Paid Positions - Currently Seeking:
2012 Outdoor Explorers Summer Camp Lead Naturalist
Internships:
Alaska Conservation Foundation Internship with Discovery Southeast - paid.
- All registration details can be found on the ACF website
- Application window for this internship is February 1-29, 2012
- Read the internship description here
Gastineau Guiding Citizen Science Internship with Discovery Southeast - paid
Develop your own - paid or unpaid. Looking to gain experience and build your resume? Talk to us about creating your own unpaid volunteer internship experience - the possibilities are endless.
Do you have an idea about a grant or alternative funding source so that you can turn your experience into a paid internship? Let's talk!
Volunteer Positions:
Volunteers serve a crucial role here. Keep in mind that when paid positions open up, we typically consider those in our volunteer pool first, so this may be a fantastic opportunity to get your foot in the door.
Field Naturalists: Are you interested in honing your interpretive skills and gaining experience as a naturalist? Volunteer in the field by helping out at our hikes and hands-on events at upcomingDiscovery Days, Outdoor Explorers summer camp, or Nature Studies. Other special field events include Sea Week andBioBlitz. Opportunities change depending on the season, so call or email us to find out about upcoming events.
Outreach Naturalists: Volunteer at special outreach events where Discovery Southeast is representing itself with a table or activities. Help facilitate table activities, kids' games, and engage the public. Examples of outreach events might include Earth Day, the Juneau Maritime Festival, Community Day at UAS, andBioBlitz. Opportunities change depending on the season, so call or email us to find out about upcoming events.
Board Members: Our Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers who combine their passion for nature with their skills and experience to give the organization a clear direction and build strong community support. Do you have experience in finances/accounting or information technology? We'd love to have you on our board!
Special opportunity for prospective volunteers: Discovery Southeast holds several naturalist trainings each year where we gather our staff and volunteer base to trade insights and observations. If you are interested in volunteering as a naturalist with us, ask to be added to our volunteer email list and consider attending a training! Details will be emailed to you.
Are you a teacher or parent at either of the Mendenhall Valley elementary schools? We would love your insight as a volunteer.
***
If you are interested in any of these opportunities or would like to know more, call us at 907-463-1500 or contact us.
Calling all college students and recent graduates! Do you love kids? Love nature? Love being outside? Apply for our summer 2012 Alaska Conservation Foundation internship and assist with Outdoor Explorers this summer!
About Outdoor Explorers...
Exciting week-long summer day camps for ages 7-12 are spent exploring the trails and beaches, flora and fauna of Juneau's spectacular wilderness setting. Each day's destination is a new place and experience as children learn to be safe, confident, and responsible outside while having a great time with old and new friends. In addition to hikes and explorations, each week features role-play games, an art project, and an age-appropriate outdoor presentation by a local expert on the natural history of Southeast Alaska.
Registration process
Download the following Registration Form, print it out, complete it, and return with payment to our offices at PO Box 21867, Juneau, AK 99802. Member price of $165, non-member price of $195. Each child is limited to three weeks. If they would like to attend weeks beyond that there will be a waitlist.
One full scholarship is available for any child who needs one. Please contact us to learn more.
2012 Outdoor Explorers Summer Day Camp Schedule
(we will list a note when sessions are reaching near capacity)
Session 1: June 11-15. 7-9 year olds.
Session 2: June 18-22. 7-9 year olds.
Session 3: June 25-29. 7-9 year olds.
Session 4: July 2-6**. 10-12 year olds.
Session 5: July 9-13. 7-9 year olds.
Session 6: July 16-20. 7-9 year olds.
Session 7: July 23-27. 7-9 year olds.
Session 8: July 30-August 3. 10-12 year olds.
Session 9: August 6-10. 7-9 year olds.
Take a look back at last summer: 2011 Outdoor Explorers Archive
**Wondering how the week of July 2-6 is going to work due to the holiday?
Friday, July 6th will be a full day instead of a half-day. There will be no official Outdoor Explorers camp on July 4th.
Instead, we are planning on entering the parades with any kids who would like to participate with Discovery Southeast's Second Annual Parade of Species! Children are not required to come to or participate in the parade - if requested we can provide a discount for Session 4 participants.
Learn more about the Parade of Species.
Details about the program
Groups consist of 13 participants ages 7-9 or 10-12, with two adult naturalists. Participants must dress appropriately for each day's weather and terrain, and need to bring their own water and lunches.
Daily camp times are from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Fridays are a half day picnic excursion at Auke Rec from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Parents join their campers at noon on Fridays for an oceanside potluck picnic and a celebration of the week's fun activities and accomplishments. All Fridays this summer will be Member Days! Join the potluck action at Auke Rec and spend the afternoon enjoying the beach with nature-minded folks of all ages.
Transportation is provided from Riverbend Elementary School and Harborview Elementary School. Drop off time is at 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM and pick up time is at 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM (Friday drop off time is 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM and pick up time is 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM).
Itineraries vary from week to week. Locations we often use include Point Bridget/Cowee Meadow, Windfall Lake, Point Louisa, Outer Point, Eaglecrest, Montana Creek, Dredge Lakes, West Glacier Trail, and the Dan Moller Cabin. Fridays are typically spent at Auke Village Recreation Area or Sandy Beach.
This program is partially funded by the City and Borough of Juneau through sales tax revenues.
This program is also made possible by The North Face Explore Fund
Visit Discovery Southeast's Explore Fund Planet Explore page
Did you participate in Outdoor Explorers this summer?
We want to know what you thought of it! Your feedback helps us make this program even better.
Watch a video about Outdoor Explorers from 2011:
Check out the Outdoor Explorers videos from Summer 2010:
Registration opens on January 5th, 2012
We have just added a new expedition! Read all about the "Exploring Prince William Sound" expedition below.
Download and fill out your Registration Form.
About Teacher Expeditions...
Earn three professional development (500 level) credits from the University of Alaska-Anchorage while exploring Southeast Alaska's Inside Passage. Expeditions are led by veteran naturalists with many years of field experience. They are accompanied by outstanding professional guides from Above and Beyond Alaska, Spirit Walker Expeditions, Alaska Sea Kayakers and Lazy Otter Charters - several of Southeast Alaska's premier wilderness adventure companies.
These professional-level courses devote five days to field study of the habits of some of the region's most iconic animals as a means to understanding the broader ecology of the area. Opportunities abound to closely observe the behavior and habitat of Alaska's world-renowned animals, deepening the understanding how humans interact with other species and what it takes to keep those relationships healthy. Exploring the American wilderness ideal is an integral part of each course.
In addition to natural history, you will learn the kayaking, hiking and camping skills needed to safely and comfortably travel in wild country. We provide group gear and all meals, and can advise you on personal items you may wish to bring along. Each expedition is limited to 10 participants.
Prices / Payment / Cancellation Policy Information:
Prices include round trip transportation (air and water) between Juneau or Girdwood AK and each remote camp site, kayak and camping gear rentals, kayak training, permit and guide fees, food and the professional development credit fee. Participants are responsible for round trip transportation between their home town and Juneau (or Girdwood) as well as food and lodging for the first night of the trip, which is spent in Juneau (or Girdwood AK, for the Prince William Sound expedition).
A deposit at 50% of the trip fee is required by March 16, 2012, and is non-refundable after that date. If you register after March 16, your 50% deposit is due at the time of registration. Payment is due in full four weeks before departure, with 50% refundable up to two weeks before departure. No refunds will be assessed after two weeks prior to the trip date unless we can fill your spot, in which case an administrative fee will be assessed on top of the 50% that is not refundable. See the payment timetable and refund dates for the specific trip you are interested in. The deadline for registration is the same date that payment is due in full -- that is, four weeks before expedition departure date.
In addition to payment, please download and fill out the medical and release Registration Form.
The Expeditions
Bears of Admiralty Island: June 4 - June 10, 2012
$895 for members, $925 non-members
Walk in the footsteps of brown bears and paddle the waters of Seymour Canal as you explore various bear habitats to learn the needs and vulnerabilities of bears and the importance of wilderness protections and proper management of human uses. Forest Service naturalist Don MacDougall will introduce you to brown bear behavior and wilderness management issues in the heart of Admiralty National Monument's Kootznoowoo Wilderness.
Floatplanes will transport 10 participants and two guides to base camp near the world famous Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area sanctuary. From there, you will paddle in stable double kayaks to nearby locations to observe how brown bears use different habitats, with opportunities to hike along trails established by the bears themselves. A more strenuous hike into the alpine zone is an option. Evening gatherings and daytime breaks will give participants an opportunity to compare notes and share insights.
The class starts in Juneau the evening of the first day, with an orientation and get-to-know-you meeting. We will depart early the following morning for our camp on Admiralty Island. After five days of field exploration, we will gather on the morning of the final day to review our experiences, debrief and summarize the results of our expedition. Afterwards we will break camp and return to Juneau.
2012 BEARS OF ADMIRALTY ISLAND SYLLABUS
“Thanks for all your hard work! I and the other teachers who were on the trip were constantly in awe of the beauty and majesty of the region, and Don and Tom were amazing at helping us get past the jaw-dropping phase and on to the understanding of the ecosystem and the natural and political forces that have resulted in what it is today. I know we all left with a much better understanding of what unique and precious and fragile areas the Admiralty Island and Pack Creek are, and will be mindful of these lessons as we return to our classrooms.”
-Cat (Bears of Admiralty Island student, 2011)
Exploring Prince William Sound: June 12 - 18, 2012
$850 for members, $880 non-members
Glaciers and Climate Change in Wild Alaska: June 19 - 25, 2012
$1295 for members, $1325 non-members
Paddle your kayak among drifting ice bergs. Place your hand in the footprint of a wild bear. Relax at camp listening to nearby whales. You might even hear a wolf howl. These experiences are at the heart of Glaciers and Climate Change in Wild Alaska, a multi-day exploration of the wildlife, forests and glaciers of southeast Alaska. Special emphasis is placed on how the region is responding to global climate change and what changes in the north mean for the rest of the world.
The class is led by Forest Service ranger and naturalist Kevin Hood. The classroom is a wild stretch of Alaska’s famed Inside Passage. The group will travel by boat to a base camp on a remote island. Each day, participants will camp, walk and sea kayak in the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness - with a visit to Dawes Glacier - at a pace suitable to the group.
The class will assemble at the Forest Service office in Juneau on the evening of the first day for an orientation session. The following morning we will travel by boat through the scenic Inside Passage to Holkham Bay. For the next five days, we will camp, kayak and explore this area, which is home to harbor seals, sea lions, humpback whales, bears, wolves, eagles and more and is surrounded by old growth temperate rain forest. After some reflection and expedition debriefing, we will return to Juneau by boat on our final day.
2012 GLACIERS AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN WILD ALASKA SYLLABUS
“I loved the time spent observing and discussing wildlife and history of the area. I appreciated the change of locations so we had a more varied experience. Kayaking definitely was a highlight. Kevin did a good job of balancing the different goals, needs and personalities of the group. It brought some concrete ideas for observing and data taking as a student project. It gave me a better understanding of this area in Alaska but also how climate change and wilderness ties in globally.”
-Julie (Glaciers and Climate Change in Wild Alaska student, 2011)
Whales of Icy Strait: June 28 - July 3, 2012
$995 for members, $1025 non-members
Study the behavior, habitat and management issues of humpback whales and other marine mammals such as sea lions, seals and killer whales while kayaking in Icy Strait and camping along the north shore of Chichagof Island. We will explore the ecological connections between terrestrial and marine systems and the effects of human use patterns on the landscape through forest, meadow and stream walks in the uplands bordering these rich marine mammal feeding waters.
Veteran Discovery Southeast and SEAWEAD naturalist Bob Christensen will lead our inquiry into the natural systems of this wildlife-rich area, including mapping exercises to facilitate an understanding of how ecological “hot-spots” are identified and managed. In group gatherings, participants will have opportunities to discuss methods of incorporating natural resource lesson plans into class curriculums.
On our first day, we will meet in Juneau for an orientation and information session. The following morning we will travel by small plane to the town of Gustavus, near Glacier Bay. Once in Gustavus, we will gather equipment, meet our guides and review details of the expedition. That afternoon we will board a boat for the trip across Icy Strait to Chichagof Island. At our drop off point, we will make base camp and practice kayaking skills in anticipation of our journey toward the Humpback Whale hot-spot at Point Adolphus. On our final morning, we’ll reflect on our personal experiences and the expedition's accomplishments before boarding a boat for Gustavus and then our flight back to Juneau.
2012 WHALES OF ICY STRAIT SYLLABUS
These expeditions are made possible by the joint efforts of our outstanding partners: Above and Beyond Alaska, Alaska Discovery, Spirit Walker Expeditions, Alaska Geographic Association, USDA Forest Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Discovery Days is a healthy outdoor educational opportunity for children ages 7-12 to get outside and explore the Juneau area. Similar to our Outdoor Explorers summer day camp, these events are offered throughout the school year when students are out of school during Teacher In-service Days, Parent Teacher Conference Days, holidays, and seasonal school breaks.
Registration and Logistics
Download the following registration form, print it out, complete it, and return with payment to our offices by fax, email or snail mail. You can also call us and we'll register your child over the phone or stop by our downtown office to drop forms off. We are located in the ArtiCorp Building at 4th and Harris in suite 208.
On the day of, please bring a sack lunch, snack, and water in a backpack, and wear weather-appropriate clothing.
Depending on weather conditions, transportation is provided with pickup at Harborview and Riverbend elementary schools.
Program Cost
Members - $35 per day or a five day Discovery Day punch card for $165
Non-members - $40 per day or a five day Discovery Day punch card for $195
Scholarships are available! Call 463-1500 for details.
2011-2012 Discovery Days
October 17
We headed out the road with naturalist Kevin O'Malley to explore autumn in the Amalga Meadows area and used the Eagle Valley Center lodge as a base.
October 18
We struck out for Eaglecrest with naturalist Cathleen Balantic to enjoy a day discovering it's trails and wild spaces at a time of year people don't usually experience them, using the lodge as a warm-up spot.
[View October 17th & 18th Recap] [View all photos]
We honed our archery skills, kept warm with a fire we built at Skater's Cabin, and explored the Montana Creek area with naturalist Kanaan Bausler.
Upcoming:
Click here for February 21 & 22 details!
February 21: South Douglas & Treadwell Ice Arena
February 22: Eagle Beach State Park (transportation provided)
March 23
April 30
Discovery Days Archives:
2010-2011 Discovery Days - Wondering what we do and where we go? Check out photos, stories, and snapshots from past Discovery Days.
Special thanks to our partner agencies and foundation support:
Foggy Mountain Shop, Winter Wildlands Alliance, Eaglecrest Ski Area, Juneau Mountain Rescue, the Juneau Community Foundation, the Simone Machamer Charitable Fund and the Douglas-Dornan Foundation
How does nature affect your health?
Increasing research shows that total immersion in nature can reduce obesity, crime and violence and can increase productivity at work and in school.
The mere presence of trees in an apartment or workplace can have drastic effects on one's mental and physical health. Better social relationships, higher self esteem and more effective coping skills are directly correlated with the presence of nature and activity in 'green spaces.'
Want to learn more? Start with these literature articles.
How do you measure up? Take our Health and Nature survey.
Listen to a special KTOO Focus on Communities radio program about the health challenges that children and adults face today, and about how nature can positively affect health.
Hosted by Discovery Southeast's Beth Weigel and featuring Sierra Club National Youth Director and Children and Nature Network vice president Martin LeBlanc, Linda Kruger of the USFS Pacific Research Station, AEYC-SEA director Joy Lyon, and Kristen Romanoff of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD)
Is your child spending more time in front of a screen than outdoors? According to many experts, a lack of routine contact with nature could be contributing to an undesirable side effect of the electronic age: nature deficit disorder (NDD). Richard Louv (author of Last Child in the Woods) first concepted NDD when he found a connection between declining health and decreasing amounts of time spend in nature by children. According to Louv, "Kids learn better when they get outside. It's a way to truly help our kids learn in all areas of education."
Research has shown that children who spend more time outdoors are likely to be:
- Happier
- Healthier
- Smarter
- More creative
- Better problem solvers
Read more about NDD here and check out options for fun outdoor activities to do with your child in nature.
Monday, January 23rd and Tuesday, January 24th, 2012,Discovery Southeast will be hosting the Winter Wildlands Backcountry Film Festival at the Goldtown Nickelodeon. This is the third year of shows in Juneau, so get ready to come on down for some snowy enjoyment!
If you haven’t had time to make the official gear swap, the Winter Wildlands Backcountry Film Festival will surely put you in the mood. Time to put those paddles away, get off your bike and break out the snowshoes and skis! Whether or not you adventure outdoors or prefer to enjoy a good book next to the woodstove, this year’s festival will bring a smile to your face. Grab your family, your friends, your neighbors, and anyone who will enjoy nature-inspired time!
The Backcountry Film Festival highlights the beauty, diversity, and fun of all winter backcountry experiences. Visions are compiled from world renowned filmmakers who submit their best backcountry work collected from incredible peaks and backcountry trails. The top submissions are chosen each year and assembled into an evening of short and captivating fun for all viewers, with this year’s films ranging from backcountry skiing some of the most extreme terrain to a piece chronicling one man’s experience living in a cabin and writing about his passion for nature.
The Film Festival benefits Winter Wildlands Alliance, a national nonprofit organization working to promote and preserve winter wildlands and quality human-powered snow sports on public lands. Each year the festival is premiered in Boise, Idaho, and travels to more than 30 communities throughout the U.S. All funds raised from these showings go to support hands-on nature education programming through Discovery Southeast.
The “Best Short” goes to Chris Dicky and Purple orange for Chalk and Ski, the first festival appearance of an animated film. While Jonathon Burhop shares an intimate view of life in ultimate backcountry in Winters of My Life, Switchback entertainment takes us to the high country of Morocco for a wild ski adventure. In Solitaire, Sweetgrass Productions brings us the “Best of Festival”—a film 2 years in the making from the wilds of South America. For more information about films and tour dates, go towww.backcountryfilmfestival.org.
The Juneau shows will be January 23rd and 24th at the Goldtown Nickelodeon – doors open at 6:30pm and films start at 7pm. Come early for best seats and the chance to win door prizes! Admission is $8 for students and Discovery Southeast members, $10 for non-members, or $25 for a night of movies plus a Discovery Southeast membership. Tickets can be purchased at the door. We hope to see you there!
Visit www.discoverysoutheast.org or call (907)463-1500 for more information.
Special Thanks to our Donors!
The Rock Dump
Heritage Coffee Co.
Alaska Powder Descents
Nugget Alaskan Outfitters
Foggy Mountain Shop
Thank you for your support and amazing door prizes! Attendees will be thrilled to recieve all of these items--coffee, t-shirts, travel mugs & waterbottles, reusable bags, winter hats & gloves, gift certificates and more!
Thank you 2011 Parade of Species Sponors!
View photos from the 2011 Parade of Species
How many southeast Alaskan species can you spot?
In 2011, kids and adults in our community were invited to join Discovery Southeast in a "Parade of Species" group at the Juneau and Douglas Fourth of July Parades. We had costume workshops during art project time at Outdoor Explorers summer day camp. We plan on making the Parade of Species marching group a regular event at future parades! Even if you aren't participating in Outdoor Explorers, you can still be a part of the Parade of Species. Call 463-1500 or email oceaned@discoverysoutheast.org to get your name down on our list of participants.
A jellyfish and an eagle are obscured slightly by our very own walking and talking western hemlock tree
Costume guidelines:
- Choose an animal, bird, insect, fish, plant, or fungus found in southeast Alaska!
- Try to incorporate natural or recycled materials into the creation of your costume
- Restrictions: no motorized vehicles
- More than one person may be a part of the same costume
- Already have a costume from another event? You can use that!
- All ages welcome
Orca, dall sheep, mountain goat, and deer.
Other towns do a Parade of Species too. Look at photos from other parades for inspiration.
- Procession of Species in Olympia, Washington
- Parade of Species in Sitka
- All Species Parade in Brunswick, Maine
Which DSE naturalist is hidden under this mountain goat costume?
What will your costume be? Check the links for ideas. These lists are not comprehensive - they're just meant to get you thinking about the possibilities...
- Parade of Species Costume of the Day: Migratory Shore Birds; Jellyfish; Winged Critters
- Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series
- Some plant life of southeast Alaska
- Some marine life of Alaska
- Pictures from the 2011 Parade of Species
DSE naturalist Tom Schwartz is disguised as a bear next to DSE executive director (and wildflower wonder!) Beth Weigel.
Sponsor A Species!
Even if you aren't participating in the Parade of Species, you or your business can still support hands-on nature education by contributing $50 to Sponsor a Species. Your business logo will be included on a species costume and you will be advertised as a supporter on our website. Have any suggestions for which species you'd like your logo on? Let us know! Click here to Sponsor a Species. Please include in the gift note section that you are a sponsoring a species.
Thank you to all the organizations who helped make the 2011 Parade of Species possible:
Join us this spring as Discovery Southeast Naturalists team up with City and Borough of Juneau to present a one-hour bear safety program for students in the 5th grade.
The programs will provide students in each class with a foundation of basic knowledge about bears and how to ensure their safety and to reduce potential conflict with bears. The following topics will be addressed:
- How to avoid the conflicts between people and bears that arise when bears come in contact with food or garbage;
- Understanding the importance of proper garbage storage (how to store garbage properly).
- Understanding techniques of proper garbage storage (how to store garbage properly).
- Awareness, understanding, and appreciation of bears; and
- Tactics for safety in the event of a close encounter with a bear.
For further information on living with bears, check out CBJ's Bear Facts.
About Nature Studies...
Nature Studies is a "Naturalist in Residence" program primarily for grades 3-5, spanning the year with seasonally appropriate lessons in forest and watershed ecology; wildlife studies (habitats, predator/prey relationships, tracking); resident and migratory birds; the intertidal zone; forest succession; and fungus, bacteria, and invertebrates, among other subjects.
For four hours each fall, winter, and spring, students learn natural science through direct experience with nature. The curriculum is aligned with the core content of state and school district curriculum requirements for the sciences, and also features safety training, team-building exercises, and role-play games -- activities depend on the grade and the season.
View photos from Harborview Nature Studies, Fall 2011:
[Third grade fall field trips: Focus on plants]
View sample Nature Studies curricula:
*Note that specific activities may vary by school/classroom
Fall Field Trips
Winter Field Trips:
Nature Studies depends on support from parent-teacher organizations, local residents, businesses, and private foundations. Sales of Discovery Southeast publications also support this unique program.
Thanks to all who participated in Nature Studies this year! We continue to realign the Nature Studies curricula with key concepts of the JSD science standards, and our naturalists work hard to tailor lessons to individual classrooms and teacher requests. Teachers, please complete and return this survey to let us know how we can improve.
Ocean literacy - what's that?
Ocean literacy is an understanding of the ocean's influence on you, and your influence on the ocean.
According to the Ocean Literacy Network, an ocean literate person
1. Understands the seven Essential Principles and related Fundamental Concepts about the functioning of the ocean
2. Can communicate about the ocean in a meaningful way
3. Is able to make informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its resources
The Seven Essential Principles of Ocean Literacy
1. The Earth has one big ocean with many features
2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth
3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
4. The ocean makes the Earth habitable.
5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.
6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.
7. The ocean is largely unexplored.
Confused about what ocean literacy is and why it's important?
Check our FAQ page for a rundown on where to start.
Links and suggestions for both local and general ocean literacy teaching resources.
EVENTS and RELATED ORGANIZATIONS.
Upcoming local and regional events and organizations relevant to ocean literacy.
This portion of our website will be undergoing construction continually as we gather resources, educational materials, and relevant news items about ocean literacy. If you notice anything missing from this page or know of additional resources and information you’d like to see here, please get in touch with us at 463-1500 or email oceaned@discoverysoutheast.org.
Discovery Southeast's Ocean Literacy Educational Outreach Campaign has been funded in part through support from The Ocean Foundation and Coastal CODE.
Early Dismissal Mondays with Discovery Southeast are back for the 2011-2012 school year!
About Early Dismissal Mondays...
This year, school gets out one hour early on selected Mondays. First through fifth graders are invited to join Discovery Southeast for two hours of nature-inspired fun on these days at any of the seven elementary schools. Space will be limited. Enroll your child for all 15 Mondays or mix and match your Mondays with three and six-day punch cards.
Each elementary school has its own program and naturalist, and activities and projects will depend on the age makeup and size of each school's group. While the majority of time will be spent in outdoor classrooms, some projects and severe weather days may require shelter.
Wondering what we're up to?
Snapshots from a Gastineau Elementary Early Dismissal Monday: October 10th
Video from an Auke Bay Early Dismissal Monday - Nature music!
2011-2012 Early Dismissal Monday Dates
According to school district information, dismissal for elementary will be 1:30pm.
September 26
October 10 & 24
November 14 & 28
December 12
January 9 & 23
February 13 & 27
March 12 & 26
April 9 & 23
May 14
Program Costs (members, non-members)
15 Mondays... $150 or $180
6 Monday Punch Card... $75 or $87
3 Monday Punch Card... $45 or $51
Drop-in Monday... $20 or $25
Registration
Download the following registration form, print it out, complete it, and return with payment to our offices by fax, email or snail mail. You can also call us and we'll register your child over the phone or stop by our downtown office to drop forms off. We are located in the ArtiCorp Building at 4th and Harris in suite 208.
Get the best savings you can! Become a member right here on our website.
Did you participate in this program?
Take our Early Dismissal Monday Survey now! Your feedback is very important to us. Please let us know what you enjoyed and would like to improve from the Early Dismissal Monday program so that we can enhance it next year.
Mark your calendars!
On Tuesday, January 11th and Wednesday, January 12th, 2011, Discovery Southeast will be hosting the Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival at the Goldtown Nickelodeon for the second year in a row.
Have you made the official swap of the gear closet yet? Traded in your paddles for boards?
Whether you go berserk at the slightest hint of snow or are just a fan of human-powered recreation, you will want to grab your friends and make your way down to this year's Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival.
Now in it's sixth year, the Backcountry Film Festival highlights the beauty, diversity, and fun of the winter backcountry experience. Submissions range from world-renowned filmmakers who travel every corner of the globe to submit their best backcountry work, to grassroots camera-wielders who take video out on their weekend excursions. The top films are then juried and assembled into a thrill-packed night of fun for all -- whether you like to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, or simply stay in and sip hot cocoa by the fire -- the films are as diverse as the backcountry experience.
The Backcountry Film Festival benefits Winter Wildlands Alliance's efforts to preserve and conserve winter landscapes for quiet users. After it's Boise premiere, the festival travels to more than 30 communities throughout the United States, all the way from Alaska to New Hampshire. Funds raised at our film showing will go to support the nature education programs provided by Discovery Southeast!
Winners of the festival this year include:
Best of Festival.Teton Gravity Research's "Deeper" follows legendary snowboarder Jeremy Jones and other top riders as they forsake helicopters, snowmobiles and lifts to venture deep into untouched terrain under their own power.
Best Short Film. "Desert River" from Sweetgrass Productions is a beautiful ski adventure into Haines, Alaska.
Best Environmental Film. "Whitebark Warrior" from TreeFlight and Snaz Media, chronicles the decline of thousand year-old whitebark pines due to climate change and efforts underway to save these iconic high alpine trees.
For more information and tour dates, visit www.backcountryfilmfestival.org.
Backcountry Film Festival at the Goldtown Nickelodeon
When: 7pm on Tuesday, January 11th and Wednesday, January 12th. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Ticket information:
$8 for students and Discovery Southeast members
$10 for non-members
Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Goldtown Nickelodeon. You may also call the Discovery Southeast office at 907-463-1500.
Special thanks to Eaglecrest, Heritage Coffee Co., The Rock Dump, and Nugget Alaskan Outfitter for providing door prizes!
Special membership opportunity to purchase a ticket and a Discovery Southeast membership for $25!
So purchase your tickets (and a Discovery Southeast membership!) and come join us for the Winter Wildlands Alliance and Discovery Southeast Backcountry Film Festival!
