Take a course in Alaska's wildest classrooms!
2020 Field Courses
Alaska Geographic offers high quality learning experiences. Popular multi-day field courses immerse participants in intensive wilderness-based experiences led by experts in fields ranging from wildflowers and wolves to mosses, mammals, and more. These are active learning vacations. Participants must be in good physical condition and ready for some of the challenges of exploring Alaska. Hiking distances and physical fitness levels are described in greater detail for each course. These courses are accredited through the University of Alaska.
Birds of Wonder Lake (Lodge-based)
June 5 – 8
Denali National Park and Preserve
$1080 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($1200 Non-Member Price)
Spring is a great pivot point of the year for birds as they endure another epic journey of migration. Join us for three nights and four days at the beautiful Skyline Lodge in the Kantishna region of Denali. With long time Denali resident and naturalist Nan Eagleson, we’ll enjoy the arrival of Denali’s first spring migrants who come to rub shoulders with hardy winter residents. We’ll learn how to identify birds by sight and sound, and explore kettle ponds to search for waterfowl in vibrant full-breeding plumage. We’ll also discuss avian behavior, habitat selection, food habits and of course migration ecology.
Hiking will be moderately strenuous, covering distances of approximately 5 miles round trip and including as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will be hiking off trail on rough, uneven tundra, forest, and river bar terrains and will likely encounter wet tundra / forest conditions and stream crossings with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
Two professional development credits are available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credits. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.
This course is sold out. To be added to the wait list, please email courses@alaskageographic.org with your name and contact information.
Birds of Denali
June 8 – 10
Denali National Park and Preserve
$378 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($420 Non-Member Price)
Denali comes alive in June with birds arriving from all over the world to their summer home in the far north. These migrants join the hardy year round residents to offer the Denali birder amazing opportunities to view and study a diverse avifauna in a spectacular landscape. With naturalist Maria Berger, we’ll venture out into the tundra and taiga to learn how to identify birds by sight and sound. We’ll also discuss avian behavior, habitat selection, food habits and migration ecology.
Hiking will be moderately strenuous, covering distances of approximately 5 miles round trip and including as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will be hiking off trail on rough, uneven tundra, forest, and river bar terrains and will likely encounter wet tundra / forest conditions and stream crossings with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
One professional development credit is available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credit. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.
Exploring Prince William Sound: Sea Kayaking
June 3 – 9
Chugach National Forest
$750 Alaska Geographic member price ($825 Alaska Geographic non-member price)
Explore the scenic heart of Prince William Sound by kayak and by foot to encounter glaciers and whales, sea lions and shorebirds. Share new ways to bring the natural world into your classroom. Spend six days camping, kayaking, and discovering with Chugach National Forest Wilderness Manager Tim Lydon. Emphasis will be placed on exploring the area’s human and natural history, with the human relationship to nature as a central theme.
Registration for this course will be handled differently than others, with a goal of including active teachers from different regions of Alaska. Please note, registration for this course is through an application and completing the application does not guarantee a spot on the course. Priority will be given to current Alaskan classroom teachers for this course.
Participants must be in good fitness and health and equipped for sudden changes in weather. No previous kayak experience is necessary, but participants must be capable of getting in and out of a kayak, and of paddling a kayak for several hours at a time. Participants must be able to walk short distances over uneven coastal terrain carrying up to 45 pounds of personal and group gear. Please see course overview for more information.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
Kenai Fjords: Floating Teacher Workshop
June 20 – 27
Kenai Fjords National Park
$850 Alaska Geographic member price ($925 Alaska Geographic non-member price)
Explore the wild and rugged Kenai Fjords and join with active inventorying and monitoring researchers conduction surveys. Spend seven days alongside fellow teachers, National Park Service researchers and naturalists to engage with active field research and translate the natural world and science into the classroom. This course is presented in conjunction with NPS’ Ocean Alaska Science and Learning Center, and will be led by Education Coordinator Jim Pfieffenberger. Most of the course days will be spent on a charter boat deep in the Kenai Fjords, including nightly accommodations. Emphasis will be placed on direct engagement with long-term monitoring projects along with stewardship and resource management. Time will also be devoted to experiencing the area’s flora, fauna and glaciers.
Registration for this course will be handled differently than others, with a goal of including active teachers from different regions of Alaska. Please note, registration for this course is through an application and completing the application does not guarantee a spot on the course. Priority will be given to current Alaskan classroom teachers for this course.
This Alaska Geographic course is active and field-based. Participants should be in good physical condition. Accommodations while in the fjords are on a charter boat, and participants should be comfortable in small spaces and able to maneuver around the vessel. Physical activities may include hiking and kayaking. Hiking mostly includes exploratory walks along very uneven beach terrain and creek beds as there is thick underbrush and no trails above high tide line. Kayaking includes day paddles in which participants are sitting for long periods and getting into and out of kayaks. Participants will participate in loading and unloading kayaks as well as carrying boats and group gear short distances on uneven terrain.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
Wildflowers of Denali
June 23 – 25
Denali National Park and Preserve
$360 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($400 Non-Member Price)
Each summer Denali blooms in a vibrant tapestry of wildflowers. Join Denali National Park botanist Carl Roland for an exploration of these beautiful mountainside colors. While hiking the hillsides we’ll learn how to identify plants by sight, with a hand lens, and with field guides. We’ll investigate how subarctic flora adapt to extreme latitude and high elevation while exploring the park’s unique patterns of plant diversity and ecological history. This is designed as an introductory course to Denali’s wildflowers and other plants.
Hiking will be moderately strenuous over uneven tundra, forest, and river bar terrain, covering distances of approximately 5 miles round trip with as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will encounter wet tundra / forest conditions and a significant stream crossing with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
One professional development credit is available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credit. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.
Paleontology in Denali
June 26 – 28
Denali National Park and Preserve
$360 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($400 Non-Member Price)
It’s been 15 years since the first evidence of dinosaurs was found in Denali National Park. Since then, thousands of tracks and plant fossils have been discovered – and even a few bones – helping to paint a picture of an extinct Cretaceous ecosystem. Join paleontologist Patrick Druckenmiller, Director of the University of Alaska Museum of the North, for an inside look at his current research in Denali to better understand dinosaurs and their environment. In this field-based course, we will learn how to recognize dinosaur tracks and other fossils and test this knowledge by visiting potential new sites. We will also learn some of the paleontological tools-of-the-trade and contribute to real research on Alaskan dinosaurs.
Hiking will be strenuous, covering distances of up to 5 miles round trip including as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will be hiking off trail on steep, rough, uneven, and unstable rocks, tundra, and/or forested terrain and will likely encounter wet tundra / forest conditions and stream crossings with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
One professional development credit is available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credit. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.
This course is sold out. To be added to the wait list, please email courses@alaskageographic.org with your name and contact information.
Wolves of Denali
July 8 – 10
Denali National Park and Preserve
$360 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($400 Non-Member Price)
Wolves are a potent symbol of wilderness in our society, and Denali is one of the world’s best places for learning about these elusive predators. Join Denali National Park’s wolf biologist Bridget Borg in the field as we explore predator and prey relationships, wolf behavior, social structure, and wildlife management issues facing the National Park Service. Learn the latest in wolf research as we search wildlife corridors for tracks and signs of this fascinating species.
Hiking will be moderately strenuous over uneven tundra, forest, and river bar terrain, covering distances of approximately 3-5 miles round trip with as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will likely encounter wet tundra / forest conditions and stream crossings with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
One professional development credit is available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credit. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.
Denali's Large Mammals
July 29 – 31
Denali National Park and Preserve
$378 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($420 Non-Member Price)
Denali National Park and Preserve is well known for its legendary populations of large mammals such as bears, wolves, sheep, caribou, and moose. Join long time Denali resident and naturalist NJ Gates for this fascinating exploration of large mammal habitat, natural history and research. We will spend our days in the field learning about each of these animals, locally known as “the big 5”, as we hike through their habitat and look for signs of their presence.
Hiking will be moderately strenuous, covering distances of approximately 5 miles round trip including as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will be hiking off trail on rough, uneven tundra and forest terrains and will likely encounter wet tundra / forest conditions and stream crossings with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
One professional development credit is available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credit. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.
Denali's Mosses and Lichens
August 5 – 7
Denali National Park and Preserve
$360 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($400 Non-Member Price)
Interior Alaska is truly a land of mosses and lichens. They are draped on trees, nestled together in the tundra, and plastered on rocks. With a combined total of over 1000 species, they are one of the most diverse species groups in Denali National Park and Preserve. Join Denali botanist Sarah Stehn for an introduction to the smallest, yet ever-present members of Alaska’s vegetation. We will spend our time investigating the biology and ecology of these mysterious organisms, striking out across the landscape to explore the many microsites they inhabit, while learning to identify the most common and charismatic species.
Hiking will be moderately strenuous over uneven tundra, forest, and river bar terrain, and will include frequent bending and stooping. Hikes will cover distances of approximately 4 miles round trip with as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will likely encounter wet tundra / forest conditions and stream crossings with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
One professional development credit is available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credit. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.
Denali's Alpine Wildlife and Climate Change
August 7 – 9
Denali National Park and Preserve
$360 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($400 Non-Member Price)
The alpine tundra is home to many animals such as pikas, marmots, and Dall sheep that spend their entire lives above treeline. Yet recent evidence has shown rapid advance of shrubs and trees into the tundra. What might this, as well as rising temperatures and other consequences of climate change, mean for Denali’s alpine wildlife? Join wildlife researcher Jennifer Wall for a behind the scenes look at her current study to try to find out. We’ll hike through the tundra and learn all about the animals that live there while looking for signs of their presence. We’ll learn methods used by scientists to document the distribution of alpine wildlife and get hands on experience as citizen scientists by collecting data for the current study.
Hiking will be moderately strenuous, covering distances of approximately 5 miles round trip including as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will be hiking off trail on rough, uneven tundra and forest terrains and will likely encounter wet tundra / forest conditions and stream crossings with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
One professional development credit is available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credit. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.
This course is sold out. To be added to the wait list, please email courses@alaskageographic.org with your name and contact information.
Geology of Denali
August 12 – 14
Denali National Park and Preserve
$360 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($400 Non-Member Price)
Denali’s dramatic landscape has been sculpted and scoured by tectonics, glaciers, rivers, and landslides. Join National Park Service geologist Denny Capps for an introduction to Denali’s geology. We will spend our days hiking mountains and valleys learning how geologists study the Earth and interpret the landscape’s story. We’ll learn basic mineral and rock identification, decipher evidence of past glaciations, examine dynamic braided rivers, and visit areas affected by permafrost and landslides.
Hiking will be strenuous, covering distances up to several miles round trip and including as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will be hiking off trail on steep, rough, uneven, and unstable rocks, tundra, and/or forested terrain. Depending on prevailing conditions we may encounter stream crossings with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
One professional development credit is available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credit. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.
This course is sold out. To be added to the wait list, please email courses@alaskageographic.org with your name and contact information.
Bears of Denali
August 19 – 21
Denali National Park and Preserve
$360 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($400 Non-Member Price)
As the days grow shorter and tundra colors begin to change, grizzly bears are preparing for their long winter’s sleep. Come spend time with Denali National Park wildlife biologist Pat Owen during this beautiful time of year and hear tales from her 30 years of studying bears in the park. We will spend our days investigating grizzly bear habitat while learning about this animal’s behavior, life history, and their role in the Denali ecosystem. We’ll also discuss ongoing grizzly bear research and how to stay safe in bear country.
Hiking will be moderately strenuous, covering distances of approximately 5 miles round trip including as much as 1,500 feet of elevation gain. We will be hiking off trail on rough, uneven tundra and forest terrains and will likely encounter wet tundra / forest conditions and stream crossings with water levels that are above hiking boots. Participants must be in good physical condition.
Like any outdoor activity, there are inherent risks associated with our field courses yet we actively manage our exposures and depend on you to play a role in our risk management. Read more here.
One professional development credit is available for this course through the University of Alaska. You may choose this option when registering for the course.
Please download the following four documents to complete the requirements for the credit. The syllabus and registration form will be available in early May.