“So, what do you want to do with your life?” is one question that students across the U.S. have struggled to answer.

To empower students to map their interests to their future pathways, the SAT® and Roadtrip Nation have teamed up to help high school students explore avenues and opportunities that they never knew existed.

During the months of March and April, before Idaho SAT® School Day on April 18, Roadtrip Nation’s team of Roadies and the Green RV will hit the road to high schools across Idaho to bring awareness and excitement to students about the college process and how the SAT® can open doors to future opportunities.

To get updates of when Roadtrip Nation will be in your neck of the woods, follow the team on Twitter@RoadtripNation and www.facebook.com/RoadtripNation.  

Learn more about Idaho SAT® School Day at www.sat.collegeboard.org/Idaho.

One of the privileges of living in Idaho is experiencing the diversity of our amazing landscape. Now, most of us probably snoozed through our geology classes. So, to make up for those indiscretions, the Outdoor Idaho team has been working for the last year capturing the remarkable story of how our state came to be.

Through stunning HD video and compelling interviews with such renowned experts as  geologists Bill Bonnichsen and Marty Godchaux, this hour-long show premiering on Thursday, March 8, will leave you amazed  and delighted.

I’ve been told by Executive Producer and host Bruce Reichert that “Idaho Geology, a Convergence of Wonders” is the most complex program the Outdoor Idaho team has ever produced. That’s their way of telling me not to expect it completed until the last possible moment!

But I think I know what they mean. Take this past week’s efforts, for example.

They traveled with scuba gear to Blue Heart Springs near Hagerman to witness first-hand the crystal clear water all bubbling from the Snake River aquifer, at a year-round temperature of 58 degrees. Frankly, it looks like you’ve been transported to the Bahamas! Check out this Facebook movie:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3076042512455

A few days later, the crew took on a very different assignment. They trekked to the remote Black Magic Canyon, near Shoshone, which offers the eye a vast array of complex, water-sculpted basalt rock forms.

“Idaho Geology, a Convergence of Wonders” premiers at 8pm on Thursday, March 8. Be sure to watch!

Funding is provided by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, contributions to the Friends of Idaho Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, with special additional funding from INL and the Idaho Public Television Endowment.

 A new online resource provided free by Idaho Public Television for learners of all ages again demonstrates that the statewide public television system is more than just TV stations.

Through a partnership with the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL), thousands of multimedia resources are now available via IdahoPTV’s Scout learning portal, part of ICfL’s Libraries Linking Idaho service (LiLI.org). LiLI.org provides an array of educational services free to all Idaho residents.

In the Scout, Classroom Edition, Idaho teachers and students have immediate access to more than 14,000 research-based instructional resources — including videos, interactive sites, images, audio files, mobile apps, lesson plans and worksheets.

The Scout, Idaho Edition, offers online access to full-length video productions by Idaho Public Television. Users can view programs that celebrate Idaho’s people and places, examine the Gem State’s history, and analyze some of the issues it faces today.

Funding for Scout is provided in part by the ICfL, Idaho Public Television, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Broadband USA.

The Scout Online Video Collections is at http://www.scout.lili.org/ .

Recent audience reports suggest that PBS and IdahoPTV programming services are being used by more and more people.

According to Nielsen viewer data compiled by TRAC Media, during November 2011, IdahoPTV was the second most watched PBS station in the United States on a per capita cume basis.

In addition, Current.org is reporting that PBS is enjoying has seen impressive four percent increase in viewing nationwide.

Even more significant, PBS children’s program viewing is up 18% from last year in ages 2-5, and being watched by a whopping 79% of children ages 2-11.

For a complete report, checkout:

http://currentpublicmedia.blogspot.com/2012/02/theres-good-news-in-numbers-at-pbs.html

The Governor, University Presidents, Leadership Academy, Desks and JFAC…indeed, this has been a very busy week at Idaho Public Television.

On Tuesday, Idaho Report’s Greg Hahn conducted Idaho Reports interviews with Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and Idaho’s three university President’s: University of Idaho’s Dr. M. Duane Nellis, Boise State University’s Dr. Bob Kustra and Idaho State University’s Arthur Vallis for the Friday, January 27 program. They can be found at: http://video.idahoptv.org/video/2190890606

On Wednesday, we hosted more than 60 high school juniors from the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Academy. During their six hour session in our studios, they divided into several teams and created public service announcements for Computers for Kids. They got expert guidance on spot conception, writing, new media techniques, presentation and editing from several of our producers, directors and technicians including Greg Hahn (Producer), Jeff Tucker (Production Manager), and Ricardo Ochoa (Director). The staff had a great time with the group! Check out these pictures on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150474334281307.358560.61809386306&type=1

Thursday saw two major activities: Reapportionment Commission sessions and move day at IdahoPTV. The Reapportionment Commission reconvened and began their work again to develop a redistricting plan that will pass court muster. Those live hearings can be accessed in archive form at: http://idahoptv.org/leglive/archive.cfm#redistrict

Also that day, through the generosity of the Speaker of House, Pro Tem and Legislative Services, we were the recipient of 12 lightly used module desk units that will replace very old office furniture (35 + years!). With the steady coordinating efforts of staffer Kelly Roberts, personnel from Idaho Correctional Industries moved the furniture from the basement of the Joe R. Williams Office Building to our Boise/North Orchard offices.

Finally, on Friday, I made my annual budget request presentation to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) for state fiscal year 2013. Budget presentations are held in the historic and beautifully renovated JFAC chambers of the Idaho State Capitol. They are always invigorating experiences! Checkout a low-resolution video of my session at: http://youtu.be/xUAYLmIfxVA

The Spokesman-Review and Current.og covered the presentation.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2012/jan/27/iptv-facing-equipment-replacement-costs-lack-funding/

http://currentpublicmedia.blogspot.com/2012/01/idaho-ptv-faces-loss-of-service-in-wake.html

I want to thank Friends of IdahoPTV board members Eve Chandler, Dr. Jerry Evans, Sheri Freemuth and Bob Sonnichsen for their in person support. The JFAC budget process for IdahoPTV will continue until early March when the committee will vote their recommendations to the full Idaho legislature. We’ll keep you posted on their progress.