Opportunities for Teachers
All Field Courses are Accredited for Teachers
All of the field courses offered in Denali, through the Murie Science and Learning Center, are accredited through the University of Alaska-Anchorage for Professional Development Credit. Though these field courses are not designed specifically for teachers, they are very popular with teachers willing to self-direct their study and application of the subject matter. Each field course has an option for professional development credit (1 or 2 credits). See the full list of 2020 courses on our field course page.
Scholarships for Teachers
Alaska Geographic and the National Park Service recognize that teachers have the ability to empower and inspire our youth. A handful of our Denali based field courses are available for scholarship every year. Teachers that attend our field courses help us share park science and an appreciation for public lands. Click here to find out more!
Some Courses are Designed Exclusively for Teachers
With our National Forest Service and National Park Service partners, Alaska Geographic has designed the following courses just for teachers.
Exploring Prince William Sound: Sea Kayaking
June 10 – 15 *
Chugach National Forest
$750 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($825 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. The application period will open in January. Priority will be given to current Alaskan classroom teachers for this course. *Dates are not final and may change by a few days.
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.
Three professional development credits through the University of Alaska are included in the cost of this course. The syllabus and registration form are available here.
Kenai Fjords: Floating Teacher Workshop
June 20 – 27 *
Kenai Fjords National Park
$850 Alaska Geographic Member Price ($925 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. The application period will open in January. Priority will be given to current Alaskan classroom teachers for this course. *Dates are not final and may change by a few days.
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.
Three professional development credits through the University of Alaska are included in the cost of this course. The syllabus and registration form are available here.