ALASKA—It’s back! After a short pause due to COVID-19, the Anchorage Outdoor School in Alaska welcomed students for two packed days of outdoor learning.

The program directly engages fourth to sixth graders from the Anchorage School District with the natural world to learn important topics such as natural ecology, cultural history, physical education, career options and leadership.

The Forest Service is one of many partners collaborating with the Anchorage Outdoor School. The program, now managed by the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area, was an idea that started five years ago among like-minded individuals who were passionate about outdoor education.

Adrienne McGill is one of these advocates for connecting kids to the natural world around them. She is the Chugach National Forest’s Begich, Boggs Visitor Center director and a facility supervisor for the outdoor school. “For most of the kids this is their first time seeing a glacier and visiting the national forest.”

The Forest Service is a highly involved partner in the program. Typically, the multi-day school is hosted at a Forest Service facility and staff help with logistics and site preparation. Employees will also help facilitate recreation activities such as bird identification, nature walks or games of capture the flag.

In 2019, after years of planning, the school hosted four pilot sessions. Students were bused to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center in Portage, Alaska, for a two-night, three-day Outdoor School experience.

This year, an adapted program included COVID mitigation efforts to safely serve the participants. The revised program allowed for a two-day program with 57 Willow Crest Elementary fifth grade students coming together at a park next to their school. The park was filled with enthusiastic students and coordinators. The young folks were so enthusiastic that one of the students loudly exclaimed, “This is the best day of my life!”

Dianna Beltran, principal of Willow Crest Elementary, said, “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for our students, many who have not had this experience. It allowed for our students and staff to make connections socially and emotionally, as well as academically, while learning new ways to enjoy science as well as what surrounds us in Alaska.”

The program has received positive feedback with an increase in partners coming on board.  Several schools have reached out to express an interest in participating as well. So far, the program has hosted 211 fourth to sixth grade students and hopes to add to those numbers every year.