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Outdoor Idaho

Outdoor Idaho

Celebrating Our Incredible State

Shot entirely on location in high definition resolution, Outdoor Idaho explores the beauty, the drama and the science of nature, while examining the significant environmental and resource issues facing the west.

Since 1983, through every season and several economic downturns, Outdoor Idaho has persevered, producing nearly 300 shows to date. The program has won hundreds of national and regional awards, including Emmys, and New York Film Festival and Edward R. Murrow awards, making Outdoor Idaho the most honored half-hour program in the Intermountain West.


Whether it's a pack trip into the Sawtooths, a rodeo in Council, a profile on the Palouse or a fishing excursion on Lake Pend Oreille, each program offers insights into what it means to be an Idahoan.

By jet boat, fixed wing, horseback and tennis shoe, the crew of Outdoor Idaho has explored some of the state's best-kept secrets and hard-to-reach places. Viewers have climbed to the top of Idaho's tallest peak and descended more than a mile underground in the Silver Valley. They have learned about batholiths and the Bonneville flood, about pictographs on the Middle Fork, and the history of the state's many fire lookouts.

Outdoor Idaho has also waded into controversial issues with Emmy award-winning programs on water, wolves, public lands, and hunting, to name a few.

Each week, more than 30,000 viewers tune in to learn something new about their state. And the lessons learned in an Outdoor Idaho program go down easily, whether the topic is Idaho wines, wooden boats, wildfires, or wolverines.

The show's writing style, its breathtaking videography, its fairness, and adherence to the highest technical standards give Idahoans a reason to feel proud of their state.

Each Outdoor Idaho program has a rich, in-depth website, with additional photos, interviews, and analysis. There's also a Facebook page, where folks can share information and receive updates on future shows. An additional highlight is the popular monthly photo contest, enjoyed by thousands of friends of the show.

And now you can watch new Outdoor Idaho shows on your computer via our online video player. The same programs are viewable on your iPhone or iPad by downloading the PBS apps for those devices. Outdoor Idaho DVDs are available to purchase at the online IdahoPTV/PBS store.

"It's a state you can easily get lost in, both literally and figuratively," says host Bruce Reichert. "I know I speak for all who work on Outdoor Idaho — it's an honor to share our state with fellow Idahoans. Idaho is truly the keeper of special places. Esto Perpetua. May she live forever."

Chicken Out Ridge, Mt. Borah - Tim Tower

Staff

Now in its 38th season, Outdoor Idaho has sought to inspire and educate Idahoans about their majestic and often confounding state. Its seven degrees of latitude comprise deserts and canyons, mountains and aquifers, prairies and lakes, fish and wildlife, and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

The show's award-winning videography and writing style are on display in every episode, giving Idahoans a reason to feel proud of their state. Below are the producers, directors and videographers who bring you the program, month after month and year after year.

They have explored Idaho's hard-to-reach places, often getting there via horseback, fixed wing, jet boat, raft and bike. Their goal is simple: to give viewers a perspective that is unavailable anywhere else.

A handful of these staff members work full time on the show. Most, however, help out only occasionally. But we are proud of all of them, for their dedication to the spirit of Outdoor Idaho.

"We tell Idaho's stories," says Bruce Reichert, host and one of the writers of the show, "and our staff is always willing to go the extra mile to get those stories. Ours is a landscape as unruly and complicated as exists anywhere on the planet. We have also been fortunate to profile some of the men and women who match our mountains. We appreciate the state's motto… Esto Perpetua. May she live forever!"

Pat Metzler, Jay Krajic, Bruce Reichert and Sauni Symonds
Bruce Reichert

BRUCE REICHERT is the host and executive producer of Outdoor Idaho;he has worked hand-in-hand with his colleagues to create quality productions that capture the state's dreams, hopes and concerns, such as "Idaho Geology: A Convergence of Wonders," "Pend Oreille Country," "Land of the Lost River Range," "50 Years of Wilderness," "Idaho Headwaters" and "Beyond the White Clouds."

His public affairs reporting has garnered multiple Emmys and Edward R. Murrow and Press Club awards, helping to make Outdoor Idaho one of the most celebrated television series in the West. Reichert lives in a log cabin he built in the mountains outside Idaho City.

Jay Krajic

JAY KRAJIC is a director, editor and chief videographer of Outdoor Idaho; he has become the go-to guy when we need someone to venture into uncharted territory or to climb a mountain peak to get the shot. His work has garnered dozens of awards, including Videographer of the Year by the Idaho Press Club.

Jay is an avid downhill skier and backpacker and has tromped through most of the wild places in Idaho, including all of Idaho's designated wilderness areas. Jay is also a still photographer whose work has been featured in books, magazines, cards and calendars.

Forrest Burger

FORREST BURGER joined the Outdoor Idaho team as a producer/director in 2018. He comes to the show with national and international experience, having worked as a photojournalist for CNN in Asia and as a video editor for 60 Minutes in New York. Just prior to joining Idaho Public Television he ran his own company producing, directing, editing and narrating television documentaries and corporate videos in the Pacific Northwest. He has received several national and regional Emmy nominations and has won multiple Telly awards. He absolutely loves exploring Idaho.

LAUREN MELINK is a writer/producer at Outdoor Idaho. A Pacific Northwest native, Lauren comes to the show with a passion for the outdoors, in particular trail running. Prior to joining Idaho Public Television Lauren was a reporter/anchor/producer at a news station in Bend, Oregon where she was awarded for her small-market features reporting. Lauren’s experience also includes working in the Philippines for an online news organization and extensive overseas travel. When she’s not running around the Boise Foothills, Lauren enjoys writing short non-fiction stories.

Pat Metzler

PAT METZLER is a director, editor and videographer of Outdoor Idaho. Pat has edited some of our biggest productions, blending pictures, sounds and interviews into coherent, aesthetically pleasing programs. Pat's efforts have won Emmys for shows like "50 Years of Wilderness," "Idaho Geology: A Convergence of Wonders," and "Wolves in Idaho." Pat is an avid whitewater enthusiast, someone equally at home in the outdoors and in the edit bay.

Contributing Producers

MARCIA FRANKLIN is a contributing producer and writer for Outdoor Idaho. She also produces and hosts interviews for Dialogue and produces and writes documentaries for Idaho Experience.

She enjoys exploring how being in the outdoors can change people's lives as well as helping preserve the stories of "old-timers." Three of her Outdoor Idaho programs have won regional Emmys. In 2003, Marcia traveled to Iran on a Pew Fellowship for International Journalism and shot, produced and edited a documentary on the environmental movement in that country.

Marcia enjoys cycling, hiking and snowshoeing. She would love to hear a wolf howl, hike in the Sawtooths more and raft Idaho's rivers.

Joan Cartan-Hansen

JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN is a writer/producer for Outdoor Idaho when she is not producing and hosting Science Trek. She has worked at Idaho Public Television since 1988. Joan is an Idaho native who grew up canoeing, hiking and skiing. She even has a favorite place to find huckleberries.

Joan's efforts have garnered numerous awards, including regional Emmys and the Kavli Science Journalism Silver Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her contributions include such diverse topics as "Jobs Without Walls," "A Trip to the Moon," "The Health of our Lakes," and "Winter Play."

Melissa Davlin

MELISSA DAVLIN is a writer/producer for Outdoor Idaho, in addition to hosting Idaho Reports. A life-long resident of the Gem State, Melissa enjoys kayaking, hiking and rock climbing, and she takes her son Garrett with her on as many adventures as possible.

Melissa has worked in Idaho journalism since 2005, starting in print and transitioning to broadcast in 2013. She specializes in political coverage, social issues and refugee resettlement. Melissa has won multiple awards for her work, including Idaho Press Club's Broadcast Journalist of the Year for 2015 and 2018.

Kris Millgate

KRIS MILLGATE is a writer/producer from eastern Idaho with her own production company. With nearly a quarter century of storytelling experience, Millgate traverses wild country in search of stimulating and engaging topics, from collaring grizzly bears to counting bald eagles.

Kris is a fly fisher, ultra trail runner and hockey coach. In each pursuit, one fact remains; her determination is relentless.

Arron Kunz

AARON KUNZ is the production manager at Idaho Public Television and is a contributor to Outdoor Idaho as a writer, producer, editor and videographer. Aaron was the lead producer on “Idaho's Salmon” and “Idaho Water Handbook” and is also a frequent videographer for many other shows. Over the years, he has won multiple national awards for his work on Outdoor Idaho, including several regional Emmy nominations and the J. Robb Brady Award for Environmental Journalism. He enjoys hiking and taking photos of Idaho.

Peter Morrill

PETER MORRILLvolunteers his time for Outdoor Idaho as a videographer and occasional producer. Peter retired from Idaho Public Television in 2013, where he served as General Manager for 16 years. He and Royce Williams created Outdoor Idaho in 1983, never imagining that the show would still be going strong more than 30 years later.

Peter's recent video segments are many and varied, including a 50-mile trek across the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and a backcountry ski trip down Super Gully in the Lost River Range.

Terry Lee

TERRY LEE is a regular volunteer for Outdoor Idaho. He retired from a career in the semiconductor industry and became our mule. "The Mule" hauls the camera tripod in the backcountry for our mountain shows. Although he hides behind the man who hides behind the camera, he works behind the scenes on shows such as "Into the Pioneers," "Land of the Lost River Range," and "Pend Oreille Country."

Terry enjoys skate skiing, mountain biking, running, hiking and Outdoor Idaho. When he's not chasing chief videographer Jay Krajic up the mountain, he's chasing Jay down the mountain.

BILL MANNY is a writer/producer for Outdoor Idaho and Idaho Experience. He is a veteran newspaper editor and writer who spent 18 years at the Idaho Statesman. Bill grew up in eastern Oregon and serves on the boards of the Idaho Humanities Council and The Cabin; he is former president of Boise City Club. He’s a backpacker and peak-bagger -- the 124th person to summit Idaho’s nine 12,000-foot peaks.