In February the Chugach Children’s Forest hosted an event where representatives from USFS, Student Conservation Association, National Outdoor Leadership School, and Youth Employment in Parks came to the Alaska Geographic office to tell teens about the exciting outdoor opportunities they’re offering this summer – from internships to jobs to outdoor expeditions.
We were overwhelmed by the crowd of 30+ teens who came to find out how they could spend their summer outdoors. Most of the teens in attendance were Chugach Children’s Forest alum and many of them brought friends and family members along. Since the event, Alaska Geographic and Chugach National Forest staff have helped seven teens complete their applications for the opportunities that interested them the most.
The Chugach Children’s Forest is committed to introducing youth to their first experiences in public lands—but we take it a step further. We connect CCF youth to follow-up opportunities that allow them to continue developing their outdoor skills, and we mentor the youth to make sure they’re able to take advantage of these opportunities. This event and the subsequent follow-up with students is a testament to CCF’s commitment to mentorship. We’re excited to be growing the future leaders of AK’s public lands!