This Thing We Call the Ocean: Now in a Digital Gallery
Stephen Lawrie and Maite Lorente’s art show This Thing We Call the Ocean may have come down from the historic Pioneer Bar walls, but its impact lingers. Through brushstrokes and familiar faces, the exhibit bridged art, conservation, and the lives of those whose livelihoods depend on a wild, healthy ocean. It was a visual homage to our fisheries, our community, and the stewardship that ties it all together.
Now you can experience the show from afar with our digital gallery: HERE
A portion of this artwork was created at Sea Pony Farm, Sitka Conservation Society’s remote creative retreat and field station in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. This Thing We Call the Ocean was sponsored by Roger and Mary Hames, Chris Heim and the Pioneer Bar Sitka Alaska Crew, and Sitka Conservation Society.
And—10% of all painting sales were donated to our Living Wilderness Fund, an endowment honoring the legacy of our founders and all who have worked to protect wild places. This fund ensures that advocacy for wilderness will continue for generations to come.
Learn More about our Living Wilderness Fund and make your contribution HERE
Pressing Forward: Continuing Eric Bealer’s Printmaking Legacy at Sea Pony Farm
This July, SCS hosted LA-based printmaker Elizabeth Jean Younce at Sea Pony Farm, to help us continue Eric Bealer’s printmaking legacy. Elizabeth holds an MFA in Printmaking and has taught at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp for 5 years. We’re thrilled to report that with the help and experience of Elizabeth, Eric Bealer’s Vandercook Press and smaller etching press are up and running! During her residency, Elizabeth created three beautiful linoleum blocks of species that inspired her during her time there: a red-throated loon and flora, a northwestern salamander, and a brown creeper to print on the presses. She also helped us troubleshoot and learn how to use the presses and led a printmaking workshop in Pelican for the community to learn from her and create art together. We are so inspired by her dedication to printmaking, continuing the legacy of Eric Bealer and these presses, and bringing people together to build community through creating art. We also extend gratitude to Gregg and Rachel Dietzman, who spontaneously volunteered for five days to make a beautiful rolling cart for the etching press that they also took apart, and cleaned and oiled so it could be ready for use!
Stay tuned as we share out more about Waking up the Presses at Sea Pony Farm!
> Read More about Sea Pony Farm HERE
Youth Programs: A Summer to Remember
As kids head back to school, our epic summer camps are all wrapped up. This season, youth explored kayaking, hiking, backpacking, bikepacking, water safety, and survival skills—all grounded in values of respect, balance, and reciprocity.
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9 camps hosted
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170+ hours of Direct Youth Programming
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115 youth served
- Partnered with 9 local organizations
A huge thank-you to our incredible partners—Sitka Trail Works, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Sitka Native Education Program, Sitka School District, Youth Advocates of Sitka, Southeast Alaska Independent Living, Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, Sitka Public Library and UAF Cooperative Extension—plus our generous sponsors, including Allen Marine Tours, Shee Atiká, Inc., Sitka Sea Level Adventures, LFS Marine Supply, White Elephant Shop, Rural CAP, City and Borough of Sitka, and Rotary Club of Sitka.
And of course, we’re grateful to our SCS supporters, members, and volunteers for making these programs possible.
Mark your calendar: Sitka 4-H sign-ups start October 1 during National 4-H Week. Stay tuned for details!
Welcome Kolby: Our New Youth Program Coordinator
We’re excited to announce that Kolby Sirowich, our (now former) Jesuit Volunteer, is staying on as Youth Program Coordinator! 🎉
Over the past year, Kolby built strong, positive relationships with local youth and our community while serving as our Living with the Land and Building Community Coordinator. In her new role, she’ll lead the Alaska Way of Life 4-H Project with UAF Cooperative Extension, head the Explorations Club (now with expanded social-emotional learning), and serve as a group leader at the Sitka Native Education Program Traditional Arts Studio. She’ll also co-lead Adventure Club and Pacific High School’s Outdoor Skills Class, support summer camp planning, onboard our new Jesuit Volunteer, and help shape the future of SCS youth programs.
🌿 “In this new role, I hope to continue supporting youth in their connection to themselves, their community, and the land through outdoor experiences and shared knowledge from community members,” says Kolby. “Thank you for welcoming me into the community—I’m excited to grow in this role!”
Get in touch with Kolby via email at [email protected]
2025 Fish to Schools Drive – Happening Now!
SCS is proud to celebrate the 15th year of our Fish to Schools program! Since 2011, Sitka students have enjoyed wild salmon and rockfish in their school lunches—made possible by generous donations from local fishermen, the support of seafood processors, and the dedication of food and nutrition service professionals. Born from a community wellness goal to increase access to nutritious, culturally relevant, local foods, Fish to Schools continues to nourish both body and community.
This program thrives because of the leadership and generosity of our local fishermen, who share their hard-earned catch with the next generation. Your contributions build healthier kids and foster a lifelong appreciation for local seafood. Thank you, fishermen—you are the heart of this program!
This year, we’re working to provide a monthly Fish to Schools meal at Xóots Elementary School, Keet Gooshí Heen, Blatchley Middle School, Mount Edgecumbe High School, Pacific High School, and Sitka High School.
A huge thank-you to all our partners—Seafood Producers Cooperative, Sitka Sound Seafoods, City of Sitka Cold Storage, Mount Edgecumbe High School, Sitka School District—and every fisherman who has ever donated. Here’s to another great school year!
The 2025 Donation Drive is ON NOW!
📞 To donate or ask questions, call us at (907) 747-7509 or email [email protected]
Wild Gratitude for Feeding Sitka’s Youth
This summer, we were proud to partner with Sitka Public Library to help feed local youth—supporting the Library’s seventh year of “grab n go” snacks. Using funds from our Sitka Mutual Aid initiative and General Fund, we worked to reduce barriers to assistance and increase access to healthy food for Sitka’s youth!
Interested in donating towards programs like these? Click HERE
On the Water and in the Wild: A Wilderness Stewardship Recap
Summer at SCS means wilderness stewardship season—and this year, we’ve already logged nearly 400 volunteer hours with more to come before the season ends. Our work takes us deep into the Tongass, where, through our shared agreement with the Southeast USFS District, we help maintain public-use cabins, survey wilderness recreation sites, remove invasive plants, and record cabin conditions.
Volunteer Alex Kelsey led one of our field crews, traveling by skiff, camping in remote coves, and lending a hand in the rewarding work of keeping our wilderness healthy and accessible. Alex documented this experience through beautiful writing and imagery.
📖 Read Alex’s full story here: Wilderness Recap
Final Cruise of the Season
📅 Saturday, August 16th
🚢 Wilderness Cruise
Depart: 5:00 PM | Return: ~8:00 PM
On August 16th, our Wilderness Cruise will explore the incredible wilderness of the Tongass National Forest. This will be an evening cruise from 5pm to 8pm. Tickets are $65 per person and are NOW available for purchase at Old Harbor Books. We will be boarding at Crescent Harbor beginning at 4:45pm, please bring personal snack or drink if desired and wear weather-appropriate clothing.
For more information, call 907-747-7509 or email [email protected]. Thank you to our partners at Allen Marine Tours – supporting Southeast Alaska through tourism!
Skipper Science: Share Your Observations, Win $500
Calling all fishermen, mariners, and people who spend time on the water! Your observations—whether it’s unusual fish, marine debris, or changes in wildlife—can provide critical data on Alaska’s changing ocean ecosystems.
The Skipper Science app makes it easy to log what you see. Every observation counts as a raffle ticket for our end-of-season drawing—three winners will each get $500!
Recent reports have already captured rare catches, like pollock showing up at setnet sites in western Alaska—unusual changes that may be linked to shifting ocean conditions.
📲 Download the app for free, create an account, and start logging your observations today. Together, we can help researchers track changes and protect our marine resources.
Thank you for being part of our wild community. Whether you give your time, your voice, or your support—you help us work towards a resilient, thriving Sitka. If you have any feedback or there is anything specific you would like to see more of in our newsletters in the coming year, please reach out to us at [email protected].