A Cowboy Experience

TWAI Girl's Experience Horseback Riding

On a cool crisp morning, a group of anxious girls set out from Turning Winds Academic Institute to get a taste of the cowboy life by visiting The Western Pleasure Guest Ranch located in Sandpoint, Idaho.  The ranch is a place where anyone young and old can enjoy a little bit of western life with such winter activities as:  horseback riding and sleigh riding.    This ranch has been around for nearly a hundred years and has been a Dude Ranch for wranglers and guests alike.  With the the backdrop of surrounding mountains, barns and rustic log homes and fenced in hay fields, with horses galloping along on this nearly 1000 acre site, you can only imagine what the cowboy life is like.  

The girls were prepared for this rustic adventure.  They were dressed for the occasion each one of them wearing the signature hard wear of a cowboy- the cowboy hat!  After going through some horseback training, the group saddled up and began their adventure meandering through trees, and along dirt roads.  The ride was quieted as the sounds of the day were muffled by the snowflakes falling from sky.  For the most part, the horses were very cooperative and navigated effortlessly.  At times, you could even let go of the reins and the horses seemed to know exactly where they were going.  The grins on the faces of the girls were evident throughout the horseback riding even while the snow fell all around them.  

After horseback riding, the girls enjoyed the unique comfort that can only be found in the warmth of a log home.  The girls sipped on delicious hot chocolate and the sounds of laughter rang out as stories were told of their rustic experiences with being cowboys just for the day.  

Turning Winds Academic Institute believes that meaningful activities promote healthy, healing in the lives of all people regardless of age or circumstances.  For more information on our therapeutic school, please call:  800-845-1380.

The Big Catch of The Day

The Big Catch of The Day! 

On a cool Fall October morning, a group of seven students from Turning Winds Academic Institute boarded the Seagull Charters in Hope, Idaho with Captain Ken.  Lake Pend Oreille is home to the some of the largest fresh water fish ever caught.  In 1947, the world record Rainbow Trout was caught in this lake weighing in at 37 lbs and in 1995 a lake trout weighing 43lbs. 6oz. was caught there as well.

The boys set out to conquer the waters of Lake Pend Oreille with the desire to catch the "big" one.  As the fog began go give way to the beaming rays of sunshine, the lake seemed to sparkle.  With the help of Captain Ken, the young men rigged their fishing poles and began to patiently wait for the catch.  As time went on, one of the boy's yelled out, "I've got a fish, it's a big one."  He began to reel in the line and all the other boys stood around him in excitement -waiting and wondering just how big the fish really was.  As soon as the boys saw the fish come to the surface, laughter erupted as they realized it was not as big as the young man had first thought, only 13 inches in length.

Although the first catch was much smaller than anticipated, the best was yet to come.  Two other fish were caught in the next hour both of which were rather large, about five pounds each.  Unfortunately, those fish had to be released as one was a Bull Trout and the other fish was a Cutthroat Trout - both protected in the waters of Lake Pend Oreille.  The remainder of the day was spent enjoying the surrounding, mountainous views and relaxing in the warmth of the cabin on the Seagull Ship.

Spending quality time engaging in wholesome recreational activities, promotes healing.  To learn more about our dynamic, therapeutic school, please visit:  Turning Winds Academic Institute.