Get outside, be active for the health of it

Some of you were lucky enough to have been born here, in the gorgeous Crown of the Continent and the bridge between two of the most awe-inspiring parks in the entire country. Some of you discovered this area and made an active life choice to join the community, perhaps because of work or family, but it is likely that the possibility of extraordinary outdoor activities were also a lure. 

In 2020, the year we'll always remember as the year of masks and life interrupted in previously unfathomable ways, living and working in an area that provides so much opportunity for outdoor recreation (hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, skating, hiking, swimming, the list goes on and on) has reconfirmed what we knew all along. Montana in general and this area in particular truly is the "last, best place".

Seeley Lake Regional Outdoor Center for Kinetic Sports (ROCKS) began in 2009 with a mission to provide free outdoor recreational opportunities for children and families in Seeley Lake and surrounding communities. As a fully-volunteer nonprofit organization, people may wonder why the ROCKS team goes to the lengths we do to fund, construct and maintain the many outdoor projects in the area.

The truth is - it's a labor of love for our active board and we enjoy it. Also, we know that getting outdoors and enjoying this beautiful area is healthy, fun and really good for everyone here! From our own varied life experiences, we realize that the more outdoor, active and sensory activities one is involved with, the more healthy and fulfilling their lives will be.

My own personal family story underscores this point for me. My father passed away in 2014 at 94, while still living an incredibly active life. He was still golfing, curling, gardening and, much to my dismay, pruning his apple trees while hanging off a 10-foot ladder. He didn't give up playing hockey until he was 90, when, much to his embarrassment, he couldn't jump over the boards for line changes, forcing him to walk through the open gate to the ice. His inability to "change on the fly" forced his early retirement! (I should note that perhaps the worst part of giving that up was how much he missed his coffee and donut afterward with the boys at Tim Hortons!)

I'm hopeful that I inherited his hardy genes but I know that I can't rest on his laurels. For me, continuing to stay active will hopefully help me to thrive, like my father, for many years to come. (Maybe without the donuts!)

Every dark, cold night that our board members and I stand outside shivering while we flood the ice, we do so in hopes that everyone in the Seeley Lake area will take advantage of our incredible Montana winters and great ice conditions. We invite you to skate on the rink next to Seeley Lake Elementary, where we also provide an assortment of skates in the shed to enable everyone an opportunity to try it out.

We want you to hike and mountain bike on Hill 16, our new trail system at Placid Lake (where an additional all-access trail from the Placid Lake campgrounds will be completed next summer).

We invite you to cross country ski on the Nordic Ski Club trails just north of town on Morrell Creek Road where ROCKS operates and maintains the yurt. Unfortunately, this season the yurt is closed due to COVID-19. But bundle up! The trails are wide open and beautifully maintained by Nordic Ski Club members and volunteers.

Our efforts also include supporting cross country skiing at both SLE and Seeley-Swan High School. We know how important it is in all years, but especially now, to help our local kids get outdoors and stay active. While we are not doctors or scientists, we know from our own varied and wide experiences that regular outdoors activity provides incredible benefits: strong muscles and bones, healthy weight, decreased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, better sleep and a better outlook on life.

We are always looking for volunteers and helping hands, so if you are an avid outdoors-person with some time on your hands, we have a spot for you!