Free Backpacking and Kayaking Trips for Alaska Teens
Contributed by Joey Siroios
Are you between the ages of 13 and 18? Do you want to expand your knowledge of Alaska’s forests, mountains, and oceans while immersed in them? Then check out Alaska Geographic and our amazing outdoor expedition programs! At no cost, selected individuals can explore the public lands of Alaska with other like-minded teens. Our trips bring students to the Prince William Sound via sea kayaking, Chugach National Forest via backpacking, Denali National Park and Preserve via interpretive education, and many other places within Alaska. These trips will introduce students to outdoor professionals with a wealth of knowledge in their work areas. Students will participate in stewardship projects to further connect with the land they are exploring and learning from. These trips are great for teens who have never gone camping, backpacking, or sea kayaking before and are also great for teens who want to improve their skills. If you think you or someone you know would be a good fit for these types of adventures, then visit our website and our programs at akgeo.org.
Want a better idea of what one of our trips is like? Here is a description of our Blackstone Bay Kayaking & Stewardship Trip.
“Spend seven days living, camping, and working on a glacial moraine beach in a stunning fjord on the western edge of Prince William Sound. Take a water taxi from Whittier to watch marine wildlife and listen to the loud, unique glacial sounds from Blackstone Glacier while working alongside Chugach National Forest backcountry rangers and staff on important conservation projects. Follow in the footsteps of AK Geo Alum by further developing a more sustainable campground at 17-Mile Beach camp and spend each afternoon learning fundamental sea kayaking skills in the calm glacial fjord. Embrace the rest days to explore the coastline wherever the group desires via kayak or foot. Few people get to spend such a long time in this beautiful location; this unique experience will allow you to connect with and learn from the Prince William Sound with its community and rangers alongside you. Enjoy a large base camp in the evenings where you can create life-long relationships with other Alaska teens.”
If this trip sounds like something up your alley, check out our website to view other trips and see how our application process works. Once again, these trips are free for every student who is accepted. Opportunities like this are an excellent way to create a summer memory that will last a lifetime - do not miss your chance. www.akgeo.org