[ geese calling ] TONIGHT ON OREGON FIELD GUIDE: A MASSIVE MIGRATION OF TINY TOADS RALLIES A CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP NATURE OUT... THEN WE'RE OFF TO A CLASSROOM 300 FEET IN THE AIR TO LEARN ALL ABOUT WIND TURBINES... AND MEET SOME AMAZING CAMPERS WHO CONQUER THEIR FEARS AND DISABILITIES AT A CAMP EMPHASIZING WHAT THEY CAN DO.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF OREGON FIELD GUIDE.

I'M YOUR HOST, STEVE AMEN.

NOW, YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF IT, BUT CENTRAL OREGON WAS THE SCENE OF AN INVASION THIS LAST SUMMER.

IT WAS THE LARGEST MASS MIGRATION OF YOUNG WESTERN TOADS SINCE 1994.

VINCE PATTON WAS THERE.

Man: YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION, BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY SMALL.

AND IN THESE CHIPS, THEY'RE HARD TO SEE.

MORE OFTEN THAN WE WOULD LIKE, WILD ANIMALS NEED A HAND FROM PEOPLE TO SET NATURE BACK ON COURSE.

AND THOSE WE WANT TO GET OFF THE PATHWAY SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T STEP ON THEM.

SELDOM, THOUGH, DO CHILDREN MAKE SUCH A VITAL DIFFERENCE.

Boy: WHOA, THERE'S THOUSANDS OF THEM.

THIS YEAR IS UNIQUE.

SUNRIVER HAS NOT SEEN THIS MANY TOADS IN 14 YEARS.

THEY'RE COMING ASHORE ALL THE WAY FROM ABOUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THAT BENCH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FAR CORNER OF THE LAKE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM DO THAT BEFORE.

BIOLOGIST JAY BOWERMAN IS THE PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER AT THE SUNRIVER NATURE CENTER.

THE WESTERN TOADS NEXT DOOR IN LAKE ASPEN HAVE DECIDED IT IS TIME TO MOVE INLAND.

IT FELT LIKE AN INSURGENCY.

THEY WERE SENDING SCOUTS OUT.

AND THEN PRETTY SOON SQUADS WERE SHOWING UP.

AND BY YESTERDAY, THERE'S JUST INVASIONS.

THE TOADS ARE NO LONGER TADPOLES.

WITH FEET NOW INSTEAD OF TAILS, THEY ARE READY TO LEAVE THE WATER TO LIVE AS ADULTS ON LAND.

BUT THEIR ROUTE CROSSES PATHS AND ROADS.

IT FEELS, LIKE, SOFT.

THE NATURE CENTER RECRUITS CHILDREN TO HELP THE TOADS MAKE IT SAFELY PAST HUMANS.

OH, MY GOODNESS!

Girl: THE ONLY REASON I CATCH THESE ARE BECAUSE THEY'RE CUTE AND THEY'RE LITTLE.

AND THEY'RE NOT BIG.

AND THEY'RE VERY EASY TO CATCH.

Bowerman: THE FIRST FEW YEARS I WAS HERE, 30 YEARS AGO, WE HAD BIG TOAD EMERGENCES VIRTUALLY EVERY YEAR.

AND NOW IN MANY PLACES IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND THEM.

MOST BIOLOGISTS CONSIDER THEM ONE THAT HAS DECLINED PERHAPS AS MUCH AS 90% ACROSS ITS RANGE.

THE WESTERN TOAD USED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ANIMALS HERE.

NOW BOWERMAN SAYS THEY'LL SEE BREEDING IN LAKE ASPEN ONLY 80% OF THE YEARS, AND POPULATIONS HAVE PLUMMETED.

OFTENTIMES THE EMERGENCE WILL BE 10,000 TOADS, WHICH IS TINY.

THAT MAY BE THE PRODUCT OF ONLY A COUPLE OF PAIRS OF TOADS.

HE CANNOT POINT TO ANY ONE CAUSE FOR THEIR DECLINE.

BOWERMAN BELIEVES SUNRIVER'S HOMES ARE SPREAD OUT ENOUGH THAT THE TOADS STILL HAVE HABITAT.

BUT THERE IS A GROWING THREAT IN THE WATER WHERE THEY GROW UP WHICH LEAVES MANY TOADS SERIOUSLY DISABLED.

FIFTY-FOUR, FIFTY-FIVE... I'M COUNTING THE NORMAL ONES THAT WE'VE CAUGHT ALONG THE PATH AND ROAD.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE DEFORMED ONES THAT MADE IT.

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD LUKE GALLOWAY HAS A PROJECT TO FIND DEFORMED TOADS.

IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT SEARCH.

HE'S MISSING TWO TOES.

MOST HAVE BEEN BITTEN AS TADPOLES BY THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK FISH.

THEY JUST NIBBLE AT THEM.

IT'S A FISH THAT DOES NOT BELONG HERE.

SOMEONE INTRODUCED IT INTO THE LAKE SOMETIME IN THE LATE '70s OR EARLY '80s.

IT'S MISSING A FOOT.

THE STICKLEBACKS BIT IT OFF WHEN HE WAS A BABY.

ALL TOADS HAVE A REMOTE CHANCE OF REACHING ADULTHOOD.

DISABLED ONES HAVE AN EVEN LONGER SHOT.

Bowerman: IF THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF EGGS PRODUCED BY A TOAD IS, SAY, 5,000, THAT MEANS THAT 2 OUT OF 5,000 MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD.

HOWEVER, IT IS SUNRIVER'S ROADS AND BIKE PATHS WHICH PRESENT THE MOST LETHAL BARRIERS.

WELL, IT'S A REAL SCENE OF CARNAGE OUT HERE.

I JUST PACED OFF 50 YARDS UP THERE AND COUNTED 202.

TOADS DID NOT EVOLVE TO DEAL WITH ROADS AND AUTOMOBILES.

Woman: MOST DAYS IT'S ILLEGAL IN SUNRIVER TO WALK ON THE ROAD.

YOU HAVE TO STAY ON THE BIKE PATHS, BUT THEY MAKE AN EXCEPTION DURING THE TOAD MIGRATION.

SINCE HUMANS CREATED THE HAZARD, IT IS HUMANS WHO TRY TO GIVE THE TOADS A HELPING HAND.

OH, WHERE YOU GOING?

IT IS A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT'S SO FUN.

Bowerman: OH, THAT GUY JUST MADE IT!

A SMALL ARMY OF CHILDREN RUN AFTER TOAD AFTER TOAD.

THANKFULLY, FOR THE CHILDREN'S SAFETY, SUNRIVER'S SPEED LIMIT IS ALREADY VERY LOW.

WE'RE TRYING TO STOP THEM FROM GETTING CRUSHED.

SO IF YOU COULD GO REAL SLOW, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I WILL DO THAT.

OKAY, THANKS!

THE TOADLETS ARE RELENTLESS.

THEY POUR OUT OF THE GRASS AND HEAD FOR THE ASPHALT BY THE THOUSANDS.

THERE'S MORE COMING OUT NOW THAN THERE WAS AN HOUR AGO.

BY THE END OF THIS MIGRATION, BOWERMAN ESTIMATES 400,000 TOADS MOVED THIS YEAR.

BY HIS COUNT, 10% NEVER MADE IT ACROSS THE BLACKTOP ALIVE.

ANYONE CAN TAKE A LIFE, BUT IT TAKES A PRINCE TO SAVE A LIFE.

IT'S HARD TO AVOID THEM WHEN WE'RE DRIVING THROUGH HERE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GO AS SLOW AS WE CAN.

Bowerman: THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS I HAVEN'T A CLUE WHERE THEY'RE GOING, BUT THEY SEEM TO KNOW.

THIS YEAR, THE ENTIRE GROUP APPEARS HEADED SOUTHWEST.

LAST YEAR IT WAS SOUTH.

PREVIOUS YEARS, NORTH.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE SOME SORT OF UNIVERSAL SIGNAL IN A YEAR THAT SAYS, "OKAY, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED."

NORMALLY, TOADS GO LIVE IN THE FOREST AS ADULTS.

THIS YEAR, THERE MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT ANSWER TO THE MOST BASIC QUESTION OF ALL: WHY DID THE TOAD CROSS THE ROAD?

TO GET TO THE MEADOW.

THAT IS THE PRIZE, TO GET OVER TO THE MEADOW, HUNKER DOWN, GET SOME FLIES AND OTHER BUGS, BURY THEMSELVES IN THE DIRT DURING THE HOT PART OF THE DAY.

AND TO THE MEADOW THE SURVIVORS WILL GO.

Bowerman: YOU GUYS ALL WANT TO HELP?

AT LEAST THESE BUCKETS OF TOADS HAVE MADE IT SAFELY PAST THE CARS.

NOW, WHAT YOU CAN DO IS REACH IN AND GRAB A HANDFUL OF TOADS AND SET THEM DOWN RIGHT THERE AND THEN WALK BACK AWAY SO THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN COME TURN THEM LOOSE, OKAY?

[ children chattering excitedly ] NO MORE VEHICLES TO ENDANGER THEIR LIVES.

JUST NATURE'S THREATS, LIKE GARTER SNAKES, ROBINS, AND THE USUAL COMPETITION FOR FOOD.

WITH THEIR ORIENTATION AND THEIR PROPENSITY FOR MOVING IN A SINGLE DIRECTION, ONCE WE GET THEM SAFELY ACROSS THE ROAD, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THEM.

AT THAT POINT THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.

THIS SORT OF AN EMERGENCE IS SPECIAL AT THE NATURE CENTER BECAUSE WE WANT THE KIDS TO COME AWAY FROM HERE EXCITED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY SEE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A REAL SPECIAL EVENT THAT THEY GOT TO WITNESS.

LOOK AT THEM ALL!

NOW, THERE'S A MIGRATION!

YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT TOADS AND ALL KINDS OF CENTRAL OREGON WILDLIFE AT THE SUNRIVER NATURE CENTER YEAR-ROUND.

WE ALSO HAVE A LINK SET UP AT OUR WEB SITE AT opb.org/fieldguide.

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SAYS WIND POWER SLOWS THE GROWTH OF HEAT-TRAPPING GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

SOMEDAY, 20% OF THE NATION'S ELECTRICITY USE MAY BE SUPPLIED BY WIND TURBINES.

AND AS JIM NEWMAN SHOWS US, HERE IN OREGON THERE IS A DRIVE TO PROVIDE SKILLED WORKERS FOR THE GROWING WINDPOWER INDUSTRY.

THE FUTURE ARRIVES IN OUTSTATE OREGON, SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.

THE FLATBEDS ROLL ALONG THE BACK ROADS TO WIND FARMS SPROUTING IN WHEAT FIELDS.

Man: WIND TURBINES ARE AN AWESOME ADVANCEMENT.

I REMEMBER GOING ON SERVICE CALLS WITH MY DAD, WORKING ON APPLIANCES, AND WE'D GO OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'D SEE A GIGANTIC WIND TURBINE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

IT'S EASY TO LOSE YOUR SENSE OF SCALE IN VAST SHERMAN COUNTY.

BUT THE WIND TURBINES RISE NEARLY 400 FEET TO THE TIP OF THE BLADE.

A GIGANTIC TOWER WITH BIG OLD BLADES SPINNING.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE FASCINATING.

THE TURBINES ARE LIKE SHIPS INSIDE, AND JEFF BUCKLEY NAVIGATES THE INTERIOR.

HE'S ADVANCED FROM TOASTER AND TV SET REPAIR TO WIND TECHNICIAN.

HE HAS OVERSIGHT OF ROBOTS THAT MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

IT'S KNOWING WHAT THE TURBINE IS THINKING, WHAT KIND OF INPUTS ARE GOING TO CAUSE IT TO THINK ONE THING AND WHAT KINDS OF INPUTS ARE GOING TO MAKE IT NOT WANT TO RUN.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND TROUBLESHOOT AND TRACE THE CIRCUITS THROUGH SCHEMATICS, WHAT CIRCUITS ARE GOING TO FIX THAT TURBINE.

A WIND TECHNICIAN IS PART MECHANIC, PART ELECTRICIAN, PART COMPUTER WHIZ, AND SOMETIMES AN ACROBAT.

EVERY DAY TECHNOLOGY'S GROWING, AND EVERY DAY THINGS ARE CHANGING IN TECHNOLOGY.

AND SO IT'S A DAILY PROCESS TO KEEP UP WITH THAT.

WE ARE AT THE KLONDIKE WIND PARK.

THERE ARE SCORES OF WIND TURBINES HERE.

MORE ARE ON THE WAY.

AT KLONDIKE TWO, THERE'S 50 TURBINES.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT EACH AND EVERY TURBINE, AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CORRECT FROM HERE, WE WILL DO THAT.

IF NOT, WE WILL GO TO THE ACTUAL TURBINE AND TROUBLESHOOT IT.

THE CENTRAL COMPUTER SAYS TURBINE 19 SHUT DOWN BECAUSE IT NEEDS REPAIR.

JEFF BUCKLEY AND COLLEAGUE JON TRUNKEY ARE DISPATCHED, BUT NOT ALONE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE CLIMBING AN 80-METER TOWER.

WE'RE GOING TO GO ONE PERSON AT A TIME.

ONE PERSON PER LADDER SECTION.

THEY MUST BE TIED OFF AT ALL TIMES FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THAT OF YOUR COLLEAGUES BELOW YOU.

STUDENTS FROM THE COLUMBIA GORGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM ARE ON THEIR FIRST ASCENT.

SHOULD I GO FIRST?

YEAH, YOU WANT TO GO FIRST.

SO THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, STRAIGHT UP.

THE LADDER IS 263 FEET HIGH.

THEY CANNOT FALL; THEY ARE CLIPPED TO A CABLE.

THERE WE GO.

THE CLIMB CAN BE GRUELING ANYWAY.

ONE STEP AT A TIME.

IF YOUR ARMS GET TIRED, STOP, TAKE A BREAK.

YOU COULD JUST LEAN BACK AGAINST THE TOWER.

KEEP BOTH FEET ON THE RUNGS, AND THEN YOU COULD REST YOUR ARMS, ALSO.

[ breathing heavily ] IT'S NOT A RACE.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

Buckley: LEFT HAND, RIGHT HAND, LEFT HAND, RIGHT HAND, LEFT HAND, RIGHT HAND.

DON'T LOOK DOWN, DON'T LOOK DOWN.

[ chuckles ] JEFF BUCKLEY GRADUATED FROM COLUMBIA GORGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

PPM ENERGY, OWNER OF THE KLONDIKE SITES, IS LOOKING TO THE SCHOOL FOR MORE SKILLED WORKERS.

Man: THIS IS A HYDRAULIC KIT.

HYDRAULIC PISTONS WILL BE USED TO CHANGE THE PITCH ANGLES ON THE BLADES.

D.J.

OSWALD AND TRISTAN SHELL-SPURLING ARE CANDIDATES FOR WORK AT KLONDIKE.

TAMMY WEATHERBURY IS A CANDIDATE, TOO.

THE CGCC CURRICULUM INCLUDES AN ASSEMBLY LINE WITH A COMPUTER PROGRAMMED TO MALFUNCTION.

THIS LITTLE UNIT RIGHT HERE, IT'S CALLED A PROGRAMMABLE CONTROLLER.

STUDENTS LEARN TO OUTTHINK THE MACHINE.

THEY HAVE TO DO THAT ON THE JOB.

WHEN WE DID IT, WE ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPROGRAM IT.

BREAKING IT UP INTO DIFFERENT PARTS MAKES IT MUCH LESS COMPLICATED.

IT'S ALL STRAIGHT UP.

IT HELPS TO BE PART MONKEY.

TO MASTER A WIND TURBINE, TECHNOLOGICAL KNOW-HOW IS JUST PART OF THE EQUATION.

PHYSICAL STAMINA IS ESSENTIAL.

[ breathing heavily ] WIND TECHS CLIMB MULTIPLE TOWERS -- SOMETIMES THOUSANDS OF VERTICAL FEET -- ON A DAILY BASIS.

Weatherbury: THE CLIMB -- YEAH, IT'S SLIGHTLY TERRIFYING.

BUT THE CHALLENGE, I'M DRAWN TO THE CHALLENGE.

WHEW!

THAT'S A GOOD FEELING.

YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING THAT DAY.

UNEMPLOYMENT HAS PLAGUED NORTH CENTRAL OREGON.

WIND POWER MAY MEAN 400 NEW JOBS IN THE AREA AS NEW TURBINES COME ONLINE.

COLUMBIA GORGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLANS TO TRAIN LOCALS TO MEET THE NEED, SAYS CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER DR.

SUSAN WOLFF.

OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS TO BE AN ECONOMIC LEADER AND TO DEVELOP THE ECONOMY IN A WAY THAT CAN INCREASE FAMILY-WAGE JOBS.

WE TRY TO FORESEE WHAT'S COMING AND PREPARE THE WORKFORCE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

TWENTY-FOUR STUDENTS ARE STUDYING RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

TODAY MANY OF THEM ARE AT THE PPM ENERGY KLONDIKE SITE.

THE COMPANY'S TRAINING MANAGER, JEREMY NORTON, BRIEFS THEM ON SAFETY IN THE TOWER.

YOU HAVE A LONG CLIMB DOWN, SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE, AND FIRE IS ONE OF THEM.

SO IF YOU KEEP THE TURBINE CLEAN, -- KEEP IT FREE OF GREASE, FREE OF OIL -- YOU HAVE LESS OF A HAZARD FOR FIRE, LESS OF A HAZARD FOR SLIPPING.

SO WELCOME TO THE TOP.

NICE!

IN THE TURBINE HOUSING AT THE TOP OF TOWER 19, COLUMBIA GORGE STUDENTS TAMMY, TRISTAN, AND D.J HAVE COMPLETED THEIR FIRST CLIMB.

Buckley: WHAT YOU FEEL NOW -- A LITTLE BIT OF SWAY -- THAT'S NORMAL.

THE TOWER'S MADE TO SWAY.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT ABOUT 18 MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS.

THE STUDENTS' TOUR OF THE TURBINE HOUSING INCLUDES THE UPTOWER COMPUTER.

WHEN WIND SPEEDS ARE TOO HIGH, THE COMPUTER PREVENTS THE BLADES FROM SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.

IF IT'S THINKING THAT IT'S GOING TOO FAST OR IF IT IS GOING TOO FAST, THIS IS GOING TO THROW A SAFETY CHAIN, AND IT'S GOING TO STOP THE TURBINE AS FAST AS IT CAN.

THE COMPUTER HAS ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO REACT TO HIGH WINDS.

DELAY CAN BE DISASTROUS.

AT A NEARBY WIND FARM, ANOTHER POWER COMPANY LOST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THE COMPUTER FAILED TO STOP THE ROTOR QUICKLY ENOUGH.

WIND BUCKLED THE TOWER.

THERE IS ONE FINAL FACTOR THAT DICTATES WHO BECOMES A WIND TECH AND WHO STEPS ASIDE.

[ yelling ] EVEN IN HIGH WIND, A TECHNICIAN MUST SOMETIMES WALK THE TOP OF THE TURBINE, 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.

IF YOU NEED TO GO OUT ONTO THE HUB, ONE THING THAT YOU NEED TO DO IS YOU NEED TO SET THE BLADES UP SO THEY'RE AT A RABBIT-EAR POSITION.

BRAKE!

OKAY, I'VE GOT TO GO TO THE OTHER SIDE AND PUT THE ROTOR LOCK IN.

THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES SHOULD KEEP THE ROTOR LOCKED, BUT WORKING IN THE ROTOR HUB IS PARTICULARLY RISKY.

THE WORKERS TAKE NO CHANCES.

IT'S A SECONDARY BACKUP IN CASE WE DO LOSE BRAKE PRESSURE.

WE DON'T WANT THE HUB TO SPIN AT ALL.

A WORKER CAUGHT IN A SPINNING HUB WOULD TUMBLE LIKE LAUNDRY IN A DRYER.

[ wind whistling ] THE ROTOR IS LOCKED.

JEFF BUCKLEY, CLIPPED TO A RAILING, MOVES ALONG THE EXTERIOR OF THE TURBINE HOUSING.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE A COMPONENT THAT FAILS AND THE BLADE WILL NOT PITCH, SO WE GO OUT AND TROUBLESHOOT.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOTHING RATTLING AROUND IN THERE, THAT THERE'S NO LOOSE COMPONENTS.

THERE'S VARIOUS THINGS FOR MAINTENANCES, GO OUT AND CLEAN.

Buckley: THIS IS ACTUALLY THE UNIT THAT'S GOING TO BE TELLING THE BLADES WHAT ANGLE THEY NEED TO BE AT.

IT'S GOING TO PUSH THIS WHOLE ENTIRE BLADE.

IT'S GOING TO TURN THE WHOLE ENTIRE BLADE SO THAT WE CAN PITCH IT INTO THE WIND OR OUT OF THE WIND.

A WIND TURBINE IS A ROBOT PROGRAMMED TO TRACK THE WIND.

IT AUTOMATICALLY ANGLES ITS ROTOR BLADES TO GENERATE MAXIMUM POWER.

TENDING SUCH A TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL REQUIRES A CERTAIN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FORTITUDE.

COLUMBIA GORGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS AN EAGER STUDENT BODY ANXIOUS TO JOIN JEFF BUCKLEY AT THE TOP OF THE TOWER.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I ENJOY, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING -- I'M GOING TO BE CONTINUING GROWING AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT.

Woman: WHOO!

YEAH, JARED!

FINALLY TONIGHT, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO TAKE YOU TO A VERY SPECIAL PLACE FOR VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE.

EVERY SUMMER FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS, THE TRANQUIL, SCENIC SPLENDOR OF THE MT.

HOOD NATIONAL FOREST HAS BEEN SHATTERED BY A GREAT AND JOYOUS NOISE THAT LASTS EIGHT WEEKS.

[ cheers and applause ] Girls: GO JEREMY, GO JEREMY!

THE CHANTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR A GUY CABLE-CROSSING A STREAM... OR A YOUNG CLIMBER TAKING HIS TURN AT THE WALL.

SCENES LIKE THESE ARE NOT THAT UNUSUAL FOR A SUMMER CAMP IN OREGON.

BUT WHAT MAKES THE MT.

HOOD KIWANIS CAMP UNIQUE IS THAT THE CAMPERS HERE ALL HAVE DISABILITIES.

THE CAMP SERVES OVER 600 CHILDREN AND ADULTS EACH SUMMER, AND FOR ONE AMAZING WEEK THE EMPHASIS IS ON WHAT THEY CAN DO RATHER THAN WHAT THEY CAN'T.

THIS IS BEN'S FIRST TIME.

THIS IS JEN.

HI, BEN.

SHE'S GOING TO BE YOUR COUNSELOR.

JEN IS A PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT WORKING TO EARN CREDIT.

SHE IS ONE OF 300 STUDENTS WHO, ALONG WITH ANOTHER 200 STAFF MEMBERS, PROVIDES THE BEST CAMPER TO COUNSELOR RATIO AROUND.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO CAMP BEFORE?

NO.

BUT BEFORE THE REAL FUN BEGINS, EVERY CAMPER GOES THROUGH A THOROUGH CHECK-IN PROCESS, A NERVE-RACKING EXPERIENCE FOR SOME.

DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWN ALLERGIES TO MEDICATIONS OR FOOD?

AND AFTER PROVIDING A MEDICAL HISTORY, BEN'S FREE TO START ENJOYING HIMSELF.

SOMEBODY CARVED THAT, BEN.

[ growls ] [ laughing ] I HOPE HE HAS A GREAT TIME AND MEETS A LOT OF NICE FRIENDS AND STUFF BECAUSE YOU KNOW, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES KIND OF DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SOCIALIZING THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO.

BUT HAVING FUN AT THE CAMP IS JUST ONE OF THE GOALS OF DIRECTOR SKYE FARINA.

AND IT ALSO GIVES THE CHANCE FOR THE CAMPERS TO BE INDEPENDENT, TO HAVE THAT TIME TO BE AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS, THEIR CAREGIVERS, THEIR GROUP HOME, WHOEVER, AND HAVE THAT SUPPORT AND REALLY LEARN TO RELY ON THEMSELVES.

ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD KELSEY HAS NEVER BEEN AWAY FROM HOME.

Woman: I JUST THINK SHE'S READY.

SHE'S BEEN VERY HEALTHY FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND IT'S TIME SHE GAINED A LITTLE INDEPENDENCE.

AND HOW ABOUT YOU, MOM?

IT'S TIME MOM GAINS A LITTLE INDEPENDENCE.

COME ON, MOMMY'S GOING, TOO.

Farina: IT PROVIDES RESPITE FOR THE PARENTS.

THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY TIME THAT THEY GET A VACATION FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE YEAR, AND IT'S THEIR ONE CHANCE TO HAVE SOME PERSONAL TIME AND RECONNECT WITH OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.

THE PARENTS CAN RELAX, KNOWING THEIR KIDS ARE SAFE.

MANY OF THEM WILL HAVE THEIR VERY OWN COUNSELOR FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU CAME HERE LAST YEAR?

YES.

WERE YOU AFRAID LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS YOUR FIRST TIME?

YEAH.

YEAH?

NOW I'M EXCITED!

ASHLEY OBVIOUSLY CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED.

FIRST THING THE NEXT DAY, CABLE-CROSSING THE RIVER.

ALL RIGHT, BEN!

BEN IS THE FIRST TO ATTEMPT THE CROSSING.

Crowd [ chanting ]: BEN, BEN, BEN!

AND HE MAKES IT LOOK PRETTY EASY.

JUST LOOK AT THAT FACE.

KEEP COMING, BUD, KEEP COMING.

KEEP COMING, KEEP COMING.

BUT DAVE ISN'T SO SURE HE'S READY.

IT'S GOING WAY UP HIGH, THOUGH.

REALLY, REALLY HIGH.

BEN!

IT'S TOO MUCH FOR DAVE, SO HE AND HIS COUNSELOR HANNA WALK AWAY TO TALK ABOUT HIS CONCERNS.

ALL RIGHT.

WANT TO HEAD BACK THE OTHER WAY?

NO.

DAVE DECIDES HE DOES WANT TO TRY IT WITH A LITTLE EXTRA HELP.

I'M STILL GOING TO DO THAT.

I'M STILL KIND OF READY, THOUGH.

AND WHILE HANNA HOVERS NEARBY OFFERING ENCOURAGEMENT, DAVE EVENTUALLY OVERCOMES HIS FEAR AND STEPS OUT ON THE CABLE.

HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE A LITTLE NERVOUS.

BUT IT WAS A REAL THRILL TO WATCH SOMEONE TACKLE HIS FEAR WITH SUCH COURAGE.

KEEP COMING.

[ cheering ] ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

ALL RIGHT, YEAH!

[ cheering ] LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID, DUDE.

LOOK AT THAT, YOU JUST CAME ALL THE WAY ACROSS THAT.

YEAH.

HOW'S THAT FEEL?

FEELS GOOD.

HE IS SCARED OF HEIGHTS, AND SO I WAS HOPING WE CAN GET ONE THING DONE, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT WE DO ON THE OTHER ADVENTURES.

AND THAT TAKES US TO "THE WALL," ONE OF THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES.

DAVE ISN'T TOO SURE HE'S READY FOR THIS ONE.

GOOD JOB, BEN!

SO BEN DECIDES TO GIVE IT A TRY.

YOU GOT IT?

USE YOUR ARMS, USE YOUR ARMS!

GOT IT!

HE DISCOVERS JUST HOW HARD THIS IS, BUT HE PUSHES HIMSELF TO CLIMB AS HIGH AS HE CAN.

GOOD JOB, BEN.

NICE JOB.

007 STYLE, HUH?

[ cheering and applause ] GOOD JOB, BUDDY.

DID YOU HAVE FUN?

YEAH!

PRETTY TOUGH, HUH?

IT WAS TOUGH!

THE CAMPERS WON'T HAVE TO WORK AS HARD ON THE NEXT ADVENTURE, A WILD RIDE CALLED THE FLYING SQUIRREL.

THIS ONE REQUIRES TEAMWORK AS THEY PULL TOGETHER TO GET JARED FLYING 30 FEET IN THE AIR.

[ cheering ] THIS MAY LOOK SCARY, BUT THE CAMPERS RATED IT THE NUMBER-ONE ADVENTURE.

YEAH, JARED!

ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD AND BRING HIM DOWN SLOW!

OKAY, SLOWLY.

[ laughing ] DID YOU LIKE THAT, JARED?

ALL RIGHT, JARED, GO AHEAD AND STAND UP.

DO YOU WANT TO DO IT AGAIN?

DO IT AGAIN.

DO IT AGAIN?

ALL RIGHT!

BUT IT'S TIME TO SLOW THINGS DOWN WITH A LITTLE FISHING, WHERE MICHAEL IS ON THE HUNT... THERE'S OSCAR!

FOR THE ONE THAT ALWAYS GETS AWAY.

HE WILL NOT ESCAPE.

COME ON, COME ON, COME ON.

THERE WE GO.

YES, YES, YES!

BRING HIM OVER, BRING HIM OVER!

I WANT TO SEE HIM, I WANT TO SEE MY FISH.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD JOB, MICHAEL.

PUT HIM ON THE STUMP.

YOU GOT HIM.

I THINK THIS IS OSCAR'S BUDDY.

I GOT OSCAR'S BUDDY, GUYS!

I GOT HIS BUDDY!

I GOT HIS BUDDY, I GOT HIS PARTNER.

YOU'RE DEAD MEAT.

JEEZ LOUISE!

NO PAN-FRIED FISH FOR MICHAEL TONIGHT.

HE'S CELEBRATING WITH TRADITIONAL CAMPFIRE FOOD WITH THE REST OF THE GANG BEFORE HEADING BACK TO THE DORM.

NEXT MORNING, AND IT'S TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP, A CHANCE TO ENJOY THE PASSING SCENERY.

OR MAYBE NOT.

THIS IS APPARENTLY A PARTY ON WHEELS, AND EVERYONE'S INVITED.

THE FINAL DESTINATION IS TRILLIUM LAKE FOR A LITTLE CANOEING.

THERE WE GO.

OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO TWIST YOU AROUND.

YOU CAN TAKE A NICE, SLOW, DRY CRUISE AROUND THE LAKE OR GET AS WET AND DIRTY AS YOU WANT.

IT'S REALLY YOUR CHOICE.

KEVIN, DID YOU LIKE IT?

YEAH, I LIKE IT.

THANK YOU.

DO YOU LIKE GETTING WET?

OH, YES, I DO.

THEN KEVIN WILL LOVE WHAT'S COMING UP... [ yelling ] RAFTING THE DESCHUTES RIVER IN A CAREFULLY SELECTED SECTION THAT SAFELY OFFERS THE THRILLS OF RUNNING THE RAPIDS.

[ exclaiming and laughing ] OHHH!

AND WHILE THE DAY ON THE RIVER WAS COMING TO A LEISURELY END, BACK AT CAMP THINGS WERE HEATING UP FOR THE FINAL NIGHT'S BARBECUE.

IT WAS A NIGHT OF GOOD FOOD AND EVEN BETTER ENTERTAINMENT.

[ singing "The Hokey Pokey" ] ?

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT ?

?

YEE-HAW ?

[ cheers and applause ] I LOVE YOU!

I LOVE YOU, TOO!

THE NEXT MORNING WAS A TIME FOR GOODBYES... AND HELLOS.

I MISSED YOU.

IT WAS A PRETTY AWESOME EXPERIENCE.

AND WITH THIS CROWD, EVEN THE GOODBYES ARE FUN.

AND WHAT A WEEK.

SIX DAYS AGO, SAMMY WAS A VERY SAD FIRST-TIME CAMPER.

TODAY, ALL SMILES WITH HER NEW FRIENDS.

AND IT'S THE SMILES I'LL REMEMBER.

I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF CAMPS, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS MANY PEOPLE THIS HAPPY ALL THE TIME.

LOVE IT, I WANT TO COME AGAIN.

DO YOU THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD COME?

YEAH!

AND WE'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR.

BYE, MICHAEL.

BYE, BUDDY.

WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

OKAY.

THEY AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO WILL BE RETURNING NEXT YEAR.

I'LL BE THERE, TOO, THIS TIME WITHOUT A CAMERA, TO DROP OFF MY DAUGHTER, ANNIE.

SHE HAD A GREAT TIME, TOO.

AND THAT'S IT FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF OREGON FIELD GUIDE.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO WATCH ANY OF THIS WEEK'S STORIES AGAIN, THEY'RE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AND BY GOING TO OUR WEB SITE AT opb.org/fieldguide.

AND UNTIL NEXT WEEK, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

Captions by LNS Captioning Portland, Oregon www.LNScaptioning.com