outdoors

MY FATHER TAUGHT me to ski when I was seven. Using a pair of old, aluminum skis I shared with my brother and sister, I stumbled and slipped and cried my way down (and up) a gentle slope at Snoqualmie Pass near Seattle. I understand why Dad thought he could teach us, he was a former alpine racer and ski jumper, and presented as pretty a picture of downhill finesse as anyone would want in those days. He was also (in his mind) decidedly cheaper than the local ski schools who wanted money for something he felt he could do better. 

A problem presented itself in the form of whining, complaining and crying - something I would have never dreamed of doing in front of a cute ski instructor but had no qualms about with my father (it drove him nuts). As a consequence there was more shouting than teaching, more snuffling than schussing. Until I reached high school and the community ski bus where I learned, sans weeping, how to do a wedge or a christy, and could parallel my way down all but the blackest of black diamond runs. Eventually, I even became an instructor myself and saw, firsthand, legions of other parents trying to teach their offspring in a manner similar to my own father’s. 

Help is here, moms and dads. January has been designated as Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. In 2007 a bunch of ski industry moguls (get it?) and professional instructors got together to provide beginning skiers and riders an opportunity to learn outside the boundary of parental assistance; LSSM now crowds slopes in 32 states and 300 resorts including Alaska.

Two areas are offering deep discounts on lesson packages for beginners. Alyeska Resort near Anchorage is offering a $99/per person special, with three lessons, a lower-mountain ticket and equipment rental. Kids who wish to learn to ski must be at least five; youth who want to give snowboarding a try must be at least eight so they can take full advantage of the resort’s “magic carpets,” Bear Cub quad and Lift 7. Alyeska Resort’s Mountain Learning Center instructors are excellent, but even better, they are enthusiastic ambassadors for the sport of alpine skiing. They also know kids and understand things like bathroom breaks, lost mittens, and occasional tears. 

In southeast Alaska, Eaglecrest Ski Area has also jumped on the alpine bandwagon with a variety of ski or ride packages that begin at just $54 for two hours of skiing, equipment rental, and lift tickets. They even have a “Bring a Friend” program, since we all know learning a new skill can be more fun with a buddy. Eaglecrest is a smaller mountain, perfect for families looking for a more intimate skiing experience. Located across the Gastineau Channel in Douglas, Eaglecrest also offers nice views from it’s forested brow. 

Adults are included in this deal, too. Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month is targeting adults who for years may have thought they were “too old” to learn a new skill like skiing. With the right instructor to boost confidence, skiing is a sport to be enjoyed by every age and every stage. 

Don’t forget, when skiing in Alaska (particularly at Alyeska), one must dress warmer than the average Lower 48 resort. Standing in a lift line or sitting on a metal chairlift gets chilly, indeed. Pack handwarmers, wear a neck gaiter, and consider goggles for a full-face warm up. Children and adults should wear helmets, too - check with the rental shop for a loaner. Also, bring kids inside periodically to check on their fingers and toes and know when to stop for the day; most skiing injuries occur on the proverbial “last run.” 

Erin Kirkland blogs about skiing and other Alaskan family activities at AKontheGO.com.

PERHAPS IT SHOULD be easy in Alaska. Surrounded by a natural world that is truly larger-than-life, and immersed in an atmosphere of incredible diversity, Alaska’s children live in an environmental melting pot. From exposure to Native traditions to careful respect of wildlife, the concept of stewardship should be a natural consequence of living in the 49th state.

Merriam Webster defines stewardship as “Careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.” A big responsibility. The land, the water, the air; society is constantly searching for new ways to protect what has been left to us, especially here in Alaska, the largest state, and the one with the highest raw “star power” compared to anything Outside. We can join societies, coalitions, user groups, and clubs. We can also involve our children.

Stewardship of our kids is crucial to stewardship of our planet and its inhabitants. Kids are smart; just ask one what he or she thinks about the state of things in this universe and you might be surprised at the response. They want to help, they should help, and with the right resources, they can help. Stewardship, or “giving back,” doesn’t have to necessarily be framed as such for kids to be active participants in the state of their state (or world, for that matter), it simply needs three ingredients: relevant content, enthusiastic adults, and time.

Our son, seven, has been attending the Alaska Center For the Environment Trailside Discovery Camp this week. He's learned all sorts of interesting things about the world not two miles from his home. Snowflakes come in different sizes and shapes, you know, and bears do not necessarily have to hibernate. Listening to the sounds of a forest on a snowy day is not as quiet as one might imagine. Wait, this is not stewardship, you say. But it is. Creating children who are comfortable in the natural world as they are in their own living rooms will cultivate the concept of stewardship. Yes, it will. Find a place in your own community for natural world experiences. The Sitka Sound Science Center is a beautiful example of hands-on fun combined with research. Kids will relish the opportunities there with grownups who care about what they think. A cadre of kids were there last summer when I visited, and proudly showed me around the touch tanks, whale skeletons, and drawings of marine mammals.

Exploring at the Sitka Sound Science Center

Down in Ketchikan, Allen Marine recently developed a tour called “Wilderness Survival,” traveling through the Tongass Narrows to a remote, old-growth forest for an afternoon of plant identification, outdoor survival, and important research about the invasive Green Crab (kids get to pull crab pots and provide data to be used in real-life studies). It might rain, it might be muddy, but the entire family gets to dig and record and learn about life in southeast Alaska, unfettered and unplanned. And sometimes messy.

A visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage means a cultural lesson for any age. Whether visiting during the normal operating season of May through September, or attending a special event the rest of the year, the whole family will enjoy learning about the incredible diversity of Alaska’s First People. Did you know a dance can tell a story better than any textbook, or that children truly do learn by watching elders and trying out new skills, and failing, before mastering the task? There’s a lesson in every exhibit at ANHC, and the real value of a visit is not in the bricks and mortar displays, but lies within the scores of individuals who sit in the shadows of the room, waiting to tell kids why, and how, and where.

A dwelling at the Alaska Native Heritage Center

The Murie Science and Learning Center, located at the entrance to Denali National Park, provides visiting families day trips, field seminars, and opportunities for endless discovery in one of the wildest places accessible to humankind. Named for the Murie family, who were tireless advocates of both Alaska and Denali National Park, the Science and Learning Center is a testament to the value of education combined with recreation. Not a typical visitor center, this is where learning and cultural curiosity are nurtured.

“We have inherited the past. We can create the future.” Help your kids learn the value of caring for their present. That’s giving in its finest form.

A HUNDRED HUES of gray have arrived here in Southeast Alaska and we are engulfed in moisture. The clouds seem to be constantly clinging to the mountains. Morning fog is common close to the water and the southerly winds seem to be a constant force in our daily lives. Yes, fall has arrived.

As a family who chooses to live in this environment we try not to let the weather and fleeting light affect our outside activities but it is inevitable. After the birth of our first son who was born here in the Capitol city my partner prioritized getting him outside every day no matter what the conditions were and the dividends have paid off. He understands being wet and having to gear-up for our outside adventures. It’s just normal for him. Now it’s just the battle of motivation for his parents to get moving into the wetness. This is yet another of the countless good challenges that come with the responsibility of parenthood; overcoming the want to stay dry and warm on a blustery day. I would like to think that we succeed more often than not.

At this time of year all of the trails that we would consider our constants are still open and accessible. Bear sightings seem to be more infrequent and the visitor traffic has dwindled to rare. Mud puddles available for splashing are in good supply. Hand-me-down boots are great but there is enough rainwater that collects here that new quality boot are a justifiable purchase for our Lil’ Cub and a good quality jacket and pants are essentials.

The swings and slides at the playground are beyond moist and our dog towels double as something to dry off the playground equipment for its first use of the day. Fortunately the excitement of the activity usually overwhelms our son's desire to not get wet and off he goes.

We are starting to use our local pool more but still only as a special treat. We are making plans for skating lessons at our local ice rink. Birthday parties are now inside at venues that are dry but still have the space to disperse young energy; the invitations to these seem to be constant.

I have high hopes that our 3 ½ year-old will embrace the ski slopes that are just a short drive from our home. I am beginning to plant the seeds of what skiing means by watching young ones skiing on YouTube - he likes to watch activities from the sidelines long before he participates.

Despite the wetness and the darkness of this season our robust life with young children continues. It is this constant activity that keeps us from becoming too depressed or disenchanted with the change of the season.

Teenagers want independence. They want to explore their world from every angle in every opportunity, and they want to do it without us. It can be difficult for parents to know how much freedom one up-and-coming young adult should be permitted, and with whom, especially when it comes to venturing away from home.

Fortunately, outdoor recreation is cool in Alaska, so from snowmachines to skiing, backpacking to disc golf, teens in the 49th state have a ton of options for healthy ways to enjoy each others' company outside the boundaries of mom and dad’s house. As my father always said, “Busy kids are happy kids, and happy kids are kids less likely to get into trouble,” so here are a few suggestions to encourage healthy peer relationships among both guys and gals (hopefully they don’t sound too geeky, coming from a mom).

Encourage group activities. Disc golf is hot, so send the kids to one of the many courses cropping up all around the state, like the new course at Alyeska Resort, or up in Fairbanks on the UAF campus. Snowshoeing can mean a fun afternoon of plowing around the snowy drifts of Alaska’s many trail systems. Send kids down to an Alaska Public Lands Information Center to search out a trail well-suited for their abilities, and let them do the legwork for a daylong wilderness trek, including food, first aid, and way-finding. Try the Eagle River Nature Center area, or Palmer Hay Flats for a great day trip not too far from civilization or cell phone range.

Plan a longer trip together. Sure, teenager hormones rage wilder than a stormy night on the ocean, but sometimes, including a group of teens on a family trip can be just the ticket to actively demonstrate your family’s values and make some valuable connections. Make clear the rules, establish boundaries, and enjoy getting to know the important people in your teen’s life. Hint: include other parents in family meetings about destinations, activities, and expenses, and make sure everything is crystal clear regarding hotel, airfare, or transportation costs. Some brave parents I know took both daughters and their boyfriends to a family reunion at a remote fishing ranch in Colorado, and all reports indicate everybody had a wonderful time. In Alaska, options range from a weekend trip to Alyeska Resort where Family Specials provide two connecting rooms, movies, pizza, and a chance to chill after a day of skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking. Take advantage of the annual PFD sales and Constituent Fares of Alaska Airlines and fly the gang down to Juneau and explore our state capital (Bonus! They might even learn something).

Talk, talk, talk. Use trips or outings to simply hang out with kids and get to know them as people while you still have the chance. It is during these times, with no homework, soccer practice, or work meetings, that communication between teens and adults can flourish. Take a time-out with your teen and his or her pals. Eat a meal together, play a round of Monopoly (you’d be surprised at how much teens still enjoy this game), and stay up late shooting the breeze. You’ll learn a lot, and the kids will, too:.Parents are important people in a teen’s life. They need us, and we need them. Sometimes it just takes a little getaway to clear that up.

Traveling to and around Alaska is never simple, but it is always interesting. Sounds like the lives of many parents whose children have special needs, doesn’t it? I’m one of those, and while our journey has never been easy, it has indeed afforded our family some rather unique experiences in patience, grace, and perseverance. I tell parents who are reticent to visit the
49th state with their child who, for whatever reason, has accessibility or behavioral issues that yes, they can visit Alaska safely and with great joy, and with a commitment to even more pre-planning than usual.

As I journey myself around Alaska, I notice that the concept of accessibility is very much in the eye of the beholder (business), much like the concept of family travel. What one company considers “accessible” or an “accommodation” may certainly not be in the minds of parents who know all too well the struggle to push a wheelchair along a muddy trail or change the undergarment of a 10 year-old child on the ground because the pit toilets were not an attractive option. But for every operator who is not accessible, there are many, many who are, including most of the most popular attractions in the state. Here are a few things to remember when planning a trip north with a child requiring a little special attention:

Transportation: Depending upon your city of origin, airlines can be incredibly accommodating or frustratingly infuriating. Alaska Airlines works very hard to make sure its passengers with special needs are snuggled safely in their seats with a minimum of fuss. Do call ahead when booking travel, and talk with a real voice on the other end, asking about seating near bathrooms, early boarding, special meals, and the like.

Tour buses these days are coaches of magic, with lift systems, wider seats, and experienced drivers. That said, smaller companies who utilize smaller vehicles may not be equipped nor trained in the practice of transferring, tying down, and accommodating kids with special needs. Inquire carefully when considering a tour, but know that the larger cruise lines overall do a fantastic job of helping out those with accessibility issues.

Touring: Sticking closer to the most popular attractions is the safest bet for family fun. The National Park Service prides itself on accessible trails
to accommodate wheelchairs or strollers, buses with lifts, and one-story visitor centers with fabulous exhibits that appeal to a wide range of visitors.
Both Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska’s two largest cities, offer a wide range of activities that do not require backcountry travel or excessive parental/caregiver effort to navigate. Eagle River Nature Center, for example, offers stellar views from its large decks and a short, accessible trail (albeit with a bit of a hill at the beginning) so everyone can relax for a while. The Chena River Trail in Fairbanks is a wide, paved, and utterly delightful pathway that parallels the river banks and leads one to the beautiful Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center, where even more activities can be found to tantalize the kiddos.The sharp visitor will visit both cities’ visitor centers to inquire about all the accessible options ahead of time, to allow staff to create the perfect itinerary for the whole family.

Lodging: Bear in mind that many Alaskan accommodations were built in a hurry with little attention to details like lower sinks, wider doorways, and ramps for easy access. Do not rely on websites for accurate information. Call ahead, ask questions, and require referrals from other customers to ensure your best Alaskan sleepover. Again, visitor centers in the communities you visit will be (hopefully) the most accurate resource.

It can be stressful to vacation with youngsters who require special assistance, but it can be most beautiful, too. Ask for help, take your time, and keep things simple for a wonderful Last Frontier experience.

Two neighborhood kids pedaled aimlessly around the block last week, very obviously with no particular destination in mind. They swung from one side of the street to the other in that careless sort of manner kids use while out on their own, popping wheelies and turning in tiny circles until the handlebars came up to their chins. Three times they circled by my house, talking gravely of a subject I couldn’t hear, and I was about to go outside and cheer their carefree attitude when I finally caught wind of what the two were saying to each other. “Man, I will be so glad when school starts and my mom gives me back my XBox. This is the most boring summer I’ve ever had.”

Obviously, some well-meaning mother had booted her ‘tween treasure out into the streets of east Anchorage, holding said precious XBox hostage from June through August (fist-bump to you, Mom). Unfortunately, the promise of returning the black box of inactivity once school started seemed a little backward.

Outside time - most of us were raised with buckets of it. Booted outdoors in the morning or right after school and told not to show our pretty little faces until dinner, kids of my generation (and I cannot believe I just said that) were lucky if our moms let us watch an episode of "Gilligan’s Island" in between our after-school snack of Nilla Wafers and jelly and “don’t let the screen door smack you in the behind on the way out.”

Back to school is a tough season for parents who cling to the environment they and their offspring hopefully enjoyed all summer. Let’s be perfectly honest, as an outdoor sort of venue, Alaska has most states beat, so it pains me that many moms and dads unconsciously herd their broods inside as soon as the bell rings on the first day of class. Homework, cross-country, football, soccer or taekwondo; something is always happening right after school to prevent a little kid-frolic time in the great outdoors. We have to plan it, now, and, better or worse, it’s worth every click on the smartphone’s calendar.

We are so, so lucky many outlets now exist that provide calendars of upcoming events in and around southcentral Alaska. When I moved here in 2005 there were few, but with the jumping-jiminy of social media, we have several modes of communication to provide parents and kids with options for outdoor activities, my own AKontheGO to name just one.

A favorite group rather new on the scene is Get Outdoors Anchorage, a dynamic coalition of organizations, agencies, and individuals dedicated to providing outdoor events and activities for young people. What I like best about GOA is its come-together work ethic that foregoes all the governmental red tape (we work hand in hand with Fish and Game, the Forest Service, Anchorage Parks Foundation, and many others) with one mission in mind: serving kids in the beautiful, expanse of outdoors we call home. The GOA website provides a link to each and every partner, and a quarterly calendar is published for distribution in all Anchorage schools, not to mention REI, local coffee shops, and anywhere else parents might be caught hanging out. Want to know what’s happening in southcentral? This is the place.

I love Alaska for its vibrant community. It is so exciting to witness this active vehicle for a whole change of consciousness. Kids feel it, I feel it, and hopefully, those boys riding their bikes around and around my neighborhood will soon be feeling it, too.

Get outdoors, Anchorage. And keep the XBox in the closet shelf.