Copper River Stewardship Program

Program Partners: WISE
Copper River Watershed Project
Prince William Sound Science Center
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
US Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office
US Forest Service Cordova Ranger District

2018 Copper River Stewardship Program's application is now closed. We will be accepting applications for 2019 starting in January.

This hands-on program takes 10 youth from communities throughout the region on an in-depth adventure through the Copper River watershed. Participants meet with representatives from a wide range of fields and perspectives along the way, learning about what makes this watershed so special, as well as the challenges the region faces.

After completing their journey, participants create a unique project to share their experience with others. We hope you enjoy the projects we have posted here and invite your ideas and feedback for future stewardship programs.

All youth currently in 8-12th grade are eligible.

Cost: $300, scholarships are available.
You can also contact the representative listed below from your region for an application or more information. Be sure to check out the projects below that show the highlight's from past adventures!

Contacts:
Cordova: Lauren Bien, Prince William Sound Science Center, 424-5800 ext. 231 lbien@pwscc.org
Upriver: Robin Mayo, WISE, 822-3575 robin@wise-edu.org

WHAT THEY LEARN...
"The rivers that run through our watershed are important to all of us. I learned how fragile the balance of it all can be, and what people in our region are doing to keep it in good shape. I also learned that teamwork is essential. It would have been impossible to do all of this without the help of many different people, and we all learned to work well together."

"The first is that the watershed is fragile, and a special thing that should be watched over and protected. If we protect the watershed, then that also is better for the environment, especially salmon that a lot of people depend on for food and money."

HOW THEY CHANGE...
"I got to know a lot of new people on this trip, and it made me much more open minded. I know that I will do everything I can to take care of this watershed in the future, and encourage other people to do the same."

"Right now I think that I have made a couple changes to my daily life. And maybe in the future if I choose to work for ADF&G, managing the salmon would be a career that I would consider, having not considered it before. And also I never knew that the people living around the upper Copper River depend on the fish more for food. That would certainly make my decisions different to provide more people with food."

STUDENT PROJECTS
Experience the day-to-day adventures of the Copper River Stewardship Program through these final projects created by the stewards:

2015 Copper River Stewardship Program video

We All Live Downstream 2014 Video produced by Amanda Friendshuh

2013 Copper River Stewardship Program Video

2012 Copper River Stewardship Program Vide0

2011 Copper RIver Stewardship Program Video

Gulkana River Days: A film created by participants on the 2010 CRSP who rafted the Gulkana River.

Emmie's Raft Trip Experience
www.emmiesrafttripexperience.weebly.com

Kristina's Raft Trip blog
www.copperriverwatershed.weebly.com