Director of Surel’s Place, put it, murals “turn blank space into another point of the community in a cool and meaningful way.”

Above: Portland artist Addie Boswell had never been to Boise before she was hired to paint this human rights mural in the Eighth Street tunnel. Below: Boise’s Freak Alley features an ever-changing gallery of local artists. PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY

GCPF is one of the organizations making sure that emerging and re-emerging artists are given opportunities to bring their art into view on a large scale. The organization helped facilitate the bevy of art on display on either side of Chinden in the Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District and is currently working with a group of emerging Black artists and first-time muralists to create a mural in Garden City.

CREATING PLACE AND COMMUNITY THROUGH MURALS

For artists interested in painting their first mural, the barrier to entry can be steep. Artists are often turned down for opportunities when they don’t have prior experience. Ashley Dreyfus, the artist behind many of the colorful, playful murals and other public art you see in Boise, suggested a mentor-style program to make the labor-intensive, large-scale process of creating murals more accessible. As a result, GCPF has become a mural training ground for artists like Miguel Almeida.

“GCPF was a big help in giving me a shot,” Almeida said. “I knew Ashley Dreyfus, and she threw my name out there.”

MIGUEL ALMEIDA: FROM GARDEN CITY TO GOOGLE

A first-generation Mexican American, Almeida has been making art since he was a kid, but it wasn’t until he was in his mid-20s that he first visited an art gallery. His art was shaped by trips to Mexico to visit his grandparents, where the vibrant colors at outdoor markets caught his eye. In murals, he sees a

way to share his culture and create a more lasting connection. “Murals give access to the community,” Almeida said. “Pieces like these don’t live in a gallery.”

Since his first mural, Almeida created many more in Garden City, Boise, and beyond. He recently traveled to Kirkland, California to design and paint a mural for Google. Almeida will soon start on a mural in Caldwell. For someone who grew up in the area and whose parents still live in Caldwell, it’s especially meaningful to create artwork that his family will get to see every day.

MAKING MURALS A PRIORITY IN BOISE / MURALS AS A BALM FOR HATE

Like the Garden City Placemaking Fund, the Boise City Department of Arts and History has played a role in funding and facilitating murals in Boise. One of the city’s most recent murals can be seen in the Boise River Greenbelt 8th Street tunnel. Created by artist Addie Boswell, the city facilitated the project in response to anti-Semitic graffiti in the tunnel.

“Murals give access to the community. Pieces like these don’t live in a gallery.”

Above: Bobby Gaytan’s art reflects his background as a farmworker and his passion for graffiti. Right: Un Mundo – Artist Miguel Almeida’s art is all about reconnecting with his roots. His Climate Action mural, in partnership with Conservation Voters of Idaho and the Garden City Placemaking Fund can be viewed at Zion Art Glass Studio. PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY

An ordinance in the city code allocates a percentage of spending to public art and the city has worked with artists like Boswell, Bobby Gaytan, and the artist collective Sector Seventeen to bring art into the public eye.

BOBBY GAYTAN: TURNING BARRIERS INTO WORKS OF ART

For artist Bobby Gaytan, public art has always served as inspiration. You’ve likely seen his work in downtown Boise, including in Freak Alley and outside of Neurolux. He’s also created murals for Whitney Elementary and the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Growing up, Gaytan watched trains go by his home and admired the graffiti adorning their cars. He went on to study graphic design and works for the Bureau of Reclamations as a designer. Gaytan began painting murals about ten years ago. His latest was recently unveiled in downtown Boise: colorful shapes and forms that now cover the 8th Street orange barriers. Gaytan worked alongside and provided membership to artists Jordynn Eld, Dana Wagner, and Breanna Boutte. “It’s important to give back and share that experience and knowledge,” Gaytan said.

JAY RASGORSHEK: INSPIRED BY NATURE

For Jay Rasgorshek, murals are a way to share and inspire a passion for the outdoors. “My interaction with the world drives my emotional connection to the artwork,” said Rasgorshek. “To win over the general public with conservation, we need to bring nature into our communities.”

Rasgorshek created the mural along the StreamWalk at Morrison Knudsen Nature Center and painted a mural outside the Boise Public Library. Like his fellow muralists, Rasgorshek mentioned the connection to something bigger when he creates a mural: “The biggest thing is the community. I’m physically contributing to the community.”

At their heart, that’s what murals are all about.

Above: Artist Jay Rasgorshek’s mural, on the corner of Curtis and Fairview, shows a flock of Northern Flickers with a darkened Cooper’s Hawk (best seen when afternoon sun hits the wall) in the background.

Left: Ashley Dreyfus, known for winning the PRB Art Can competition, now paints across the Treasure Valley.

Below: In a project organized by the Downtown Boise Association, Bobby Gaytan’s art is designed to guide visually impaired people away from traffic. PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY

BOISE

BY KAREN DAY

HOMES

On May 8th, 1891, President Benjamin Harrison climbed off a railcar at the one-room Boise Depot and boarded a horse-drawn carriage that processed down the dirt road leading to the Idaho Statehouse. The President tipped his hat at cheering Capital City crowds. So loud was the roar, it sounded as if all 4,026 residents had gathered in celebration. The Presidential visit immediately spurred optimism for the future of this isolated, frontier outpost. Especially inspired was an ambitious realtor named Walter E. Pierce. He envisioned subdivisions in the sagebrush and had recently landscaped a boulevard through the rural North End. Three weeks later, 17th street was officially renamed in the President’s honor. To this day, Harrison Boulevard remains a symbol of urban beauty, prosperity and social status.

For a nearly a century, presidents have settled along this stately street that paved over the once, well-trafficked Oregon Trail. Walter Pierce, one of Boise’s most successful developers, spent 20 years in a red brick mansion at 1201 Harrison. Prestige grew with time and addresses for J.R Simplot, Harry Morrison and F.W. Hewitt. On Harrison, houses were built to impress through the ages.

Today, once such home, a magnificent Queen Anne constructed in 1908, still stands out. As described in a 1909 article in the Idaho Statesman, “There are occasional houses…that are difficult to describe. Like certain types of beauty, they render mere words quite inadequate. Such a house is the handsome new residence of Harry Wyman, just completed on Harrison Boulevard.”

Harry and Anne Wyman spent two years and $40,000 building their dream home. ($1,200,000 today.) Wyman, a prominent lawyer, started the first power company in Boise. His affluence allowed extravagance, repeatedly tearing down and rebuilding to perfection. One can’t help but wonder how his architects, famed Tourtellotte & Co, designers of the Capital building, felt about Wyman’s profligacy.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHO STATESMAN ARCHIVES

PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHO STATESMAN ARCHIVES

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

1409 Harrison was the first in Boise with gas and electric lighting. This modernity allowed for a telephone intercom system, electric appliances and heaters called electroilers . A sunken pool on the terrace served as a “delightful atmospheric cooler.” Oregon fir and dark oak lined the walls and floors with plush, German velour wallpaper decorating bedrooms. The gardens flowered exotically. Mrs. Wyman favored a delicate pink and white blossoms on their Japanese rose hedge, after which she named their estate, “The Regosa.”

Harry Wyman died in the home he loved in 1934. The human history of the home continued to flourish after his passing. In the 40’s, the house was divided into apartments until the 70’s, when a popular appreciation for historic restoration began in Boise. With community commitment, Harrison Boulevard became a National Historic District and experienced a renaissance. In 1973, Richard Lashbrook and wife Francine, bought Wyman’s greying masterpiece.

PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY

Lashbrook was a dedicated, historical sleuth. He interviewed Wyman’s daughter to keep integrity with the past while remodeling. Future owners shared respect for the original craftsmanship and materials, updating with period-appropriate detail. Earlier this year, Massimo Medioli purchased the home.

“These stones,” Medioli says, pointing at the exterior of the house, “are the same as the Capitol Building. Sandstone from Table Rock.”

Sepia-toned photos of the 1909 interior are displayed in each room. The oak floors glisten in the photos then and today. In the library, the fireplace is a tour de force in artistry and craftsmanship. Astride each side of the hearth, two medieval knights sit atop horses, fashioned from pottery tiles designed by Willian Kellogg, one of early Seattle’s most famous artists. Above the fireplace, there’s a photo of Harry Wyman in his easy chair, warming at the same hearth. Clearly, the man and this home helped build the historical legacy of Harrison Boulevard.

Anne Wyman was fascinated by Japanese gardens and imported many exotic flowers into the sculpted gardens.

LEFT: PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHO STATESMAN ARCHIVES / RIGHT: PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

Harry Wyman in the living room of his historic home designed by Tourtelotte & Co, architects of the Idaho State Capital Building.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHO STATESMAN ARCHIVES

In 1910, 3000 elm and maple trees were planted on Harrison Blvd. and the neighboring, numbered streets of what is now known as the North End.

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

Prime Foothills’ location on a 0.40-acre awe-inspiring view lot in Boise North End is located less than 5 minutes to downtown Boise, even closer to Hyde Park. Desirable Somerset Ridge subdivision is surrounded by open space and nestled by nature. Walk or bike to Ridge-to-Rivers trails including Hulls Gulch & Camel’s Back Reserve.

The kitchen features granite slab countertops and a gas Viking range. A functional floor plan provides a main-level office and full bath with 4 second-story bedrooms. A retreat-like master suite appreciates commanding views from its balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows. Don’t miss the lower-level media room/guest quarters with custom built-ins and full bath! Its private entrance creates even more possibility!

Outdoor living abounds at this home and includes a new multi-level deck with western vista views of the Treasure Valley. A soothing hot tub & built-in seating invite you outside. Architectural shingle roof with limited life-time warranty!

Community pool. Top rated schools nearby.

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Bed + Office | 4 Bath | 3400SF | 2-Car Garage

Tarzan A Comic History of the Gem State

TarzanIdaho Moves to

ART BY ADAM ROSENLUND, COURTESY OF IDAHO COMICS GROUP

BY ALBERT FRANK ASKER

It is true that Idaho is not a major player in the world of comic book publishing.

In fact, usually any connections between comic books and the state of Idaho are ancillary, comical, or just downright weird. An old Sun Valley/ Ketchum/Hailey phonebook, for example, lists Batman as a resident, which is nice to know, should we in the Gem State need to get in touch with the Dark Knight. Dive a little deeper into that rabbit hole and discover the Ernest Hemingway-Batman-Idaho connection, which is addressed more thoroughly in a book called Hemingway’s Guns: e Sporting Arms of Ernest Hemingway by Silvio Calabi, Steve Helsley, and Roger Sanger. e book answers the question of what happened to Hemingway’s gun—per the book, the family had it sliced up by a welder in Ketchum and the remnants buried. According to Roger Sanger, “the pieces that were buried in an Idaho eld in 1961 are probably still there. Now, however, they lie beneath the home of Adam West, television’s Batman.”

So, oddities aside, Idaho as a state doesn’t have a lot of obvious connections to the sequential arts medium, but boasts some noteworthy connections— including some very big contributions— made to the comic book medium by the people who live here.

Perhaps the most famous is Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan, who lived in Idaho on three separate occasions in his life. First in the summer of 1891 (when he was 15), then again from 1898 to 1899, and nally from 1903 to 1904. During that time, he worked on his brothers’ ranch in Cassia County near the Raft River and Snake River con uence, about 30 miles from American Falls. Edgar owned and ran a

stationary/photo business at 233 West Center Street in Pocatello, and helped his brother George with one of his gold dredges in the Stanley Basin on the Salmon River. e Historic Preservation Commission in Rupert displays a large commemorative sign which mentions the Burroughs Gold Dredges.

When the Salmon River venture didn’t work out, Edgar and Emma moved downstream to Parma, close to where Harry had one of the dredging barges. Edgar spent much of his time making up stories and poems, drawing and sketching cartoons. ese creations brought little interest, and a long manuscript he wrote was stored away and forgotten until it was unearthed almost 100 years later and published as Minidoka: 937th Earl of One Mile. e Minidoka book was written eight years before his rst published novel, Tarzan of the Apes. It was also during this time that he ran successfully for the position of alderman in Parma.

In early 1904, the Sweetser-Burroughs Mining Company folded after a fteen year run. e only connection that he

would have with Idaho after that was through his brother Harry, who returned to Burley to run a hardware store.

Eventually, Edgar’s rst published work, Tarzan of the Apes, was serialized in the pulp publication All-Story Magazine in October 1912. e rst book edition of the story was published in 1914. Tarzan of the Apes was adapted as a newspaper comic strip in 1929 and the character made his rst comic book appearance in 1947, far from the vast desert of the Idaho landscape.

Idaho Comics Group debuted Tarzan and the Comics of Idaho at the 2014 Library Comic Con. The anthology’s second issue is pictured here. ART COURTESY OF IDAHO COMICS GROUP Dell’s cowboy series, called Idaho, featured a cowboy hero and his sidekick.

PHOTO BY KAREN DAY

Idaho’s Comic Connections

• Dave Stevens, the creator of The Rocketeer, which rejuvenated interest in 1950s pin-up model Bettie Page, lived in Boise for a few years in the 1980s.

• Andy Garcia who wrote and drew Oblivion City and Seth Throb: Underground Artist for Slave Labor Graphics in San Jose, California.

• Scott Pentzer, Jason Hill, and Kevin Hill of Bishop Press in Boise published Rose & Gunn and Sade.

• Idaho native and multiple Eisner Award finalist Dennis P. Eichhorn’s autobiographical series Real Stuff was published by Fantagraphics of Seattle.

• Randall Kirby’s Bop! Comics, Mystery House Comics’ Shivertown by Jon Keithley and Shanae LaVelle, and the author’s anthology series Tarzan and the Comics of Idaho and Idaho Comics from Idaho Comics Group were also published.

• Terry Blas has worked for Marvel Comics writing their Reptil series in addition to Steven Universe, Dead Weight, and Who Was The Voice Of The People: Cesar Chavez.

• Joëlle Jones works for DC Comics and has worked on titles such as Batman, Catwoman, and her own creation, Lady Killer.

NO SPEED LIMITS

Boise State Alum Emma Bates Isn’t Slowing Down

BY ARIANNA CRETEAU

A Minnesota native, 31-year-old Emma Bates began running in middle school and she hasn’t stopped since. She came to Boise on a college tour, and after one run, knew that Idaho was the place for her, although she’d envisioned herself as a golden gopher at the University of Minnesota. Bates found a home as a Boise State Bronco, and competed across the U.S. in marathons. Eventually, she hopes running will lead her to the Olympics.

This year, that goal is within reach. Bates made national headlines as the second fastest American woman in Boston Marathon history, where she placed fifth among women from all countries.

Bates began running—and competing—as a college athlete as an outlet, but ended up pushing herself beyond what she believed capable. “It was amazing to have people believe in me and I’m so incredibly grateful for the opportunity Boise State gave to me,” she said.

Her first NCAA title in 2014 for a 10,000 meter run served as a turning point. The possibility of becoming a professional runner was within her grasp, and coaches were excited about her potential. Finishing college, Bates signed with the Boston Athletic Association and was one step closer to achieving her dream.

When Bates began her professional career, people were less familiar with the term “professional runner.” “I would say I was a professional athlete, then people would ask what sport,” she said. But social

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA BATES

media has allowed more people to watch races and follow athletes more closely than ever before, which includes processional runners. Marathon runners are popular online and in person, and draw thousands of fans—lucky for Bates, who says that running is 90 percent mental and only 10 percent physical, and relies on the people that uplift her to sustain her momentum.

“When I was in Boston, I was focusing on track and things just weren’t coming very easily for me,” Bates said. After three years, she packed up and moved from Boston city life back to Boise, where she lived off-grid in the mountains. Still running, she kept adding more miles and quickly became a long distance runner. “I have such fond memories of running in the streets of Boise, like the North End and foothills. I can’t think of a place in Boise that I hadn’t run,” Bates said.

Bates says she’s happy to have a supportive network now, which wasn’t always the case, and was one of the reasons she contemplated leaving competition. “I took a step back because the people guiding me didn’t really help me. They pointed out all my flaws and weaknesses,” she said. “I don’t think coaches quite realize how much weight their words can have on an athlete, especially one transitioning out of college.”

But, running 100 miles and working up to 60 hours a week, Bates decided to return to competition and sought sponsorship. She and others began the Idaho Distance Project, a group of elite athletes dedicated to supporting each other in an effort to reach the highest level of athletics in the U.S. and beyond.

In 2018, Bates won the 2018 U.S. Women’s Marathon Championships in two hours, 28 minutes, and 19 seconds. “And the rest is history,” she said.

And, although her performance was stellar, the public’s response shocked Bates a bit because she didn’t feel like it was her best run to date. “It was just on such a big stage so people got really amped up about it,” Bates said. “But Boston was a great stepping stone because, during other races, I’ve run my own race and finished wherever I ended up. In Boston, I took control and competed in a way that I had never done before.”

So far, five members have made the Olympic trials. “It was nice to be surrounded by people that had like-minded goals,” Bates said. “It was great creating an environment where people got excited about running. In high school or college, you feel like you have to do it. Post-college, there’s no scholarship and a lot of runners aren’t getting paid but they enjoy what they do.”

While you can follow her on social media, where she posts race updates, photographs, and personal anecdotes, you won’t find her obsessing over the race outcomes of other athletes—she doesn’t read, watch, or keep up with race routines or times. For Bates, the act of showing up to race—despite life’s hurdles or what other athletes are up to—is what it’s all about.

Now based in Boulder, Colorado, Bates and her team are excited about the future. She aims to break the American record in a marathon and make an Olympic team. “That’s what’s exciting about this sport, there is always something to improve on,” Bates said.

“I have such fond memories of running in the streets of Boise, like the North End and foothills. I can’t think of a place in Boise that I hadn’t run.”

Boise State alum Emma Bates at a track meet for Boise State. PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA BATES

Emma runs with the mountains behind her on a sunny day. PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA BATES

Feelin’ Groovy in Boise

BY SOPHIA ROEMER AND HEATHER HAMILTON-POST

Georgie Girl is gregarious, genuine, and well, groovy—the kind of gal that might stop you in your tracks. If you spotted her in the wild, you’d probably point her out to a friend—her bright, peacock blue exterior gleaming. She’d play you a tune. You’d see the city together, and by night’s end, you might even be Instagram o cial, or at least coupled up for a killer photograph. I know I was.

Michelle Keener, Georgie’s keeper and owner/operator of Feelin’ Groovy Tours, is all for it. She describes her restored 1976 VW Type 2 Transporter as “coy yet winsome.” She’s also perfectly retro, bright blue, and covered in decals. But she’s got a head for business—17 feet long, cushy, comfortable, and roomy.

Keener, who started the tour business while she was living in Sandpoint, Idaho, said that she wanted to give people something unique to do. For her, moving south to Boise was a simple decision, and one I could relate to. I recently relocated to

Boise, but prior to moving here, had never seen the city. I’m a college kid looking to experience the big city way of life, and I’d been itching to get out and explore this vibrant and historically rich community.

As a newcomer, I am one type of audience, but Keener wants people to know that this particular tour isn’t just for tourists. Built for longtime residents too, Keener hopes to reach audiences that are often overlooked by local tourism businesses. Whether you’re looking for history, rural wineries, or even an Urban Wine Adventure, Keener promises to bring excitement to every outing.

Keener brings a lot of love to what she does, which in this case was a historic tour called “So Happy Together,” which promised to point out historical points of interest around Boise, including the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, Boise’s famous Freak Alley art gallery, and much more.

Onboard the Feelin’ Groovy tour bus, Keener’s radiant personality put guests at ease. Beginning along the Boise River

Greenbelt, we stopped at a new-to-me favorite for local kayakers, learned how the Greenbelt got started, and even spotted a few stationary surfers out on the white-capped waves.

One of my favorite stops was at e Riverside Hotel, which housed the iconic Clint Eastwood during the lming of Bronco Billy in the 1980s. e lm, which was shot at a variety of locations across the Treasure Valley, features local favorites like the Boise Depot, Ranch Club, Big Pine, Hungry Onion, and old Ada County courthouse. e actual room, now called the Eastwood Suite, is located in the heart of Garden City and is available for you to stay in.

Keener creates an immersive and personal experience for her tour groups, which expertly tell some of the stories that Garden City, Boise, and Meridian have to o er. I thoroughly enjoyed my time soaking up Boise’s raucous and wild-west history.

“Michelle is the ultimate most groovy tour guide,” said a fellow passenger. I had to agree.

PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY

• The only academy in the region affiliated with a professional ballet company

• Exclusive opportunities to audition to perform with Ballet Idaho in The Nutcracker and other classical ballets

• Ideal for dancers pursuing professional dance careers as well as dancers who just want to train recreationally

• Fun summer camps, intensives, and maintenance programs as well!