We're excited to celebrate Grand Prize Winner Henry Baldiga and First Prize Winner Zoe Zufelt. Check out their winning submissions below and view additional essays here. 
 

Thank you to all our participants, judges, and supporters of the first (but certainly not the last) My Life Outdoors Teen Multimedia Contest. See you all in 2025!

GRAND PRIZE WINNER
VIDEO ESSAY

Henry Baldiga
Senior, Boise High School

A Jump into Lonesome Lake

The frigid water took my breath away as I dunked my entire body into the lake. I came up gasping and sputtering as my entire body reacted to the effects of the freezing water. I noticed ice floating on the other side of the lake as I scrambled out of the water and back onto shore. My dad gave me a high five as my two friends, sister, and I huddled together, trying to generate some heat after jumping in the lake. 

It had not been our original plan to swim in the freezing lake. Just the night before it had been pouring rain on our little tents in the White Cloud mountains, and I could still smell a hint of rain in the air as we stood at the top of the mountain. Our main goal of the day was to reach the highest lake in Idaho, Lonesome Lake. It was named Lonesome for a reason–we had had to scramble up a steep, rocky mountain to reach it. The only plants at this altitude were surrounding the small stream cascading down from Lonesome to a lake far below. 

As we crested the last few boulders and reached the lake, a sense of accomplishment overcame me. I was at the highest lake in Idaho! I did that! I thought to myself. I had not wanted to go on the hike but my dad told me I would always regret the adventures I didn’t take, so I had trudged up the mountain behind everyone else. Now, as I stood looking back down the mountain at the lakes, trees, mountains, and sky, I was grateful for the opportunity to experience this adventure in the outdoors. 

Just as we set our packs down and collapsed onto various rocks, the sky began to cloud. The warm sun was covered and a chilly wind started to blow. At this instant my dad proposed his crazy idea. 

“Who wants to jump in the highest lake in Idaho with me?” he questioned. 

There were groans all around. What else would you expect from teenage girls who had just climbed a mountain? But as I sat there, I realized I might never get this opportunity again. With persuasion and encouragement from each other, my sister, our two friends, and I decided to jump in with our fathers.

As the sky continued to darken we peeled off our hiking layers to our swimsuits. The first step almost sent me running in the other direction, but we all managed to stand ankle-deep. With a “one, two, three!” from one of the girls, we all jumped into the water. 

 I will never forget this experience and the mental and physical challenges I was able to overcome that day. Jumping into Lonesome Lake has become one of my favorite memories. It reminds me that I can do hard things and inspires me to say “yes” to an awesome life of adventure. 

WRITTEN ESSAY WINNER

Zoe Zufelt
Junior, Homeschool

Honorable mentions
 

• Lucas Smith - written essay. 12th grade, Wood River High School, Hailey
• Lucy Rodes - written essay. 12th grade, One Stone, Boise
• Zosha Kocemba - written essay. 12th grade, Boise High School, Boise
• Ethan Flicker - video essay. 11th grade, Grace Lutheran High School, Pocatello
• Tucker Thomas - video essay. 9th grade, Madison Junior High, Rexburg
• Claire Arpke - written essay. 8th grade, North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, Rathdrum
• Akshara Natara - written essay. 8th grade, Riverglen Junior & Treasure Valley Math & Science Center, Boise