A class for unique skills up north

FORT KENT - There is one class in the Fort Kent Community High School that grows in popularity each year.  The enthusiasm might be because the topics include canoeing, fishing, map and compass, winter survival and snowshoeing.

John Kaleta of the Fort Kent Community High School said, "If the student wants to take the Maine Guide test when they graduate, they have all the skills and knowledge they need."

CANOE CLASS - John Kaleta (third from right) joins his Maine Guide students at a stop along the Fish River. Dr. Patrick O'Neill is on the left.  In no particular order are Alex Boucher, Zachary Daigle, Jeremy Dionne, Austin Jandreau, Gage Laverdiere, Spencer Levesque, Cody Lozier, Ted Martin, Jacob Morin, Jaimie Nadeau, Antonio Naranja, Kale O'Leary, Kadie Ouellette, Carissa Pelletier, Taylor Pelletier, Jeremy Theriault, Tucker Theriault, Zachary Thibodeau, Jeremy Voisine, and Jessica Walker. On Friday the students canoed from Eagle Lake to Soldier Pond as part of their instruction. - Birden photo

Kaleta, a licensed Maine Guide and science teacher at the high school, designed the curriculum and has been teaching the Maine Guide class for nine years.  This year he has over 50 students taking the elective.

Kaleta said, "It's good skills to know.  Anybody should know these skills if they live in northern Maine.

OAR CLASS - Students from John Kaleta's Maine guide class head out across Eagle Lake. The students are working to acquire the skills they need in order to become licensed Maine guides.  - Birden photo

For the students, the course offers an alternative to the typical environment the tens of millions of other students in the United States face each day.  While their peers are struggling with a curriculum in math, science, and the humanities, the Maine guide students are receiving instruction that gives them useful and marketable skills right here in the St. John Valley.

Kaleta said, "It's a great way to capitalize on our scenic beauty."

On Friday, eighteen of those students took a field trip to Eagle Lake for a lesson in canoeing.  Accompanied by three adults, including Superintendent Patrick O'Neill, the class took a bus to Birch Point on Eagle Lake.

There, Kaleta organized the students into pairs and had them pick their canoes.  There were kayaks for the adults.

Some of the students were confident and ready to head out on the water.  For others, the start was shaky as they struggled to get into the canoes without falling in the water.

But soon the entire class was on the water and making their way northwards towards the Fish River outlet.

O'Neill headed out rapidly, leading the experienced river rats.  Kaleta stayed near the back, assisting and encouraging the novices.

Kaleta pointed towards a series of mounds that made a dotted line across one end of Eagle Lake.  He explained the mounds were not the remnants of an old bridge, but were the remains of a shield that earlier folks had built to keep spawning trout in the lake.  He explained that, years ago, people didn't realize how important it was to allow the fish to return to their spawning pools.  He said once the earlier Valley natives learned the lesson, they removed the shield.

One canoe had a hole in the side which worried the students, but Kaleta reassured them that the craft would not sink.

Eventually the entire class was moving along the Fish River, nine or so boats strung out along the bends, banks and oxbows.  Students saw two golden eagles, terns, and families of young ducks swimming rapidly away from the canoes.  The river was so low that all the canoes foundered on rocks and mounds of gravel occasionally.  Even the kayaks were unable to slip across the water without scraping the bottom occasionally.

GOIN' DOWNSTREAM - Jessica Walker and Joe O'Leary enjoy a moment on Eagle Lake. - Birden photo

After a few hours and about five miles of canoeing, the class arrived at Soldier Pond.

Students that started out shaky and unsure arrived confident and tired.

Kaleta remarked, "It's always beautiful, but it can be a treacherous environment."

Student Jessica Walker said, "It was good. I enjoyed it and I wanted to do all the activities.  I don't want to become a Maine guide, but I want to experience as much as I can."

Another student, Alex Boucher, said, "It was a nice trip. I've never done that part of the trail, but I'd do it again."

Taylor Pelletier remarked that her favorite part was "...not getting stuck on the rocks."

When the students arrived at the high school to finish their regular classes, Kaleta said, "You'll be a little sore tomorrow, which will be something to help you remember."

Superintendent O'Neill, an experienced and avid kayaker, supports the program.  He said, "It's a great program.  We're right in nature's back yard."

He noted the class stimulates the students and can lead to employment after high school.

When the students walked into the school building, they all looked a little tired, and they were all smiling after the lesson.