By Robin Mayo

Ready for summer fun?  WISE and BLM invite you to join us for summer hikes and science day camps.  Practice outdoor skills and explore new places while learning about the natural world.  Hikes vary in difficulty, but with advance notice we can accommodate all hikers. Please call the WISE office at (907) 822-3575 or email robin@wise-edu.org  to learn more and to sign up.

Thursday, June 3, 10am: Kenny Lake School Trail.  Meet at the school parking lot, mile 5 Edgerton Highway.  We will learn to identify Boreal Forest trees and check out the geology of the Tonsina Bluffs.

Thursday, June 10, 1pm:  Aspen Trail, Co-op Drive, Glennallen. Boreal Forest tree ID, naturalist observation skills.

Wednesday, June 23, 10am:  Liberty Falls Trail, Mile 23.5 Edgerton Highway.  We will learn about Leave No Trace, and practice some knot tying skills.

Thursday, July 1, 1pm: Tonsina River Trail, Mile 12.3 Edgerton Highway.  This sweet trail is a great place to identify wildflowers, then enjoy gorgeous views from the Tonsina Bluff.

Thursday, July 8, 10am and 2pm:  Tolsona Mud Volcanoes.  Leave from Tolsona Wilderness Campground, mile 173 Glenn Highway.  Investigate this unique geological phenomenon, and learn to make plaster casts of animal tracks.  

July 20-22, Geology Day Camps:  We will have small groups for a day packed with exploration and geology activities.  Sign up in advance so we can put together groups and choose convenient locations.

Thursday, July 27, 10am:  Slide Mountain Hike and Fossil Hunt.  Mile 144.9 Glenn Highway.  Be prepared to get dirty and bring a hammer to crack open rocks for this challenging but rewarding hike. 

August 3-5, Aquatic Ecology Day Camps:  Spend a day exploring Aquatic Ecology including fish, macroinvertebrates, and water safety. Let us know you are interested and we’ll figure out the location.

August 10-12, Youth Environmental Summit: Organized by Gakona Village, the summit includes 3 days of activities with the theme of “Environmental Superheroes!”

Thursday, August 19, 10am:  Willow Mountain Hike. Meet at Willow Lake Pullout, Mile 88 Richardson Highway.  This is a strenuous  hike, but the view from the top and sense of accomplishment are priceless!

All ages are welcome, but kids under 8 need to bring along their own adult.  You can meet us at the trailhead, or get a ride in the WISE van.  We are limiting group size this summer, please sign up in advance by calling the WISE office at (907) 822-3575, or email contact@wise-edu.org.  Suggested donation $5 per person, WISE donors hike for free.

More information and What to Bring lists can be found at www.wise-edu.org.

We are excited to be planning live programs, but also want to do our part to help keep everyone healthy and safe. We will be asking everyone to mask up when riding in the WISE van, and taking care with sanitation and distancing during hikes.