Summer 2020 WISE/BLM Hikes and Activities

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Yes, we will be leading outdoor adventures for youth this summer, but they will be a little different....
  • ​Hikes and activities will be available by request for families and small groups of up to ten people.
  • Request an activity from the list below by calling or emailing the WISE office.  822-3575, contact@wise-edu.org.  We will work with you to schedule the time, date, and location for your small group.
  • WISE and BLM staff will provide leadership, educational activities, and safety support.  Unfortunately will not be able to provide  transportation, food, or overnight camps.
  • We will be wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing, and doing extra cleaning to help prevent the spread of Covid19. We will be asking our participants to also respect these guidelines.
  • Suggested Donation $5 per person, hikes free for WISE donors.
“Menu” of Activities
  • Boreal Forest Hike-  Tree ID, forest ecosystems, and how to read the story of a tree’s life in the rings. 
  • Aquatic Ecology-  We will meet at a pond or stream to learn about macroinvertebrates, the water cycle, and fish ecology.  2 hours to full day.
  • Mud Volcanoes-  The somewhat rugged one mile hike to this local geological oddity is well worth it!  Bubbling methane, animal tracks, and LOTS of mud!
  • Leave No Trace Hike-  We will learn about the wonders of the Copper River Watershed, and how to be good stewards of the land with Leave No Trace games and activities.
  • Ten Essentials Hike - What should you pack for your adventure?  We will explore ways to be prepared for any outdoor trip while enjoying a hike.
  • Outdoor Art-- We will combine a hike with an art project to grow creativity and observation skills.
  • Tracks and Scats– Learn how scientists and naturalists use tracks and scat to read the story of the natural world.
  • Skins and Skulls-  Using WISE’s collection of skins and skulls, we will learn about local mammals, then explore the nearby forest looking for signs of their presence.
  • Other Ideas? Ask, we can probably figure something out!
Request an activity-- 822-3575    contact@wise-edu.org
COVID19 Risk Management for Summer Hikes
Our first priority is the safety of our staff and program participants.  Here are the procedures we will be following, and what we will be requesting of our participants. Working together, we can help keep everyone safe while learning and adventuring outdoors.
  • WISE and BLM staff will wear face coverings whenever we are in close proximity, and as much as possible stay 6 feet away from others.   Participants will be encouraged to also follow these practices.
  • We will be limiting sharing of items, and using wipes and hand sanitizer to clean throughout the program. 
  • Participants will need to provide their own transportation and food.
  • Everyone should be free of any new or unexplained symptoms associated with Covid19, including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, digestive upsets, or loss of sense of taste/smell.
  • Participants should not have travelled  outside Alaska within 14 days, or had close contact with anyone who could be carrying Covid 19.
  • Adults accompanying youth may be asked to help with activities to minimize close contact between WISE/BLM staff and participants.
  • If the local Covid19 risk or State of Alaska mandates  change, we will cancel or adapt programs as necessary.
  • Please don’t hesitate to contact WISE if you have questions or concerns, we are all learning together in these uncertain times.

    Request a Summer Hike
WISE works with the US Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office to  lead a series of  youth-centered hikes each summer in the Copper River Basin. Boreal forest, mountains, rivers, kettle lakes, mud volcanoes, and waterfalls provide the backdrop for engaging activities and lessons on Leave No Trace principles and environmental science. 

​These activities are geared towards youth, but all ages are welcome.  For the summer of 2020 we will be doing hikes by request, please contact WISE if your family or small group would like to schedule an activity. 


For day hikes, all participants should be prepared with a day pack, sturdy hiking shoes,  raincoat, warm layers, lunch/snacks, water bottle, and any medications or first aid needs.  You may also want a camera, binoculars, sunscreen, sunglasses, and insect repellant.  For camps, participants will be sent a “what-to-bring list,” and there will be loaner gear available.