Alaska Youth Fish and Wildlife Club began in summer 2020 as an virtual alternative to our Anchorage urban fishing program due to COVID-19. It expanded to include non-fish related topics and continues to this day. Here are all of the past topics we've covered during the summer, fall, winter, and spring sessions:
SPRING 2023 SESSION TOPICS
January 18 – (4PM) Welcome to Youth Fish & Wildlife Club!
January 25 – (4PM) Alaska's rodents!
February 1 – Snowflakes and ice (bring a white piece of paper and scissors)
Feb 8 – Pacific walrus!
Feb 15 – Sounds and smells of the animal world
Feb 22 – Junior Duck Stamp
March 1 – Test your fish and wildlife knowledge!
March 8 – K9s in conservation with a special K9 guest Dock and trainer Chad!
March 15 – No Zoom/Spring Break
March 22 – Sea otters!
March 29 – Puffins!
April 5 – Wildfires
April 12 – Spring bears & safety
April 26 – Hunting Q&A
May 3 – Spring moose & safety
Thursday May 11 at 9:30AM – Illustrating the Arctic + Art Demo with Francis Vallejo:
FALL 2022 SESSION TOPICS
September 21 - Welcome to Fish and Wildlife Club!
September 28 - Fascinating Fishes!
October 5 - How to poo politely on public lands/Leave No Trace
October 12 - Tour Alaska's Wildlife Refuges
October 19 - Bird Migration
October 26 - All about bats!
November 2 - Tracks and Scat
November 9 - Winter Mammals
November 16 - Wild Foods!
November 23 - BREAK
November 30 - Alaska's Volcanoes
December 7 - Careers in Conservation
SUMMER 2022 SESSION TOPICS
June 15 – Invasive Species
June 22 – Juneteenth Stump a Scientist
June 29 – Wildlife and Fireworks
July 6 – Loons, Line, and Lead
July 13 – Water and Wildlife Safety
July 20 – Fish Identification
July 24 – Counting Fish & Birds
August 3 – Pollinators and Alaska’s Hummingbirds
SPRING 2022 SESSION TOPICS
January 19 – The Science Behind Snow and Snowflakes
January 26 – Volcanoes and Glaciers
February 2 – All About Lynx
February 9 – Ice Fishing and Safety on the Ice
February 16 – Marine Mammals: Polar Bears
February 23 – Stump A Scientist: Black History Month
March 2 – Animal Sounds
March 16 – Stump a Scientist: Women’s History Month
March 23 – Alaska's Owls
March 30 – Identifying Animals with Tracks and Scat
April 6 – Horses in the Conservation Field
April 13 – Fires in Nature and Conservation
April 20 – Plastics and Recycling
April 27 – Pollinators
May 4 – Introduction to Gardening
May 11 – Introduction to Fish and Fishing
Other Sessions:
General Wildlife, Ecosystems, Weather, Conservation, and Outdoor Recreation
- Alaska Trivia
- Animals of Winter
- Wildlife Safety with Trent Liebich
- Know Before You Go: Preparing for Fishing and Other Outdoor Pursuits
- Public Lands and National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska
- The Story of Snow and Snowflakes
- Leave No Trace and Pooping in Nature
- Equinoxes, Solstices, and Daylight in Alaska
- Recycling, Plastics, and Our Nearby Ecosystems
- Pollinators: What are they and why do they matter? With guest Sabrina Farmer
- Alaska’s Volcanoes
- Introduction to Archery with Kris Pacheco
- Celebrating Black History Month: Historic Contributions of Black Americans in Conservation and the Outdoors
- Land Acknowledgements, Alaska Native Culture, and Fish with Guest Crystal Leonetti
Mammals
- Fat Bears and Hibernation with Biologist Joy Erlenbach)
- Polar Bears with Biologist Lindsey Mangipane
- Horns and Antlers with Katrina Liebich and Helen Strackeljahn
- All About Lynx with Biologist Mark Bertram
- Get to Know Wolves with Ranger Michelle Ostrowski
Fish/Fishing
- Introduction to Alaska’s Fish
- Zombie Salmon with Katrina Liebich
- Fish and Glaciers
- Get to Know Alaska’s Fish: Fish ID Tips and Tricks
- Fish Habitat: Find out Where Your Fish Live
- Types of Fishing: Lakes and Current with Kris Pacheco
- Cold Water Safety with the DNR Office of Boating Safety
- Preparing Your Catch with Katrina Liebich
- Responsible Recreation for Anglers
- Fish for Life: How Fish Sustain People and Other Animals
- Fish Habitat: Find Out Where Your Fish Live
- Traditional Methods of Hunting and Fishing with Orville Lind
Birds
- Waterfowl Art Tutorial and the Junior Duck Stamp Competition with Sara Wolman
- Migratory and Resident Birds with Biologist Callie Gesmundo
- Alaska’s Owls
- Hummingbirds and Tiny Travelers
- Christmas Bird Count: How to Use Binoculars and Identify Birds with Outreach Biologist Tamara Zeller
- Christmas Bird Count: Bird ID Bingo with Outreach Biologist Tamara Zeller
Making Connections with Conservation Professionals
- Stump a Scientist with Habitat Biologist Trent Liebich
- Career Spotlight on Wildlife Biologist and Pilot Heather Wilson
- Career Spotlight on Wildlife Inspector Chad Hornbaker
Interactive Activities
- Wildlife Yoga with Guest Ranger Allyssa Morris
- Make Your Own Binoculars
- Creating Waterfowl Art and Introduction to Watercolor Technique with Ranger Shelly Lawson
- Animals and Ecosystems Drawing Activity
- What’s on the Menu? Animal Diets and Eating Like an Animal
- Salmon Art Tutorial and the State Fish Art Contest with Digital Artist Sara Wolman
Hunting and the Outdoors with Eric Morris of NonTypical Outdoorsman
- Why Hunt? Intro to Hunting and Taking Your First Steps
- Outdoor Activities in Alaska
- Matthew Henson and Exploring the Outdoors
- Introduction to Firearms
- Archery and Being an Ethical Outdoorsman
- Introduction to Alaska Big Game and Rifle Calibers
- Firearm Safety
- How to Plan for A Hunt
- Field Dressing and Processing Game
- A Hunter’s Guide to Conservation
- Introduction to Camouflage
- Youth Hunt Participant Panel/Q&A
- Chemical Compounds in Nature and Hunting
- Medicinal Plants and Hunter Education
- Trivia Game: Hunting Review
