Do you know how to forage for food? If your answer is no then you could ask the 4-Her’s for some advice!  4-H Alaska Way of Life recently explored the many edible foods found in the wild of Southeast Alaska with their Wild Edible Series. Although 4-H is often famous for its focus on agriculture in the Lower 48, these Alaskan’s know that the best food comes from the wild.  The Wild Edible Series enabled 4-Her’s to hone their foraging, harvesting and processing skills to utilize the bounty that surrounds them everyday.  

4-Hers hike through a Muskeg in search of edible plants      

The 4-Her’s began their experience by learning the importance of sustainable harvest and hard work while picking huckleberries and blueberries. The bear, birds and bushes all need berries too! Using their harvest, the 4-Her’s discovered the basics of jam-making, experimented with recipes and taste-tested the results.  

                          4-Hers make and process jam           

     Mycologists Kitty LaBounty, Noah Siegel and Alissa Allen joined the series to reveal the significance of fungi as a food source and service to the Tongass. Fungi are an essential part of the nutrient cycle to break down trees and keep our forest alive. The mycologists stressed the importance of proper identification, teaching that even edible mushrooms must be cooked first in order to be safe to consume.

        Noah teaches 4-Hers about mushroom identification

 Alyssa and Kitty discuss fungi with 4-Hers

     To follow up with the summer fishing clinic, 4-Her’s encountered ways to process Salmon, one of the most popular wild edible foods produced by the Tongass. 4-Her’s brined pink salmon, identified a pellicle and set up an electric smoker. In true cooking-show style, the participants worked together to make smoked salmon dip and enjoyed the delicious results.  

4-Hers sample smoked salmon dip

     4-Her’s also learned how to make fruit leather, a delicious and natural snack, with local Sitka Rose hips. Participants discovered that eating healthy does not mean sacrificing flavor as they tasted the fruits of their labor. One excited 4-Her even exclaimed, “This tastes better than the store bought stuff!”

    4-Her harvests Sitka Rose hips

     Encountering ways to live with the land in Southeast Alaska, provides 4-Hers knowledgeable skills and encourages healthy lifestyles. As we become familiar with wild edibles, we also grow in appreciation of our important local food systems while strengthening our desire to conserve the land and sea that surrounds us.  

     This past weekend 4-H collaborated with Alaska Department of Fish and Game for the Annual Fishing Clinic. Troy Tydingco and Matt Catterson, fisheries biologists from ADF&G, taught a group of 4-Hers fishing skills as a part of the 4-H Alaska Way of Life program.

            4-Hers pick out beads to add to their lures.

In the classroom portion of the clinic, children learned how to tie the “improved clench” knot (commonly known as the fisherman’s knot) and created their own unique fishing lures courtesy of ADF&G. Each participant added a creative touch to the homemade spinners. 4-Hers sharpened their casting skills by practicing with both spin cast and spinning reels while using hooli-hoops for target practice.

 Troy and Matt from ADF&G review casting technique while 4-Her’s practice their skills. 

Troy from ADF&G demonstrates the anatomy of a chum salmon to 4-Hers

The beautiful weather allowed for an exciting fishing session at Eagle beach. 4-Hers got to put their new skills into action by tying swivels onto rods and casting with the hope of catching some Pink salmon.  Additionally, ADF&G dissected a chum salmon with the children to demonstrate salmon anatomy and increase their understanding of this important resource.

4-Her reels in a Pink Salmon with the help of Matt from ADF&G. Photos by Mary Wood

The group even enjoyed some visits from humpback whales and a Steller sea lion. A special thanks goes out to ADF&G, especially Troy and Matt, for taking the time to teach us some practical elements to such an important aspect of Sitka’s way of life.

Last week, 4-H members had the opportunity to become Eco Explorers at the Sitka National Historical Park with the Park’s Rangers.  The 4-Hers learned about three important ecosystems in Sitka: the intertidal zone, the temperate rainforest, and macro invertebrates..

 Rangers teach the 4-H members about the intertidal zone

Intertidal zones offer many creatures to observe, such as mussels, sea stars, sea cucumbers and crabs. The 4-Hers discussed what adaptations these creatures have to allow them to survive the tides, and created their own super-human that is adapted to what is needed to survive the boundary between the ocean and land.

             4-Hers searched for crabs underneath rocks

While learning of the temperate rainforest, the 4-Hers played organism bingo. The 4-H members were divided into teams to see or hear as many of the species of animals and plants on the bingo sheet as possible. Another hands-on game was played  to emphasis the relationship between resources and wildlife.

4-Her marking down what animal they saw in the Park

Learning about macro invertebrates started with becoming one! Each 4-Her was given a card that described one of three macro invertebrates with characteristics such as number of tails, length of the antennae and shell. After they were all dressed up, each discovered whether they were a mayfly, stonefly or a caddis fly. After, the 4-Hers got to do some hands on exploring of what they could find in a stream.

The 4-Hers learned why evaluating what macro invertebrates are living in a stream is important- because they can be measures of water quality and pollution!

 4-Hers dressed up as a Stonefly

Each day, the 4-H members got to fill in their journals with what they learned and saw. The journals offered an opportunity to recall some of the things they learned throughout the week. By the end of the camp, 4-Hers had a better understanding of the term biodiversity and the importance of biodiversity here in the Tongass. On the last day, each 4-Her got to graduate as an Eco Explorer and received a certificate for their hard work.

Photos by Alana Chronister

Many thanks to the Sitka National Historical Park Service for providing this amazing camp for the 4-Hers!

Over a month ago, I met four vibrant teenagers, between the age 15 and 16, who were eager to learn about wilderness conservation and preservation by immersing themselves within the Tongass National Forest.  This Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew hailed from as far as Mobile, Alabama and as near as Tenakee Springs, Alaska. After a whirlwind of activities that had the crew building a community greenhouse in Angoon, working trail crew on the Cross Admiralty Island Canoe Route and removing an invasive plant in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness, I am confident that four new defenders of wilderness were born.

The Youth Conservation Corp crew walking in Angoon to go berry picking; (from left to right: Elizabeth Crawford, Breeze Anderson, Travis Maranto and Jaxon Collins)

Watching four teenagers develop into wilderness stewards was truly a delightful experience to witness. These four individuals have now returned to their respective homes, and I know that conversations with family and friends have been sparked about the need for conservation and preservation initiatives throughout the United States.

Let’s hear for ourselves what these new wilderness defenders have to say about their experience.

Breeze Anderson: Anchorage/False Pass, Alaska

What did you like most about the YCC experience? Do you have a best memory?

What I enjoyed most about the YCC experience was getting to meet new people and being able to help the environment out. My best memory was … I don’t know. There are a lot!

You’ve been in Southeast Alaska for a month now. What are your impressions of it now?

It is really pretty and really different from what I’m used too. There are so many trees! It is also really wild and has a lot to offer.

What is life in the field really like? What are the best and most challenging parts of living at a wilderness base camp?

Life in the field is pretty great. When you are in the field, you focus on one task without the distractions. There is solitude to think about what your task is without having the distraction of phones. Also, the dinners aren’t bad either!

What did you learn from your experience?

I learned that there is a lot going on that you can be blissfully ignorant towards. You could be walking down the trail not knowing the work that goes into it or walking down the beach without knowing that there is an invasive species taking over an area. This experience showed me that there is a lot more going on in an area than what I know.

Breeze and Dana Kimbell (U.S. Forest Service) boating across Lake Alexander

Travis Maranto: Sealy, Texas

What did you like most about the YCC experience? Do you have a best memory?

I liked getting to be in the Togass, because you can’t get this experience in Texas. There's practically no public lands or forest stewardship in Texas.  My best memory is catching my first pink salmon and cooking it in the field! I also enjoyed foraging for berries and tea and hiking.

You’ve been in Southeast Alaska for a month now. What are your impressions of it now?

Beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful. The wilderness is always harsh, but loving at the same time.

What is life in the field really like? What are the best and most challenging parts of living at a wilderness base camp?

It is challenge to hike gear back and forth between the kitchen and camp. Overall, I loved soaking up the sun and enjoying life.

What did you learn from your experience?

I learned more about how to protect and conserve wilderness areas. Also that many Forest Service employees got their start in YCC programs, and that I have a career to look forward to and a goal to strive for.

Travis celebrating the finding of a bear bone

Jaxon Collins: Tenakee Springs, Alaska

What did you like most about the YCC experience? Do you have a best memory?

Working together with strangers as we developed a better sense of wilderness and the problems that are occurring to wilderness right now. The whole experience was great. I don’t think I have a best memory.

What is life in the field really like? What are the best and most challenging parts of living at a wilderness base camp?

Life in camp is like a puzzle. Some things are really easy to find and put together, but sometimes the piece just doesn’t fit. Arguing happens, but it usually comes together to make one great picture.

What ended up being the biggest challenge during this time?

To me, the biggest challenge was picking up beach trash. It seemed like a never-ending task and that people will continue to destroy marine habitat.

What did you learn from your experience?

I learned that even if you have complete different opinions, you can be working to fight for the same thing. For example, [John] Muir and [Gifford] Pinchot.

Jaxon working on a trail structure in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness

Elizabeth Crawford: Mobile, Alabama

What did you like most about the YCC experience? Do you have a best memory?

I like being in Alaska. I love how beautiful it is here. I don’t want to go home. Meeting everyone was a highlight of the experience.

You’ve been in Southeast Alaska for a month now. What are your impressions of it now?

It is beautiful. From what everyone keeps saying, I imagine the weather has been remarkably nice. We were told it was going to be really rainy, but it really hasn’t been too rainy. 

What is life in the field really like? What are the best and most challenging parts of living at a wilderness base camp?

Life in the field requires a lot of hiking, and hiking is really hard. But it is also really rewarding.

What did you learn from your experience?

I learned how to hike. I also learned that boats and planes are fun.

Elizabeth and myself on the second flight of her life, which happened to be in a float plane

Although federally designated Wilderness Areas may have the highest protection of any public resource, Wilderness Areas are by no means void of threats that degrade their wilderness resource. The YCC crew worked to mitigate some of these threats, as we collected an abundance of beach trash and pulled thousands of invasive weeds. We also spent time reflecting on the best strategies and techniques to preserve wild places. As a group, the YCC decided that the best way to protect these places is to bring people to these areas, because spending time in the grandeur of wilderness allows the land to most eloquently speak for itself and inspire its preservation. Since the founding of the Sitka Conservation Society (SCS), SCS has also believed in this technique and remains committed to connecting people to Wilderness Areas throughout the Tongass. Working with the Youth Conservation Corps and the U.S. Forest Service during this time has been a pleasure, and we are thrilled to have four lively youth added to the network of millions of people working to protect our Wilderness Areas. 

Practiced wilderness steward Dana (left) shares the view of Mole Harbor with emerging wilderness stewards Breeze (middle) and Jaxon (right)

For more information about my time with the Youth Conservation Corps or about wilderness stewardship in the Tongass, please contact me at [email protected]

On July 9th, I had another exciting experience during my 3-week internship at SCS.  After focusing on learning about the natural history and management of salmon, this week I got to help at a salmon-canning class with the 4-Hers!

Some preparatory work was required before we would be ready to show the kids how canning works. 

Sophie brought us the fish – generously provided by local fisherman Eric Jordan - one pink and one coho.  Wonderful Renee showed us how to filet the salmon, and let us have a try (our knife work was not in the same skill realm as Renee’s).

Renee and Sarah filleting our salmon

The guidelines we used for prepping our salmon were provided by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service.  After fileting and cutting the fish into pieces, we soaked the fish in saltwater for 45 minutes.  Then we smoked the fish for about 2 hours.  These steps were to add flavor to the fish before canning.  They were not sufficient to preserve the fish (that’s what the canning was for).

We took all our fish and materials to the middle school and met up with 13 eager kids!

After introducing ourselves, we talked about salmon.  These kids know a lot!  Most of them have caught salmon, and all of them have eaten it!  We talked about different ways to preserve salmon (smoking, freezing).  Then we talked about canning as a way to preserve the bounty of salmon that can be caught in the summer.

On to the action!  Everyone washed their hands, and lined up to fill a jar with the prepared salmon.  There was a visible difference between the pink and the coho, and a few intrepid kids who know which was which!

Photo By Lione Clare

While Sophie and Sarah got the pressure cooker started, I shared some stories and pictures with the kids about my time at the Redoubt Lake fish weir.  I told them about what the weir is for, how we count the fish, how we catch and measure some of the sockeye salmon, and about all the creatures around that want to eat the fish.  They asked lots of great questions!

Photo By Lione Clare

We talked about all the things that a migrating salmon might have to overcome to make it to its birthplace river to spawn - bears, eagles, otters, orcas, steep waterfalls, and people!  Their imaginations and artistic talents were on display as they used crayons and paper to draw some of the obstacles a migrating salmon has to avoid. 

Since it takes two hours for the salmon to cook in the pressure cooker, we had some already-canned salmon to taste.  Consensus – delicious!

Photo By Lione Clare

It was my first 4H class ever, and I had a great time! I learned a lot from Sarah, an Alaska Way of Life 4-H Leader, by  watching how wonderfully she works with the children. I now have another Alaskan salmon experience to remember!

When visiting a wild landscape, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the expansive beauty of the place, overlooking what troubles may exist in the area. However, this does not mean these places are free of ecological or anthropological issues. On July 3, the four members of the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), Chrissie Post (U.S. Forest Service Wilderness Ranger), Irene Owsley (volunteer and renowned photographer) and myself spent 6 days in Whitewater Bay focusing our energy on managing these wilderness issues that are easy to neglect.

The View of Table Mountain from our camp in Whitewater Bay

The biggest project of this trip was hand pulling an invasive plant: black bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus). Black bindweed is listed as a restricted noxious weed in Alaska and management of black bindweed in Whitewater Bay began in 2009. Despite these efforts, there was still an abundance of black bindweed found in the area, meaning there was no shortage of work to keep us busy. However monotonous pulling an invasive plant may be, it does offer excellent time for reflection, allowing the group to engage in meaningful discussions about conserving wilderness areas. During one of these discussions about how to protect these wild areas, YCC crewmember, Jaxon Collins, offered the insight that the goal of conservation and preservation organizations may be shortsighted. Jaxon said, “We shouldn’t be working to answer why we need to protect these areas, but instead, we should be working to stop these questions from being asked.” This was just one of the countless times, that the learning was being done by myself as well as the YCC crew. 

Breeze searching for black bindweed to pull

Besides picking a gargantuan amount of bindweed, we also spent time picking up beach trash. We found fishing nets, tsunami debris and a lot of plastic. One day we walked to Woody Point, the point where Chatham Strait gives way to Whitewater Bay and were besieged by the amount beach trash. Although we were in a Wilderness Area over 15 miles away from the closest inhabited community of Angoon, we were reminded once again that we were not removed from human disturbance.

Jaxon removing beach trash found near Woody Point

The elegance and wildness of wilderness areas can make it is easy to overlook the human influences that are present in these areas. The YCC group gained experience in noticing these intricacies first hand, as they dove into projects that included removing invasive plants, bagging up beach trash and inventorying illusive campsites. The goal of the this trip was not only to manage an invasive species and clean up a wilderness area, but it was also to show the challenges that are facing wilderness managers throughout the United States. By showing these challenges, combined with the stunning scenery of wilderness areas, we hope to educate more people about the issues facing wilderness and develop more defenders of wild areas. As Edward Abbey famously said, “the idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders.” I know that the opportunities provided to these teenagers have created four new defenders of wilderness and hopefully a group of citizens who will decipher how to “stop these questions from being asked.”

Jaxon, Elizabeth and Travis working to remove bindweed from the Kootznoowoo Wilderness

The Youth Conservation Corps finished their month residence in the Tongass and returned to their respective homes last week. It has been an amazing experience for all people and parties involved. Stay tuned for a final blog about the YCC!

The beginning of the 4-H Alaska Way of Life kayaking camp was on land. The kayakers learned the parts of the boat, the safety equipment and what to do if tipped over. Then they were ready to get on the water! Majority of these 4-H members had never been in a kayak before.

Photo by Lione Clare

The next three days at Swan Lake, the 4-her’s got to try out technical skills like forward and backward paddling strokes and using the rudder with foot pedals. With double kayaks, the 4-h members partnered and worked on communication and teamwork to get their kayak moving the right direction. As a group, everyone worked on kayaking together in a called a pod.

Photo by Lione Clare

Rough winds kept us at Swan Lake an extra day, but even wind and rain could not dampen our spirits! The 4-H members discussed why high winds would be a very bad combination for kayaking on the ocean. We all agreed that conditions were much safer on the Lake!

Photo by Lione Clare

Luckily, the next day gave us beautiful weather! The last day at Mosquito Cove held new challenges for everyone. The ocean provided the waves and currents that kept everyone paddling hard. Everyone put in his or her best efforts, and as the 4-h motto reminds, from here out, their best will only get better!

Photo by Lione Clare

Along with learning the practice skills of kayaking safety and teamwork, this camp allowed 4-H members to enjoy nature in a new way, especially at such young ages. The youngest 4-H members were going into kindergarten this fall, and have already spent a 4 days of kayaking!  Having a personal connection with nature inspires youth to become stewards of the Tongass.

On June 23, the four members of the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) and myself teamed up with the Angoon Community Association (ACA) Watershed crew and took a floatplane from Angoon to Lake Alexander in the Kootznoowoo wilderness area. Lake Alexander is a beautiful Lake across Admiralty Island on the Cross Island Canoe route. Lake Alexander has a U.S. Forest Service cabin on one side of the lake and a Forest Service shelter on the other side. Our group stayed at the cabin and met with three Forest Service Cabins and Trails employees as well as the ACA Watershed Crew staying across Lake Alexander in the mornings for our workdays.

Elizabeth stepping off the floatplane in Lake Alexander. Amazing to think that three weeks ago, she had never been on a plane.

When we arrived at the Lake Alexander cabin, Forest Service employee, Dana Kimbell, was waiting at the cabin to help us settle into our home for the next eight days. After setting up our tents and putting our food in the bear box, Dana instructed us how to clean the inside and outside of the cabin up to standard. Dana also guided the crew as we painted two sides of the cabin and stained the window frames and door to the cabin.

Jaxon painting a side of the Lake Alexander Cabin

When Dana left that evening to return to her camp on the other side of the lake, Zach Holder, a fellow Admiralty Island National Monument Cabins and Trails employee who was picking up Dana on the skiff, forewarned me, “Eat a big meal tonight and an even bigger meal tomorrow for breakfast. Trail work is a lot different than cabin work.” His hint was well received by the crew and myself, but that did not mean we were completely ready for the grueling work that lay ahead.

The view from our camp across Lake Alexander at Mount Distik

The following morning, we started our trail work activities. The section of trail we were working on was on the back half of the Lake Alexander shelter to Mole harbor 2-mile portage trail. To assist with the project, we hiked 1.3 miles to our work site with pack boards strapped down with puncheon boards and four-foot 4x6s, peeled trees for trail structures, assisted in building and digging these structures and collected moss to re-vegetate the area around the structures.

Breeze and Jaxon enjoying a lunch break away from the mud

This work had no shortage of carrying heavy packs or getting muddy. In fact, at one time, YCC crewmember Travis said, “Eight year-old Travis would love this job, getting paid to play in mud. Oh, who am I kidding, I love this job!” Although the rain, muck and tedious work made for long days, the crew enjoyed their time spent working on these projects.

Travis hammering in the puncheon boards for the boardwalk 

Upon completing our puncheon walkway across the wet muskeg trail and our staircase, we took our services to a different section along the Cross Island Canoe route. The next section of trail we focused on was the 1/3-mile portage between Beaver Lake and Lake Hasselborg. On our first day working on that trail, we also met with a group of Forest Service VIPs that included Leslie Weldon, the National Forest System's Deputy Chief. It was a great experience for the crew to be recognized for their hard work and to be encouraged to work to protect natural resources in their career and life paths.

Jaxon investigating a rough-skinned newt he found near the Beaver Lake Trailhead

The Admiralty Island Canoe Route has attracted adventurous canoeists since the mid 1930s when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed portages to connect the lakes and bays and also built shelters. On the second to last day, we took our stab at a short 1/3-mile portage, although we were not participating in the traditional canoe portage. Instead, a team of 10 that included ACA watershed members, YCC members, and Forest Service employees grabbed onto a long rope harness and dragged a large skiff across the Beaver Lake to Lake Hasselborg trail. After successfully completing this portage, we took a slightly smaller skiff uphill from Lake Hasselborg to Beaver Lake. This trip inspired me to complete the Cross Admiralty Canoe Route, but any intention on bringing a 5-person skiff with me was quickly terminated. A pack raft seems like a better means to cross the island.

Breeze and Travis exploring the fashion opportunities granted by bear bones found on a side trip to Mole Harbor

On our final day, we broke down camp and cleaned up the cabin. As we sat together waiting for the floatplane pick-up, we discussed the highs and lows of the trip. Laughs were shared and hardships remembered. When taking off from Lake Alexander, we took one final look at our beautiful base camp for the past week and smiled a tired, triumphant smile.

The crew in front of the lake Alexander Cabin. (Front row from left to right: Dana Kimbell (U.S. Forest Service) and Breeze Anderson; Back row from left to right: Elizabeth Crawford, Mike Belitz (SCS), Travis Maranto and Jaxon Collins)

The Youth Conservation Corps has one final trip before leaving the Tongass and heading back to their respective homes. This final trip begins on Friday, June 3, when the crew boats to Whitewater Bay in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness. On this trip, the crew will inventory and pull invasive plants, clean up the shoreline of debris and assist U.S. Forest Service archeologists in searching for possible petroglyphs. I have no doubt that another extraordinary experience will come of this trip and a greater land ethic will be instilled in these future wilderness champions. 

For more information about the YCC, please feel free to e-mail Mike at [email protected]

To start the 4-H Outdoor Skills series, the Alaska Way of Life 4-H project members learned about water filters and what to carry in a first aid kit! The 4-H members experimented using sand, pebbles and gravel as filters for water. They discovered that water filters have different pores sizes. They learned how to set up a gravity filter and watched as the stream water was filtered. 4-Hers also had a discussion about where a person should get their water, even if it is going to be filtered. The 4-H members then learned what to carry in a first aid kit. 

Photo by Lione Clare

 As the series continued, the 4-Hers gathered twigs and sticks for a beach campfire.  Down on the beach, the 4-Her’s practiced Leave No Trace ethics while learning how to build a fire. Our campfire was built below the high tide so the waves could wipe away all traces! Once the fire was going, everyone enjoyed some yummy roasted marshmallows. After the fire building, the 4-H club worked together to find a campsite, set up a tent, and carefully put it away.

Photos by Lione Clare

 4-Her’s got to try their hand at tying knots: an essential wilderness skill. After practicing the square knot and the slipknot, we walked to find the perfect tree for a bear hang! A great way to keep bears away from food while camping. With the completion of this series, these 4-Her's have some of the necessary skills to explore the Tongass!

Photo by Sarah Komisar

The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) arrived in Juneau on Friday, June 12! The corps will be working on Admiralty Island for four weeks this summer, helping with various community and conservation projects. The crew consists of four 15-16 year olds from across the United States. The Corps met up in Juneau where they were greeted by Kevin Hood, the Wilderness Program Manager for Admiralty Island National Monument, and myself. After a few safety sessions, shopping for food and getting the crew outfitted for work in the rainy (albeit, it has been unbelievably sunny since the crew arrived) Tongass National Forest, we said our good-byes to Kevin and loaded the ferry to Angoon, where the corps will be based out of for four weeks. 

The crew on the MV Leconte, riding from Juneau to Angoon 

The Sitka Conservation Society (SCS) was born when a group of citizens worked to designate a Wilderness Area north of Sitka to protect the area from logging. To excite people about Wilderness, the SCS founders understood that people needed to experience the landscape to form a connection to it and ultimately to be motivated to protect wild places. The Youth Conservation Corps works to continue connecting people to wild places by bringing youth to Wilderness Areas, exciting them about Wilderness and ultimately encouraging them to become advocates of conservation. We live in an age of environmental crisis, and in order to live more responsibly with the land, there must be a shift in the way we view natural areas. By bringing youth to an amazing Wilderness Area in Southeast Alaska, we are working not only to create stewards of the environment, but we are also working to form stewards of their communities and themselves.

Now, let’s meet the crew!

Name: Breeze Anderson   Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska

Why did you choose to work with the Youth Conservation Corps?

I thought it would be a good opportunity to see a different part of Alaska that I have never been to, and I thought it would be great to help with conservation projects.

 What are your first impressions of Southeast Alaska?

It is so different from what I was used too! It is so green and so pretty!

What are you looking forward to most during this time? 

Helping out with community and conservation projects. I am also excited about meeting all these new people and hearing their stories.

 Give three words to describe how you are feeling right now.

Amazed, Happy and Yarrow

Name: Jaxon Collins     Hometown: Tenakee Springs, Alaska

Why did you choose to work with the Youth Conservation Corps?

I like nature, and this gave me an opportunity to spend time in a really nice place in Southeast Alaska. I also really wanted to help preserve nature, especially in this area.

What are your first impressions of the Youth Conservation Corps?

It is extremely rewarding and doing a lot of good work to help out communities and natural areas. 

What are you looking forward to most during this time?

Getting to know my crew as we help to preserve nature and work with the native community of Angoon.

Give three words to describe how you are feeling right now.

Calm, Surprised and Awestruck

Name: Elizabeth Crawford    Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Number of times on a plane before YCC: 0

Number of times on a boat before YCC: 0

Why did you choose to work with the Youth Conservation Corps?

 I’m really big on conservation work in general, and I have wanted to work on a conservation project for a while. My mom saw an email, and we thought this would be an awesome opportunity to help on some conservation projects.

What are your first impressions of Southeast Alaska?

It’s beautiful here, and this may seem weird but this place kind of seems like home to me, even though I arrived less than a week ago.

What are you looking forward to most during this time?

Working to help the community of Angoon out as much as possible while I am here. 

Give three words to describe how you are feeling right now.

Zen, Happy and Tired

Name: Travis Maranto   Hometown: Sealy, Texas

Why did you choose to work with the Youth Conservation Corps?

I chose to work with the YCC because I wanted to make a difference, help the community and help the untamed wilderness because it does so much for us, but we need to do our part to help it in return.

What are your first impressions of Southeast Alaska?

The overwhelming untamed beauty that is Admiralty Island amazes me. This will be one of the most amazing summers that I will ever have.

 What are you looking forward to most during this time?

Helping out the community and exploring Admiralty Island as a group.

Give three words to describe how you are feeling right now.

Content, Relaxed and Untrammeled

Currently, the group is working in Angoon helping the community with a few projects. The main project is constructing a community greenhouse. The group will also help work to protect the beautiful Kootznoowoo Wilderness on Admiralty Island, by helping with cabins and trail work around Lake Alexander and also by surveying and treating invasive plants in Whitewater Bay.

Jaxon and Breeze working on setting the greenhouse foundation

This will no doubt be an amazing summer for the YCC and myself, and stay tuned for more pictures and posts on the YCC group!