It’s been just over eight months since North Idaho STEM Charter Academy students were given a $10,000 grant by the Rathdrum City Council and Hayden Homes Foundation.

Academy students Catherine Rocco, Riley Foutz, Ryan Wood and Talon McCarthy were awarded the grant to fund an extension of Storm King, a nine-hole disc golf course on Rathdrum Mountain.

STEM Academy students worked with volunteers including teachers, family, members of the North Idaho Disc Golf Club and Inland Northwest Flyers. Together they carved out trails, extensions and upgraded the course, to make an official 18 holes.

“As an educator, and one that teaches civics, this is a gift from heaven.” said Dave Johnson, academy instructor. “It’s one thing to teach students the Constitution, but to put that lesson in a more local project, that’s priceless.”

In addition to civics, Johnson teaches social studies and graphic design. He is also coordinator of the school’s Student Leadership Council.

“We were approached by Leon Duce, city administrator,” said Johnson, “and he proposed that the city wanted to engage students in the whole community in civic-minded projects.”

Johnson presented students with the beautification competition Duce introduced, and students presented a series of ideas to put before the council.

“We’re very grateful for the opportunity the city has given us,” said Foutz. “It’s been fun. For (Rocco) and I, and all the other people who were participating with our class, it’s been an absolute blast.”

When their project won, Johnson merged his classes to involve all his students, and he invited school staff to participate in the project.

Jensen Eldenburg, science teacher and disc golf club leader for the Inland Northwest Flyers, was instrumental in evolving work on the course.

The disc golf community naturally came together to further work on the new course. The North Idaho Disc Golf Club worked on the original Storm King Course over the last few years, and club members were eager to help build the addition.

“I’ve been doing a ton of work with course improvements and course upgrades,” said Jason Petersen, president of North Idaho Disc Golf. “But Eldenburg has been spearheading the work for this extension.”

The golf course will be open to the public Monday. Over the weekend, volunteers are clearing remaining logs and debris, which will be mulched and added to paths to…