Local recreation opportunities offer something for everyone

So here is the best news of all – you don't even have to be athletic by nature to enjoy some of the work ROCKS is doing to promote fun outdoor activities. While a big part of ROCKS efforts are winter-based, with the ski trails and the skating rinks, springtime turns the local focus to enjoying more of the multi-use (hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding) trails above Placid Lake.

Living in the pristine natural area of the Seeley Swan, the ROCKS team is working hard to promote free community access to the widest available network of year-round outdoor recreational opportunities. Founded with a mission of building "healthy children, strong families and vibrant communities" through those outdoor recreational opportunities, the ROCKS efforts have greatly expanded from their original role in buying skis for the elementary school and promoting youth cross country skiing to additional areas of focus.

For winter-based fun, the cross-country skiing effort has already brought great results. Seeley Lake was well represented this past winter at a number of ski competitions for students from Seeley Lake Elementary and Seeley-Swan High School, as our local young skiers received ROCKS-supported coaching and travel expenses to learn and grow in this popular area sport. At the season-ending Rendezvous Race in West Yellowstone in March, which draws competition from all over the western United States, the Seeley Lake athletes finished the season strong with a number of skiers and Coach Darren Zellman placing in the top ten ranks in their respective races.

"The high school athletes put in a lot of hours out on the trails this season and their performance really demonstrates that," said Zellman. "These skiers are on the path to becoming our next generation of Nordic athletes."

Several years ago, ROCKS helped to raise funds to purchase the now-popular and well-used yurt/warming hut at the cross country ski trailhead, and local ROCKS volunteers continue to work with the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club to maintain the yurt, cut firework, to heat and open and close the yurt daily during prime winter skiing. It's a great way to escape that cooped-up winter feeling and out-of-towners love it! A guest log in the yurt details the wide community of local, area and national skiers who have taken advantage of the warm and cozy yurt to start and finish a great winter day on the trails.

The Seeley Lake Community Ice Rink expanded the size of the rink this past winter to accommodate the growing number of families and community members who have found a new winter passion to enjoy. Rink access is free and there is a growing number of skates available to those who are trying the sport for the first time. Soon the skates (and a new skate sharpener and snow-clearing equipment) will be housed in a new shed near the rink. Next winter the area will boast an evening light to expand the hours of fun during the shorter winter days.

"Growing up in Canada, I cannot imagine a winter without skating," said Garry Swain, former NHL hockey player and current ROCKS Board member. "I love seeing the growth and development of the rink, where I've encountered local children and families as well as many visitors to Seeley Lake enjoying their turn on the ice."

The Placid Lake Trail efforts continue to grow in scope and access to this beautiful area. In August, ROCKS partnered with local groups in the Seeley Lake area to build the two-mile Lakeview trail on The Nature Conservancy (TNC) property above the north shore of Placid Lake. A unique collaboration of organizations (ROCKS, TNC, the Western Conservation Project, Montana Bike Missoula and the Phat Trak Trail Company) secured funding and built the trail. ROCKS and the Placid Lake Cabin Owners Association (PLCOA) donated more than 800 hours of volunteer labor to the project.

"This amazing trail and community asset would not have been built without the support and collaboration between TNC, ROCKS, PLCOA and other local organizations," said ROCKS project manager Alan Davis. "It's a real testament to TNC's commitment to public access and ROCKS providing local outdoor recreational opportunities."

While the organization started with the simple mission stated above, it has become clear to ROCKS members and to the organizations and volunteers and donors who continue to support their efforts, that there are myriad additional outcomes that benefit the local community. Providing a wider array of year-round outdoor sports and recreational opportunities has resulted in:

1. Greater access to fun, free winter outdoors activities to area residents and their families.

2. More children in the area participating in healthy, safe, outdoor fun.

3. Ethical and thoughtful access for residents and visitors to the beauty of this area.

4. Greater economic opportunity for local businesses to support the needs of visitors to the area (including but not limited to retail sales, food and beverage sales, accommodations).

5. An unofficial marketing effort to promote the area (long known as a Montana summer paradise) for stronger winter access as well.

ROCKS is run by an all-volunteer team, who work hard to support existing programs through grant writing and fundraising and the day-to-day work of building and maintaining these programs. The grants rely on local dollar matches, so community support has been an integral part of ROCKS success to date. Future projects and enhancements to existing projects are in the works and the continued community support is necessary to continue ROCKS growth and development. The generosity of this small local community is legendary and the ROCKS team is deeply appreciative of past and present support. There are many opportunities to volunteer or to support ROCKS with a contribution. To see how you might be able to help this important mission, contact Garry Swain at 406-499-2966 or garryswain@gmail.com.