WISE Programs

 Copper River Stewardship Program - 2009

Copper River Stewardship Program Essays Excerpts - 2009

      Youth Summer Camps

       Changing Seasons

Earth Discovery Day

In-School Programs

Puppet Shows,

Boy and Girl Scouts

Native Programs

Watershed Leadership Program

Trails

 

  Adult and Youth Programs

Leave No Trace

Youth Programs

Copper River Stewardship Program - 2009
This program received rave reviews from students, parents, teachers, and principals who want to see the program continue. A goal of the program is to connect youth from the Copper River Basin with youth of the Copper River Delta. Through this forum, topics such as preservation and conservation of river resources are addressed; experiences are shared on similarities and differences. As more and more use of the river occurs, it will be the youth of both regions to understand and comprehend future impacts. This program gives them a base line of first hand experience and knowledge that will carry them through their adult lives. The famous Copper River Red Salmon depend on the health of the river and its watershed. Students that go through our programs learn about watershed dynamics, experience a sense of stewardship, helping them to make wise decisions as they become adult leaders.

The program is limited to ten students. Students apply by writing an essay and are selected using criteria developed by WISE and its partners. This program was made possible in 2007 by a grant, donations and a small student fee. WISE will work in partnership with Prince William Sound Science Center and Copper River Watershed Project to select students from the Copper Basin and the lower watershed on a collaborative float.(Top)

Copper River Stewardship Program Essays Excerpts - 2009 (Top)

Excerpts from post student essays:

Craig Bailer

I am very glad that I went on this trip. I never realized that land ownership In the Copper River Watershed was so complicated. It was interesting to see how the Trans-Alaska Pipeline crosses over several major tributaries of the Copper River without any additional safeguards, and how insufficient the river spill scenarios are. I think that it is important to make sure that the watershed is preserved, the fish harvest kept sustainable, and the land management issues are resolved. I think that the Copper River and areas surrounding it should be kept wild and thriving.( Top)

 

 

Dani Hess

The Copper River Watershed is one of the most unique and pristine on the planet. The diversity and complexity of this ecosystem has much to teach those who spend their time in it. The many people who depend on the health and abundance of this basin for their livelihood and recreation have a responsibility to be aware of their impacts on it.  From the many things that I learned about managing a watershed like the Copper River basin during the trip, the most important was how necessary it is for all user groups and land owners to know how their actions in one area are affecting the greater surroundings. It is crucial the health of the watershed for these users to collectively make decisions about what the land and river are used for with the bigger picture in mind. (Top)

 

Matt Maxewell
I really enjoyed learning about the salmon. We learned about the habitats and the ways people catch and harvest the salmon. Learning about how people use the fish gave me a different perspective on all the different fisheries on the Copper River.

This will be a trip that I will remember for the rest of my life. I hope they can continue this program in the future. This is a very fun way to learn and experience the area with your peers. The CRSP program helped me understand the Copper River and made it so I could share it with everyone. I can look at the Copper River as a whole now, not just from what people tell me about it. I recommend this trip to everyone! (Top)

 

Daniel Leahy

Since my participation in the Copper River Stewardship Program, I've been left with a lasting fascination of the topics we discussed throughout the trip. Especially noteworthy is the topic of the pipeline, since our trip I have read further about the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. What initially led to such interest was a conversation I had with one of the parents at the Watershed Project's open house. I remember commenting how the pipeline is aging and was recently signed for a new lease, how we passed peak oil two decades ago. She then commented how the pipeline was where our state budget came from. That conversation drove me to start thinking that we don't invest enough money on infrastructure and education. Rather than directing our large surpluses to reverse our states brain drain or to encourage investment we hand out Permanent Fund Dividend checks every year. Which generate popular support but don't improve our dropout rate, which is twice the national average. With our limited time to do so, our state budget should prioritize future-proofing and diversifying our economy.(Top)

Jessica Smyke

I learned a ton of new information on this trip. A major lesson I learned is that you need to talk to a group of people before making opinions. I wrote my opinions in my journal, and the next day I had totally changed my mind because of listening to my peers. I really learned to be more open-minded on this trip.

In my personal life, I would like to start paying more attention to the environment and how it is being treated so I can do my part to help preserve my home. I want to find out more about the watershed and how it��s being managed. I want to get involved in programs that work towards the preservation of the watershed and all the resources in it. I want to start picking up more trash when I see it. Sometimes I will see trash on the ground and think, ��I don��t need to pick that up. It��s not my fault that someone else dropped it there.�� Now I know that it doesn't matter who dropped it; if I want to preserve the watershed I need to pick it up.(Top)

Kristina Clark

Some lessons and/or experiences I have taken with me from the Copper River Stewardship program... I'm much more safety conscious after the whole talk with Trooper Simeon. I definitely do not mind wearing a safety jacket now and will from now on encourage others to use them. I would like to take a stand against littering also because it's something everyone does and it's not good for the environment or the wildlife. I would also like to get one of the bear proof containers for food so that me and my family do not attract bears or other wildlife while we are camping or hunting. I would also like to tell more people about how the Natives use subsistence and why it is important to us. Many people have the wrong idea about it so I would like to clarify it to people so that they are not bitter toward us.(Top)

 

Keaton Shepherd

The major lesson I have taken from the program is the world is not really divided by state lines, country borders, and landowner��s signs.  The world is a whole and we all have to share the limited resources that it provides us with.  There are many resources that we take for granted today, such as our watersheds.  So many people don��t understand that true value is not marked with a price tag.  The Copper River Watershed has an intrinsic value that surpasses all monetary representation; it has sustained the culture of human beings as well as the animal kingdom in their natural state for millennia.  This value is ever-increasing as it is one of the few wild river systems that remain in their natural state. 

What will we do when all of the wild places are gone?   While I was on the river, I felt an increased awareness and connection with the world.  The campfire messages stirred emotions deep within me, feelings that maybe we take too much and give too little.  It is this gift of consciousness that I would like to share with those around me, because I know that all humans are influenced by other humans.  Thus, all change must begin within the self.   Before one can change; one must understand and one must become aware.  The Copper River Stewardship Program was an incredible gift of awareness, possibly one of the most freeing experiences for a mind feeling disdain for a distorted consumer culture, but knowing no other alternative. I will begin by making a change in myself, striving to live for a higher purpose, and through this example, provide leadership to my community.(Top)

Mariah Doty

 The Copper River watershed Project taught me many things. I Learned a ton and wish that everyone had the time and the resources to go on a trip like this one. I think that one of the lessons that I learned on this trip was that even though things may not look like they are dangerous that they really can be (the Copper River). There were so many great experiences that I had on this trip one of my favorite was getting to learn and have the experience of rowing.I think that one of the most important messages that I learned on this trip was about the oil pipeline. It was amazing to find out that in 72 hours an oil spill happening around Tazlina would be all the way down to Cordova. One thing that I thought was very weird about their plan for if there was an oil spill was their skimmers and boomers. Both of these tools skim the water, which in the case of the Copper River would not work so well. Since the silt in the river would soak up the oil and drag it down to the bottom of the riverbed, forming balls of oily silt.(Top)

 

Emmy Van Wyhe

The glaciers were amazing and huge. Miles Glacier is 27 miles long. I could hear Childs Glacier caving even before Abercrombie Rapids and it was going even when we got off the river and went to look at it. There were so many icebergs in the water and we grabbed a mini one out of the water. It melts so slowly and it was cool to see how little it was on top but then how big it was underneath the water. It was fun to go across Miles Lake and watch the Million Dollar Bridge get bigger and bigger until we were on land again, packed up and ready to hop in the car.

It was fun to drive across the bridge that we had been looking at for a couple hours. When we crossed the bridge we went to learn about an underwater sonar that counts the fish. They sit in a small little shack and at the top of every hour they count the fish that go by. It was really interesting to learn about what they do but I don't think that I could do it. I couldn't sit inside a little shack and count fish every hour. We then went to a place where you can sit and watch the glacier. (Top)

Shannon Lindow

"I made good friends and learned so much.  I can't believe how much I learned in a non school environment." (Top)

Trails

WISE has worked with local schools to teach interpretation techniques to students for them to develop interpretive trails near their schools for the benefit of students and visitors.

Aspen Trail

Glennallen school students developed the Aspen Interpretive Trail behind their school. This is a one mile loop trail that takes you through three ecosystems in the boreal forest. Interpretive signs are stationed along the trail. The trailhead is on Coop Rd. and has a parking area and kiosk.

 

 

Kenny Lake Interpretive Trail

Kenny Lake School students developed an interpretive trail on school grounds as an outdoor classroom. The trail winds through the boreal forest with a learning station complete with benches. The trail ends up on the bluff overlooking the Tonsina River where more benches are situated.

 

 

Interpretive Walks

WISE works with teachers to deliver interpretive walks for their students. Contact us to set up a program for your class. (Top)

Adult and Youth Programs

Leave No Trace
The Leave No Trace program is dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. WISE offers 1-2 hour workshops on the Leave No Trace seven principles using games and skits. Curriculum is designed for each age group. Train the Trainer classes are also available. Adult leaders learn the skills for teaching the seven principles in two days. They receive a Trainer certificate from the Leave No Trace national headquarters which allows them to teach the principles to their group. Contact us to schedule a program for your group or sign up for a Train the Trainer class. Groups that benefit are the girl and boy scouts, church, military, river groups, outdoor clubs, schools, and anyone that participates in outdoor recreation. (Top)