>> john ruskey: well, anywhere a raindrop falls in 44% of america. and its furthest reach is three forks, montana. if you follow the volume of water, two-thirds comes down the ohio river. but most people say lake itasca, minnesota. >> anthony: john ruskey is what i guess you'd call a river rat. in 1998, he started the quapaw canoe company, a custom outfit that leads guided expeditions on the mississippi river and its tributaries. as a central part of his operations, he trains local kids from mississippi and across the river in neighboring arkansas under an apprentice program. teaching skills like hand-carving canoes, outdoor survival, and the ins and outs of guiding and the history of the river. most of these kids come from pretty distressed neighborhoods. and the hope, the intent, is that once trained up, they'll stay with the company. >> john ruskey: nice paddling,