Uncategorized
Summiting the clouds
Published
8 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersFlight school trains cancer survivors
By Jessianne Wright EBS Contributor
BOZEMAN – Controls set; gauges good; flap configurations ready; seatbelts clasped.
During the second week of July, four young adults took to the clouds with the help of Summit Aviation flight school. A part of Bozeman’s Eagle Mount Big Sky Kids program, this five-day camp taught survivors of childhood cancer how to pilot a plane.
Noah Elliott, a 19 year old from Missouri, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left knee when he was 16, at a time when he was seriously considering a professional skateboarding career.
Elliott received rigorous chemotherapy and surgical treatments, but a staph infection left him seeking ways to remain mobile but also save his leg. In the end, Elliott chose to amputate his leg from the knee down so he could maintain an active lifestyle with the help of a prosthetic.
Elliott joined three other survivors invited back to Eagle Mount this year to partake in Flight Camp, held at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
Megan Custer, a University of Montana graduate, has been in remission for eight years after treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma during her first year in college. She received four rounds of chemotherapy and 16 radiation treatments in six months. Her doctors are now most concerned with the long-term effects of childhood cancer and treatment, including growth abnormalities, heart challenges and compromised bone health.
Eighteen-year-old Eden Finn of California was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 13, after chronic flu symptoms and a distended stomach wore her down. An X-ray showed a mass in Finn’s stomach and she was rushed to the hospital to receive months of chemotherapy and radiation. After failing a mid-treatment check, Finn signed up for a bone marrow transplant and since then her health has stabilized. She intends to study nursing at Northern Arizona University next year.
“I get the chance to live right now, and that’s what I’m going to do,” Finn said of her decision to attend Flight Camp.
Silas Rea of Helena was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma when he was 15, and treatment included six rounds of chemotherapy, spinal chemotherapy and extended hospital stays. Now 18, Rea plans to attend Montana State University in the fall and said he was so inspired by Flight Camp that he might study aviation.
These four were each paired with certified flight instructors from Summit Aviation that donated their time for the entire week. Thanks to private donations, the pairs spent more than 10 hours of flight time in Diamond DA20 aircrafts—small, two-seat propeller planes designed for training.
The pilot training also included courses on aerodynamics and cross-country flight planning, as well as unique tours of private hangars and planes. The campers flew to a number of airstrips, including those in Dillon, Big Timber and Helena. To conclude the week, the group flew to Driggs, Idaho, in Summit’s new King Air 200 nine-person jet.
On the way, the flight passed over Yellowstone National Park, offering the campers rare views of iconic landmarks like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake, and Grand Prismatic Spring, among others, as well as incredible views of the Teton Range.
Ben Walton, owner and founder of Summit Aviation, accompanied the young adults through the program every step of the way. Walton created the program three years ago with a desire to help cancer survivors after two loved ones battled the disease.
“For a lot of people, aviation is one of those things other people do. A lot of people don’t fly because they don’t think they can,” Walton said. Looking to the four students, Walton smiled. “But all of these guys could become pilots.
“Cancer has paralyzed them in the past and I think aviation is the opposite of that,” Walton explained. “Aviation empowers.”
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716