Milfoil eradicator

SPIRIT LAKE – The Inland Northwest has a new weapon in the war against an invasive, aquatic plant that chokes lakes and ponds.

Her name is Kymberly Bowlby. A 15-year-old scuba diver, Bowlby’s learning to eradicate Eurasian milfoil in Spirit Lake.

She’s being trained through the new mentoring program established by Spirit Lake-based Youth Equipped for Success group, or YES.

YES, a fledgling nonprofit for 12- to 18-year-olds, also offers cultural and social activities, life skills classes and GED preparation.

Its purpose is to help youngsters learn the skills they’ll need to make a smooth transition into adulthood, said Crystal Owens, Yes program coordinator.

Bowlby was among the first to get involved in the mentoring program. She said she’s thrilled to be working with Doug Freeland, a professional local diver and milfoil expert who frequently speaks at aquatics conferences.

Freeland owns Aquatic Consulting Engineers and has contracts to keep Lake Tahoe, Spirit Lake and Lake Cocolalla milfoil-free.

On a recent sunny day, Bowlby, in a black and purple wet suit, boarded Freeland’s pontoon boat to search for the plants in Spirit Lake. They slipped air tanks on their backs, plopped into the lake and scanned the sediment-laced waters for feathery milfoil.

Behind him, Freeland towed a modified gold-mining dredge, which floated on the surface. As Bowlby peered through her face mask, Freeland aimed the dredge hose at a swaying milfoil plant, vacuuming it up into a waterproof bin for later disposal.

Other teens are pursuing other interests. Some are aspiring auto mechanics. Others are pursuing health and fitness, culinary arts and angling.

Learning alongside accomplished adults can shoot teens up a rung on their career ladders, said Debbie Martin, Bowlby’s mom.

Martin believes that Kymberly’s immersion in the aquatic world will help her determine whether to pursue the discipline as a career.

“Doug said if she gets a head start on this, she can go a lot of places,” Martin said.

The other teens are thriving in their mentorships, too, said Owens.

She mentored two girls over the summer. They worked out together at a women’s health club, learned about healthy meal choices and discussed issues that influence self-esteem.

Meanwhile, a gaggle of aspiring mechanics, both boys and girls, souped up four riding lawnmowers and won a prize at the town’s popular spring Big Back-In races.

Another 16-year-old boy is studying culinary arts at the elbow of Chef Kyle Bowlby, who’s worked in restaurant kitchens around the region. He’s Kymberly’s older brother.

“In the long-term, we’d like to have 20 to 30 kids with mentors who they’ll meet with at least once a month. And we’d like mentors to commit to one year to bond,” Owens said.

One of the benefits of the program, Owens said, is it’s sometimes easier for teens to take advice from adults outside their families.

YES makes sure those adults can be trusted. Mentor applicants must pass background checks. And they can only meet with teens in the presence of at least one other adult – and never in private.

Owens hopes more adults will volunteer for the program this coming school year.

“We have big visions for what we’re doing here and we’ll try our hardest to get every kid connected,” Owens said.