Day
1: Introduction to the Great Land.
Green Edventures will meet participants at the Anchorage
Airport. The first leg of your journey begins on the
Seward Scenic Byway, a historic 120 mile stretch of
road that passed through Portage Valley down to the
Kenai Peninsula. The trip length with stops is approximately
4 hours.
Day 2: Resurrection Bay Sea Kayak and Caines Head
State Park Hike
Before we embark, participants will be briefed on the
day's adventure including what personal gear to bring.
Students will learn the basics of sea kayaking, maneuvering,
and water entry and exit. After the basics, we will
spend our entire day in and out of our tandem kayaks
as we explore the emerald waters and shoreline of beautiful
Resurrection Bay. Along the way, participants will learn
the wildlife and natural history of the area. In addition
to beautiful mountain scenery, sea otters, harbor seals,
sea lions, bald eagles, sea birds and harbor porpoises
are all possible to encounter. And yes, occasionally
we're lucky enough to see a whale that ventures into
the bay on one of these trips
The group will be transported by van down to Lowell
Point, where we'll launch and paddle along the west
coastline of Resurrection Bay. If tide permits, will
enter the calm and gorgeous Tonsina Creek. After a short
paddle out of the creek, our next stop is Caines Head
State Park for lunch on the shore of the temperate rainforest.
Next if time allows, we will take easy three mile hike
to Fort McGilvery. Participants will see Sitka Spruce,
hemlock, devils club and many other native plants of
the temperate rainforest. We'll paddle back to Lowell
Point for a 4pm pick up.
Day 3: Recreation, Research and Community Action
The Kenai Fjords are home to many different species
of animals and plants both migratory and indigenous,
provide food and other natural resources for the both
local residents and consumers world wide, and is one
of Alaska's major tourist destinations. Because of this,
scientists are studying the human interactions and impacts
on the natural systems. State and federal agencies are
developing best use management strategies to balance
natural resource usage and conservation. This day, students
will act as citizen scientists and help a local agency
record information for current research on the Kenai.
In 2009 participants help National Park Exotic Species
crew remove invasive plants.
Day 4: Kenaitze Tribe Educational Fishery and K'Beq'
Archeological Site
We will depart Seward at 9am and head two hours to
the west coast of the Kenai Peninsula to the town of
Kenai. Students will participate Kenaitze Tribe members
in a traditional salmon fishing experience. This "Educational
Fishery" will get students' feet wet helping pull
in or set the nets as they work side-by-side with tribe
members. Later we will travel 1 hour east to Cooper
Landing to visit K’Beq’, an archeological site nestled
in the forest along side the blue waters of the Kenai
river. Here students spend time with native Alaskans
and take part in cultural activities. We will participate
in a native beading project, attend a plant lore presentation,
and guided walk to the tribes archeological site.
Tribe members will discuss the reason the interpretive
project began and what it means to be Alaska Native
today. The highlight of the experience is the Night
Walk, a dramatic theatrical presentation of the tribe's
history. Students will enjoy a guided tour with a narrator,
while observing significant events from the tribe's
past. Poetry, music and performances by tribal artists,
and the song of the nearby Kahtnu (Kenai River) combine
to create a mystical evocative experience. We conclude
the presentation with a Friendship Circle, and delicious
salmon feast.
Day 6: Hike the Bowl at Mt. Marathon
We don't have to go far from Seward to get a spectacular
hike. Just a few blocks from the hostel is the trail
head to a 5 hour hike that is sure to be one of the
highlights of the week.
We travel up 2300ft to the alpine bowl passing through
lush misty emerald green temperate rainforest, then
things level out at "the bench" where wildflowers
bloom, and then alpine slowly meander up to alpine tundra.
As we climb the switch backs Seward becomes a little
dot in the valley. At one point half way up, nearly
all of Resurrection Bay can be seen.
Day 5: Boat trip to Kenai Fjords Tidewater Glaciers
and Whale Watching
This thrilling full-day cruise travels throughout the
Kenai Fjords National Park. Wildlife is abundant throughout
the National Park, and the tidewater glaciers are massive
and participants often witness calving - a process by
which glaciers shed giant blocks and slabs of ancient
ice - from a close distance. This voyage also offers
the best opportunity for whale watching in Alaska.
Day 7: Explore Exit Glacier
After a hearty breakfast, the group will be briefed
on the day’s adventures including what to expect and
safety. We will be transported to the base of Exit Glacier.
This 6 hour excursion is thrilling way to see a massive
glacier from the terminal end to the ice field which
feeds it. The hike is vigorous. Hikers will gain about
1,000 feet of elevation for every mile and certain parts
of the trail are rocky and may require a bit of scrambling.
Parts of the trail may still be covered in snow, even
until July. The effort will be well worth it though.
The 4.5 mile round trip Harding Icefield Trail is a
spectacular day hike. Starting on the valley floor,
the trail winds through cottonwood and alder forests,
and passes though heather filled meadows.
During the assent, participants will learn about the
many native plants and about the landscapes’ unique
features. This is a great place to explain basic glaciology.
It is also common to see black bears, moose, and marmots
along the way.
When we reach the ice, we don crampons, ice axes, and
helmets. This gear lets us
navigate the icy undulating terrain of Exit Glacier.
It also lets us confidently approach the crevasses,
waterfalls, Moulin, and ice-caves.
Day 8: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Departure
During our educational tour of the facility, participants
will have up close encounters with the wild residents
such as moose, musk ox, bear, elk and elk and gain a
better understanding of their behaviors and survival
skills.
All activities are subject to change
without notice. Green Edventures reserves the right
to modify this schedule and its activities at any time.
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