There’s no place like the Kenai Mountains –Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area to support classroom learning with hands-on experiences. The Pathfinders program is designed to connect students deeply to the world around them and engage them in inquiry-based learning throughout the school year. Revisiting Portage Valley as in transforms from fall to winter to spring creates the ideal learning conditions for a wide array of subjects such as change, cycles, energy, and interdependence. Pathfinders can be customized to include particular topics of interest or state standards and our education staff will work with each participating class to create an unforgettable experience that provides students with repeated opportunities to be active, work together to explore their environment, improve their science and outdoor skills, and enjoy a day spent outside.
- Support environmental literacy and lifelong learning using an experiential, inquiry-based teaching model.
- Expose students to the rich histories, environments and recreation opportunities in the KMTA NHA.
- Provide opportunities to practice their science, social, and outdoor skills.
- Model and cultivate stewardship behaviors and an appreciation for the natural world.
Pathfinders is based at the Chugach National Forest’s Begich, Boggs Visitor Center in Portage, Alaska. The Visitor Center is perched above the shore of Portage Lake in the heart of Portage Valley, whose rich cultural and natural history affords students an incredible diversity of environments to explore.
Are you an outdoor enthusiast? Do you work in a field related to public lands or natural resources? Do you want to share your skills and knowledge with the next generation of Alaskans? Volunteer with Pathfinders!
If you are interested in supporting Pathfinders or other KMTA Education Programs through student sponsorship, in-kind support or strategic partnership, please visit our Ways to Support Page using the link below. Thank you!
For more information about Pathfinders, please contact:
SARAH SCHUH
Education Programs Manager
