The only thing more abundant than trees and salmon in the Tongass National Forest is the multitude of stories and memories that we've all made.

There are many ways in which we can measure the "value" of the Tongass and the numerous gifts it provides us: the salmon caught, the electricity generated, the fresh water consumed, the plants and berries harvested, the tours given. These are all important and tangible aspects of the Tongass, but it leaves out a big and pretty influential part of the Forest: us, the people who have made Sitka and the Tongass our home. From those of us born here, to those who have come to make Sitka our home, we all have stories, traditions, and memories from our time living here in the Tongass.

At SCS, we're working to restore not only the ecosystems of the Tongass, but the connections people have to this wonderful place.

What better way to rekindle old connections and create new ones than to share our stories with each other?

Please send your stories to erin@sitkawild.org, and be sure to include where your stories/traditions/adventures occurred (and please attach any photos you'd like to share too). We'll link all of our stories to a map of the Sitka Community Use Area and post it on our site for all to see and enjoy. We're looking forward to reading about the many wonderful experiences you've all had in the Tongass!