Group flight from your nearest big airport to Anchorage.

Midway through our journey to Seward, we stop to stretch our legs and step into the world of baby salmon science. Students meet with a biologist from the Kenai Watershed Forum, who introduces them to the tools and technology used to monitor Alaska’s watersheds and protect critical salmon habitat. Through hands-on demonstrations and field observations, participants learn how scientists identify and map where young salmon live—and how this data is used to secure protections for waterways that sustain healthy salmon populations.

Morning: We begin the day exploring how glaciers have shaped the landscapes of Kenai Fjords National Park. As we hike the toe of Exit Glacier, your guide takes students on a journey through time, walking through stages of glacial retreat and succession. Along the way, students learn how meltwater from glaciers feeds rivers and coastal ecosystems, connecting ice, salmon habitat, and the health of Resurrection Bay.

At the foot of Exit Glacier, students examine visible evidence of climate change and discuss how shifting glaciers impact both freshwater and marine systems. Students then pick up their Junior Ranger Books and begin working on them independently or in small groups over the next few days, reinforcing observations from the field and deepening their understanding of Alaska’s interconnected ecosystems.

Students will visit the Sea Life Center and have a chance to explore their exhibits to learn about fish, birds, and mammals that can be found off the coast of Alaska. tudents also learn how the SeaLife Center was established in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and how science, research, and education play a critical role in understanding environmental impacts and protecting marine ecosystems for the future.

Later in the afternoon, we enjoy an easy and scenic hike along the Tonsina Creek Coastal Trail. The trail winds through old-growth Sitka spruce forest, crosses a salmon-bearing stream, and ends at the beach with sweeping coastal views before looping back toward the trailhead. Along the way, students are introduced to the temperate rainforest ecosystem—learning to identify common plant species and exploring how wildlife, freshwater, coastal environments, and human communities are interconnected in Alaska’s Pacific Northwest rainforest.

Participants take a guided sea kayaking trip on Resurrection Bay, paddling along a rugged coastline framed by steep mountains and abundant wildlife. After learning the basics of sea kayaking—including maneuvering, safety, and water entry and exit—students spend half the day exploring the bay, islands, and shoreline in tandem kayaks.

Along the way, they keep watch for wildlife such as bald eagles, harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters, puffins, and possibly whales or bears along the shore. As the group travels quietly through the bay, guides share stories of human history shaped by this landscape—including Russian settlement, the strategic role of the region during World War II, and the powerful 1964 earthquake and tsunami that reshaped the coastline and the town of Seward.

The group pauses on a remote beach to enjoy snacks and hot drinks while learning how natural forces, wildlife, and human communities are deeply interconnected in this coastal ecosystem. Traveling in a truly small group allows for close observation, thoughtful discussion, and a deeper connection to Alaska’s wild marine environment—past and present.

Afternoon, picnic lunch by the sea and then we meet up with the Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance to help them restore a native plant garden at the local elementary school. Students will learn about non-native plants and spend a few hours removing "weeds" from the garden.

Students arrive at the harbor and prepare for a full-day field experience in Kenai Fjords National Park, one of Alaska’s most dynamic marine and glacial environments.

At 11:30 a.m., the group boards a vessel for a six-hour wildlife and glacier research cruise. Traveling deep into the fjords, students approach an active tidewater glacier—where ice meets ocean—and observe firsthand how glaciers calve directly into the sea. Guides introduce key concepts in glaciology, including ice movement, calving processes, and the role of tidewater glaciers in shaping coastal ecosystems.

Throughout the voyage, students observe marine wildlife within its natural habitat, with opportunities to see whales, porpoises, sea lions, sea otters, seals, bald eagles, and puffins. As students move through these protected waters, they examine how ocean conditions, ice, and living systems are interconnected, and consider the responsibility humans share in protecting fragile marine and polar environments.

Students participate in a cultural program with local youth from the Qutekcak Native Tribe, creating an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and cultural exchange. Through storytelling and hands-on participation, students learn about the Native Youth Olympics, a culturally significant event that celebrates traditional skills rooted in survival, strength, cooperation, and resilience.

Local youth share the history and meaning behind the events, explaining how these traditional skills were essential for daily life in Arctic and sub-Arctic environments. Students are then invited to learn and try several of the events themselves, guided by Native youth, fostering mutual respect, understanding, and connection through shared experience.

This program highlights the importance of cultural continuity, youth leadership, and the ways Indigenous knowledge has been passed down through generations

Check out of Nauti Otter and being a journey north toward Matanuska Valley. The drive is about 6 hours with a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

The Matanuska Valley is known for a combination of glaciers, agriculture, geology, and deep Alaska history, making it a powerful learning landscape.

Students spend a full day immersed on the ice during a guided 8-hour glacier exploration and ice climbing experienceled by professional glacier guides. After learning how to properly use safety equipment such as crampons, harnesses, and ice axes, students move onto the glacier to practice ice climbing techniques, balance, and movement on steep ice features.

Scientific learning comes alive as students explore:

• Glacial formation, movement, and structure

• Crevasses, moulins, meltwater channels, and ice caves

• How glaciers shape landscapes and feed river systems

• Visible evidence of climate change and glacial retreat

Beyond science, the day emphasizes personal growth and leadership. Students are challenged physically and mentally as they:

• Build confidence navigating unfamiliar terrain

• Practice teamwork, communication, and trust

• Develop problem-solving skills in a dynamic environment

• Learn to manage risk through preparation, awareness, and decision-making

Spending an entire day on the glacier transforms abstract concepts into lived experience. Students leave with a deeper understanding of Earth systems, a strong sense of accomplishment, and a lasting connection to one of Alaska’s most powerful natural environments

Departing the hotel, students begin the final day of the tour by connecting Alaska’s past, present, and future. Visits to a historic site and a working farm invite students to reflect on how culture, history, and land use shape community life in Alaska. As the journey continues, students synthesize what they have learned throughout the week—linking wildlife conservation, glacial landscapes, Indigenous knowledge, and human adaptation—while also reflecting on personal growth and shared experiences. The day offers a thoughtful close to the program, grounding big ideas in place-based learning and real-world connections

The day begins with a visit to Alping Historical Park, where students explore the layered history of the Eklutna area. Through historic buildings, landscapes, and interpretation, students learn how Alaska Native traditions, Russian Orthodox influence, and later American settlement intersected—shaping community, culture, and identity in south-central Alaska.

From there, students visit the Musk Ox Farm to learn about one of the Arctic’s most iconic animals. Students discover how musk oxen are uniquely adapted to extreme cold, why they are important to Arctic ecosystems and cultures, and how qiviut—their incredibly soft underwool—has been sustainably harvested and used by Indigenous peoples for generations. The visit highlights conservation, adaptation, and the relationship between humans, animals, and the Arctic environment.