Facility Activities

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Youth Education Programs

Salmon Camp

Register for the 2023 Salmon Camp lottery now! (Closes March 31st, 4pm)

The mission of Salmon Camp is to educate Kodiak’s youth about the natural and cultural systems that define Kodiak’s geography and empower learners to investigate their own connections to this special place through hands-on learning, self-reflection and group discovery. Registration for the camp is done through a lottery in March. After the lottery, any remaining spaces are available on a first come first served basis.

Salmon Camp Flyer

Salmon Camp Registration Packet

Contact Shelly Lawson at michelle_lawson@fws.gov or (907) 487-0283.

 

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Summer Job Opening:

Alaska Geographic is hiring an Environmental Educator/Science Camp Director for Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

Duties: This position will act as the Camp Director for a summer science camp working closely with the Kodiak Refuge Education Specialist. Camps consist of 18-21 youth of different grades throughout the summer from K-8th. Work responsibilities will range from managing camp paperwork; organizing gear; preparing and implementing lessons; coordinating with community partners; helping lead and guide camp volunteers; providing camps on the Kodiak road-system as well as traveling by mail plane to remote communities; and assisting with other outreach efforts.

Requirements:

  • Valid driver’s license, at least 18 years of age and legally permitted to work in the U.S.
  • Ability to pass a criminal history background check.
  • Interest in educating youth and team teaching.  
  • Respectfully communicate with campers, camper families, community members and co-workers.

Ability to:

  • Plan, coordinate and implement lesson plans and logistics.
  • Communicate effectively by email, phone and in public settings to groups of people.
  • Lead hikes on trails, tidepools, and beaches, at times on uneven or slippery terrain.

Beneficial Backgrounds: Degree in Environmental Science, Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Education, Biology, Public Land Management, or other related field. A minimum of one year’s experience providing education to youth.

Pay: $20/hour

Work period: May – August 2023. Season not to exceed 720 hours (~ 4 months)

Housing: Staff shared housing and shared vehicle possible.

How to apply: Combine all required documents into one pdf to attach to your email. Email pdf document to Michelle_Lawson@fws.gov by March 30th. Email subject should be: Salmon Camp Director Application

Application should include:

  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Letter of recommendation (from previous employer, professor, coach, etc.)
  • Contact information for two addition references

 

FUN Program

The Families Understanding Nature (FUN) program is designed for ages 3-5 and their families. We meet weekly at the Visitor Center in the Summer. There is a new theme each week. Stories, songs, puppets, and crafts will be utilized for hands-on learning for little nature lovers on specific topics. The FUN program has been in existence since 1995.

WILD Program

The Wildlife, Investigation, Learning, and Discovery (WILD) program is designed for ages 6-12. We meet weekly at the Visitor Center in the Summer. There is a new theme each week.

Visitor Center Youth Activities

Drop in to the Visitor Center anytime during open hours to earn a Junior Ranger patch, do a scavenger hunt, or check out a FUN backpack.

Contact (907) 487-2626 to learn more.

 

 

 

Alaskan subsistence hunting and fishing
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 provides access to many federal public lands in Alaska for rural residents to practice a subsistence way of life.
Fishing

Popular fishing destinations such as the Karluk, Uganik, and Ayakulik Rivers offer world-class fishing opportunities for salmon, steelhead, and rainbow trout. Refuge permits are not required for recreational use of lands along the Ayakulik or Uganik Rivers. Angling use of the area is,...

Hunting

Big game such as deer, bear, elk, and mountain goat can be found on Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. Hunting regulations, licenses, and tags for specific animals are available through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Photography

If wish to photograph or film your visits for personal use you do not need a refuge permit. However, professional filming activities, where film or video footage is gathered with the intention of using it for commercial purposes, do need a special use permit. Application guidance for commercial...

Wildlife watching
Birding

More than 200 species of birds have been recorded here, most of which can be found in the refuge. In winter, the archipelago provides important habitat for sea ducks and other aquatic migratory birds, whose combined populations number well over a million bird and give Kodiak the...

Boating - non-motorized
Many Fish and Wildlife Service sites make great destinations for flatwater canoeing or kayaking. Some sites have concessions that rent canoes or kayaks. Some sites offer scheduled paddle tours. See individual refuge websites for details.
Backpacking
Backpacking is allowed, by permit, on some sites where trails that pass through a refuge are too long or remote to hike in one day.
Birding
From bald eagles to spoonbills, from condors to puffins, birds abound on national wildlife refuges. Refuges provide places for birds to nest, rest, feed and breed making them world-renown for their birding opportunities.