Chugach Children’s Forest
Get Out. Go Wild. Change the Future.
The Chugach National Forest is a vast and inspiring mix of glaciers, mountains, rainforest, and wild coastline—and backyard to half of Alaska’s population. Yet, only a small fraction of Alaska's residents are fully aware of its wonders and opportunities.
In 2008, the Chugach National Forest designated itself a Children's Forest, a symbolic designation that underscores the importance of connecting youth to Alaska's outdoors. An innovative partnership led by the Chugach National Forest and Alaska Geographic, the initiative includes a range of programs being designed to better connect the communities of Alaska with their public lands, beginning with Southcentral Alaska and the Chugach area. Programs are designed to reach the diverse youth of Alaska and encourage:
- Healthy, active, engaged youth
- Expanded education and career pathways, particularly in science and technology
- An understanding of climate change and its human, environmental, and economic impacts
 Read more about the Children's Forest background
Programs and Initiatives
Annual Youth Expeditions
 The Youth Expedition Series marked its inaugural journey in 2009 with a week-long expedition to Prince WIlliam Sound. These annual expeditions travel to some of Alaska's wildest places, engage youth in stewardship projects, and provide them with an understanding of what public lands mean to adjacent communities. The stories and discoveries from expeditions will be shared through youth-produced media, public presentations, interactive websites, and integration into school programs. This year's expedition traveled aboard research vessels in Prince William Sound, where they explored and documented the Sound 20 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Youth-Managed Public Land
 What better way to engage youth than to directly put their ideas into practice? Students from Anchorage's King Career Center are actively developing a proposal for Alaska's youth to manage a section of the Chugach National Forest. With guidance from the U.S. Forest Service and coordination from Alaska Geographic, the program will incorporate elements of resource monitoring, long-term planning, recreation, and education.
Notes from the Field
Programs Under Development
- Youth engagement in climate change research
- Internships and mentoring programs
- Projects connecting local schools with public lands
- Expanded youth-produced media projects
- Increased volunteer and service learning opportunities
Partners
 Enthusiasm for this initiative is strong. What started out as two partners - the U.S. Forest Service and Alaska Geographic - now includes more than a dozen schools, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other partners invested in the success of these programs for Alaska's youth.
How can you become involved?
Check back during the coming months, as opportunities are evolving to participate in educational and volunteer programs. Help support our efforts to engage Alaska's youth by making a donation or becoming a member of Alaska Geographic. In order to successfully include all young Alaskans, the programs of the Children's Forest needs your support.
To become more involved or to learn more, please contact:
Ann Mayo-Kiely
Program Director
Alaska Geographic
810 East Ninth Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska 995012
(907) 274-8440
email
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