06/06/2023
The Stevenson High School Lewis and Clark Expedition commenced last week, making this the 20th year of the trip’s inception. Junior and Senior high school students participated in an over 132-mile journey, kayaking the Columbia River from Beacon Rock to Astoria. Students are immersed in a year-long study of the original Lewis and Clark expedition. The final assignment for the class is paddling their kayaks over a five-day span, completing a difficult, memorable experience. Stevenson High School teacher Bill LaCombe, with assistance from teacher Kevin Edwards, spearheads this event, dedicating an enormous amount of his own, personal time to make such an incredible learning experience possible. With the assistance from volunteer boat operators and chaperones from the community, this trip is a reality. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office patrol boat, operated by volunteer and retired Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Monty Buettner, along with Skamania County Emergency Medical Services personnel, participated in this journey, assisting in the safety of all participants. Sheriff Summer Scheyer also participated in the journey, kayaking the stretch from Government Island to St. Helens. “This was a phenomenal experience and I was so honored to be invited to such a monumental event. I am grateful for Bill Lacombe’s invitation and John Mobley’s gracious offer to allow me use of his awesome kayak. To witness, first-hand, the tenacity of the student participants, the selfless volunteerism of chaperones and support boat operators, and all of those working on the sidelines to make this trip a possibility is something I will never forget. The Sheriff’s Office involvement in this trip is imperative and I love that our agency can be an integral part of this journey.”
