Ski expansion isn’t green

Post Falls High School teacher Cynthia Rust, in her May 16 op-ed, “Funding ski area supports students,” argues for $2.23 million to improve buildings and add a 15,000-square-foot guest center at Mt. Spokane Snow Park in the interest of furthering young students’ involvement in environmental issues.

Sorry, I don’t buy it. The building is mostly to provide space for the ski business, rentals, etc. Real involvement with the environment must begin by valuing it, coming to understand our connection with this natural world in a practical and emotional way, face to face. Weeklong excursions into our wildest nature has shown to really make the difference in teens’ appreciation of and interest in wildlife and wild places, which is the impetus for protection and environmentalism.

Since Ms. Rust wants to expose these kids to the interface of human use and wilderness, I suggest camping out on Mount Spokane this year and watching the removal of the old-growth trees in order to add seven ski runs planned for the northwest corner of the mountain.

Bonnie Jones

Newport