HIKING -- A series of Community Kids Hikes are being organized this summer near Lake Pend Oreille by the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness to encourage families to get outdoors. The hikes will be in both the Idaho and Montana portions of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

“We’ll be going at the kids’ pace for these hikes; checking out sticks, listening to the birds and really focusing on the journey and experience," said Britta Mireley, the group's assistant program coordinator. "And when it’s time to turn around and go back, we’ll turn around and go back. No time or distance records here!”

Moms and Kids Hikes are set for June 28 on Star Peak Trail No. 999 off SR 200 near the Montana-Idaho border Britta and July 19 at the Ross Creek Cedars up Montana's Bull River.  Two FSPW staff members who also go by “Mom” will be leading the hikes aimed at kids of all ages, Mireley said.

Other hikes geared to families with children 13 and under include: June 30 on Regal Creek Trail 556 and Morris Creek Trail 132, July 21 on Ross Creek Cedars Nature Loop and Aug. 11 at Big Eddy Trail 999.

The friends group also leads hikes in the proposed wilderness for adults. Info:  www.scotchmanpeaks.org.