Give Wildly. Give with Purpose.
Give for the Tongass.
This moment matters. From climate pressures to food security to the future of public lands, the choices made today will shape Southeast Alaska for generations. Sitka Conservation Society is working passionately to protect the Tongass while strengthening the communities who call it home—and we can’t do it without you.
When you become a member, gift a membership, or make a year-end donation, you’re investing in a healthy, intact Tongass, empowered youth, resilient communities, increased food security and a climate-conscious future.
All members will receive our 2026 Calendar and Annual Report, filled with powerful stories, photographs, and moments from the Tongass that inspired us this year and will carry us forward into the next.
Already a member?! We mailed your calendar out last month as we expect that you’ve already received it! If you are missing a calendar please reach out to [email protected]!
If you’re considering a year-end gift, your generosity before December 31st supports this work and counts toward your 2025 tax year.
Together, we can protect what we love—wildly, thoughtfully, and for generations to come.
DONATE - GIFT A MEMBERSHIP - GET A CALENDAR
This Moment Matters for Subsistence - Public Comment Period Now Open!
Subsistence is not just a policy framework in Southeast Alaska—it is a way of life. It shapes how families feed themselves, pass down knowledge, care for the land and waters, and remain rooted in place. This week, our Fisheries Community Engagement Specialist, Heather Bauscher, attended the Southeast Subsistence Regional Advisory Council (RAC) meeting in Wrangell, where critical discussions underscored just how much is at stake for rural communities across Alaska.
The Department of the Interior has opened a scoping period in response to a petition that could significantly weaken the Federal Subsistence Board which is the only system that currently protects the rural subsistence priority guaranteed under federal law. Changes to this program could threaten access to traditional and subsistence foods and undermine generations of place-based knowledge and stewardship.
For many Southeast Alaskans—particularly Alaska Native and rural communities—subsistence is foundational to health, culture, and resilience. It provides nourishment, connection, and continuity in places where store-bought food is expensive or inaccessible.
Public input during this scoping period is critical. Stay tuned as we prepare to launch our comment tool in January! tools and resources to help you learn more below about what’s at risk and how you can take action.
Read the Alaska Federation of Natives Subsistence Fact Sheet Here to learn more about what's at risk and how you can take action!
Comments are due by February 13, 2026, and can be submitted by email to [email protected], or through www.regulations.gov, docket number DOI-2025-0170.
Gratitude from our Alaska Way of Life 4-H Project
Session 1 of our Alaska Way of Life Deer Series is in the books and what an incredible afternoon of learning, curiosity, and connection it was.
Last week, youth gathered with instructors and community mentors to begin their deep dive into the world of Sitka black-tailed deer. Together, we explored where these deer live, what they eat, how they behave, and how their senses shape the way we move through their habitat. We also heard firsthand stories from adult and youth hunters, who spoke about what hunting means to them here in Sitka. The group discussed the important laws that guide ethical, sustainable hunting: seasons, licenses, regulations, safety, and the responsibility we carry when we harvest from the land.
From there, participants rolled up their sleeves for hands-on processing of 3 deer quarters. Garland Kennedy, who generously donated the deer harvested this fall, shared the story of the hunt and walked students through every step of the process — from identifying the bullet entry and understanding bloodshot meat, to recognizing muscle groups, tendons, fat, and lymph nodes. Lione, Kylee, and Garland guided youth in removing meat from the bone, selecting what to keep and how to prepare certain cuts, and understanding what parts should not be eaten.
A highlight of the evening was sharing tacos made from deer processed by last year’s 4-H cohort — a delicious reminder of how these skills nourish both body and community.
This Friday, December 19th, we’ll continue the series with antler lessons and craft followed by a cooking lesson — grinding meat and preparing venison meatballs together.
Interested in signing up for our Alaska Way of Life 4H project?! Contact SCS at [email protected].
With deep gratitude…
To Garland Kennedy — for the gift of these deer, and for the generous sharing of your time, experience, and knowledge. Your mentorship made this session extraordinary.
To the two deer — for their lives and the nourishment they provide.
To the Tongass — and the stewards of these lands and waters, past and present, who make this learning possible.
To the See House — for welcoming us into a warm, safe space for this class.
To SCS staff Lione Clare and Kylee Miguel — for your steady guidance, teaching, and care.
And to the youth — for showing up with curiosity, respect, and a willingness to learn something new.
We’re also deeply grateful to the St. Peter’s Endowment Fund Grant for supporting the Alaska Way of Life 4-H project and helping make outdoor learning possible for Sitka’s youth.
Programs like this grow the next generation of connected, thoughtful stewards—and we’re honored to walk this path together.
The University of Alaska is an equal opportunity/equal access employer and educational institution. The university is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.
A Historic First: Sockeye Salmon in School Lunches
Thanks to an extraordinary gift of 3,600 pounds of sockeye salmon from Shee Atiká, Fish to Schools will serve Sockeye Salmon for the first time ever—bringing even more culturally meaningful, nutrient-rich salmon to cafeterias across the Sitka School District and Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
Shee Atiká’s gift combined with generous donations from our local fishing community make for a record setting 25,000 servings of local fish for our local kids this year!
Gunalchéesh to Shee Atiká for strengthening the connection between youth and the lands and waters that have sustained this community since time immemorial. Your generosity means more local fish meals on lunch menus and more opportunities for students to experience the foods that tell the story of this place.
Learn more about this year’s record setting Fish to School’s program and the amazing team behind it all on our blog HERE.
Did you see us in Alaska Business Magazine?
“The question we’re after is how do we do forestry right in Southeast Alaska? Where can we do responsible forestry and timber harvest, and where needs to be left alone?” asks Sitka Conservation Society Executive Director, Andrew Thoms in a recent article featured in Alaska Business Magazine. Thoms lays out a vision for forestry in Southeast Alaska that better utilizes young growth timber, keeps ecosystems healthy and habitats intact, balances other vital industries and ways of life in the region, and supports local economies. Thoms highlights SCS’ work seeking solutions for communities to process local wood in-state, reduce reliance on lumber barged up from the lower-48, and connect those wood products with Alaskan buyers to alleviate costs and create more affordable housing. Read the article HERE
Upcoming Opportunities
Accelerating Clean Energy Savings in Alaska’s Coastal Communities (ACES) Program is NOW Open
Looking to cut your heating bills? The new ACES program from Alaska Heat Smart is offering major incentives to help coastal Alaska homeowners convert to energy-efficient heat pumps—making cleaner, more affordable home heating possible across the region.
Storytelling and Engagement Internship
Southeast Sustainable Partnership is hiring a 2026 Storytelling and Engagement intern through the Sealaska intern program. First round of applications are due January 11, 2026.
SSP being a dynamic collective, our Storytelling and Engagement intern will be hosted by Sitka Conservation Society supported by Spruce Root, working with both teams throughout summer. They will develop and contribute to existing storytelling, outreach and engagement strategies in the SSP. The specific projects being co-developed based on the skills, interests and proficiencies of theirs, but could include using photography, writing, graphic design, video or other tools to share the impact of our programs across our focus areas.