Clark Fork Campus
by Bob Gunter
The beautiful University of Idaho Clark Fork Field Campus offers a magnificent setting for academic courses and workshops, conferences and retreats, school field trips and overnights.
The bear was just inches from me and I could almost feel its hot breath. I thought I perceived a slight movement in my direction but I knew that was not possible because the bear was dead. I was standing in the Natural History Museum located on the campus of the Clark Fork Field Campus in Clark Fork, Idaho. There one can see most of the animals and fowl that are indigenous to this area.
Natural History Museum located on the campus of the Clark Fork Field Campus in Clark Fork, Idaho
Ken Kinucan, manager of the field campus, created the museum with help from his wife Edie. Ken did all the extraordinary taxidermy work presented in the museum. He also built all of the display cases and wrote the interpretative script for each animal. He has so posed the animals that one has the feeling of life and movement. His ability to make each animal look life like comes from his life long study of animals in their natural habitat. This talented man's goal is to provide an educational experience for all that visit the museum. He is dedicated to providing an opportunity for children to learn natural history and ecology.
The campus managed by Ken and Edie has a colorful history. In 1909, the Forest Service set aside 19 plus acres of land to establish what was then called the Antelope Ranger Station in the Kaniksu National Forest. The name of the station was later changed to Clark Fork.
In 1937 the Civilian Conservation Corps built an office building on the northeast side of Mosquito creek and today that building is used as the field campus office, museum and some sleeping rooms. A barn that once belonged to the Ranger Station was converted into a small bunkhouse with two large rooms, toilets and showers. Eight beds are in each room. The old warehouse has been converted to a classroom that will accommodate up to 50 people. The manager's house and another identical residence, Tamarack, were constructed in 1954. The field campus also has a large two-story bunkhouse with bedrooms on the upper floor and a modern commercial kitchen and dining room on the lower floor.
The Forest Service abandoned the station in 1973 and it was used as a "Teen Town" for several years. Disturbed and wayward teenagers were kept in the large bunkhouse but due to unpaid debts the program was closed.
The station was leased to the University of Idaho in 1980 and Dan Dewald was hired as the original manager. Dewald instituted the first Enrichment Series Classes and encouraged the use of the campus by local elementary school groups.
In 1986, Ken Kinucan was hired to replace Dewald who had accepted another position. He continued the renovation of the campus buildings, which Dewald had started, and with the help of his wife, Edie, expanded the Enrichment Series and school programs.
The beautiful campus offers a magnificent setting for academic courses and workshops, conferences and retreats, school field trips and overnights, and any group experience in which privacy and comfort in a natural setting is desired.
To see more great old photos of Sandpoint and the surrounding areas :: Click Here ::
All photographs have been used with permission of the Bonner County Museum.
Old Sandpoint
To experience the charm of a town one must live there. Bob Selle is an old-timer in the Sandpoint area. Here, in his own words, he gives us a peek at a young person's...
Early Sandpoint "Hang Town"
Today Sandpoint, Idaho is known for its beautiful lake and majestic mountains. It is known as a good place to find serenity and a sense of peace. But the Sandpoint...
McFarland House
The old building is called the McFarland House by practically everyone that lives in the Sandpoint, Idaho area. It is located on the corner of Highway 95...
The Fish House
The whistle of the strange looking craft broke the silence as it pulled away from the City Docks of Sandpoint...
Street Cars
In the early days of Sandpoint, Idaho there was quite a transportation problem. For most people there were two ways of getting around-walk or ride a horse...
USO Club
The community Hall in Sandpoint, Idaho took on a national function in 1942. The YMCA leased the hall from the city for $1 a year to be used as a USO club...
2nd Sandpoint Hospital
It was on May 23, 1903 that the Northern Idaho News heralded the opening of Sandpoint's second hospital by stating, " Dr. Ones F. Page established a hospital...
First School
In the early years of the pioneer town called Sandpoint, it was a struggle for parents to educate their children. Funds had to be subscribed to hire the teachers...
Along the Wild Horse Trail
Long before the white man came there was a trail. The Indians for time immemorial had used it. The old trail started on the Spokane River and ran through...
Bonner County Poor Farm
Pat Gooby has lived in Sandpoint all his life and as a child did chores at the old County Poor Farm. I asked Pat to tell me a story about the farm and here...
Coming Home
We sat on the lawn in front of the house that had meant so much to her. She, and her three children, had come from Seattle for a time of remembering...
Hope, Idaho
The first white man to come to the area was the famed David Thompson, map maker and fur dealer. He had traveled from Canada and built Kulyspell House...
The Campfield Ferry
The Idaho Territorial Legislature granted a license to operate a ferry to Charles H. Campfield and Associates. That was on December 22, 1864. The authorized...
Sandpoint had no Ferry
On April 18, 1891, C.R.Martin and A.T.Dickinson received a license for $36.00 after posting a $1,000.00 bond, authorizing them to operate a ferry at...
Here and There in Sandpoint 2
At one time Priest Lake was the scene of a movie camp owned by Nell Shipman. She was an old time movie star and produced movies at Lionhead Lodge...
Library in the Early Years
The roots of the present library system in Bonner County, Idaho, started in 1905 when a few individuals opened a "free reading room". Hope was...
Logging in Bonner County
Bob Selle has lived in this area since 1923. He was seven years of age when his family came to the Sandpoint area. His first experience in logging...
The Sundance Fire
The Selkirk Mountains still show scars from the devastating effects of the Sundance fire. The fire started on August 23, 1967 with a lightning strike...
Pend Oreille Lodge
The two old chimneys still stand like two fingers pointing to the heavens. They are all that remain of what once was a show place along the banks of...
Sandpoint 1901-1902
When you walk the main streets of today's Sandpoint you will find most of the businesses are geared to meet the need of the tourist that frequent the area...
Smelting Companies
It was in March, 1903, that the Kootenai County Republican announced that "ground will be broken in ten days" for the new smelting company located at...
Technology
Men invent things for two reasons: There seems to be in every person a desire to find a better way of doing things and the second reason for invention is to make...
Train Technology
Sandpoint, Idaho, came into being because of the railroad and timber. The advances in technology in these two areas are mind boggling. Follow the railroad...
The War Years 2
Many people came to Sandpoint during the war years. Two of them were Beth Knight and Price May. Her story, in her own words, continues and she tells about...
Trestle fr. Sunnyside to TrestleCr.
The picture is of the old trestle that used to go from Sunnyside to Trestle Creek just a few miles from Sandpoint, Idaho. In the picture there is seen...
©Copyright 1998- by Sandpoint.com - All rights reserved