Academy Overview
The Galena Outdoor Leadership & Community Stewardship Academy is a year-long experiential learning program designed specifically for Interior Alaska. The academy combines outdoor leadership, service learning, subsistence skills, winter survival, technical skills, project management, and career readiness through field-based experiences and community projects.
Year At A Glance
- August: Academy Launch & Camp Planning
- September: Overnight Camping Expedition & Pole Fishing
- October: Navigation & Yukon Geography
- November: Small Engines & Snowmachine Maintenance
- December: Winter Survival & Risk Management
- January: Blackfish Subsistence Unit
- February: Burbot Ecology & Ice Fishing
- March: Snowmachine Operations
- April: Community Stewardship Corps
- May: Capstone Showcase Week
Unit 1: Academy Launch & Camp Planning
August 24 – September 4, 2026
Focus
- Program orientation
- Leadership development
- Website creation
- Team building
- Camp preparation
- Gear readiness
Student Deliverables
- Personal Leadership Website
- Personal Goal Statement
- Camp Team Assignment
- Gear Checklist
Unit 2: Overnight Leadership Expedition
September 5 – September 7, 2026
Focus
- Camp setup
- Outdoor cooking
- Fire building
- Leadership rotations
- Leave No Trace
Student Deliverables
- Expedition Reflection
- Camp Story Page
- Photo Documentation
Unit 3: Campcraft & Pole Fishing
September 8 – October 2, 2026
Campcraft Topics
- Tool Safety
- Fire Building
- Outdoor Cooking
- Camp Organization
- Firewood Processing
Pole Fishing Topics
- Rod & Reel Fundamentals
- Casting Techniques
- Species Identification
- Fish Handling
- Fish Cleaning
- Preservation Techniques
- Ethical Harvest
Species Focus
- Northern Pike
- Arctic Grayling
- Whitefish
- Sheefish
Student Deliverable
Galena Fishing Guide Website
Unit 4: Navigation & Yukon Geography
October 5 – October 30, 2026
- Topographic Maps
- Compass Navigation
- GPS Skills
- Route Planning
- Community Mapping
- Yukon River Geography
Student Deliverable
Interactive Galena Outdoor Recreation Map
Unit 5: Small Engines & Snowmachine Maintenance
November 2 – December 4, 2026
- Shop Safety
- Tool Identification
- Engine Components
- Fuel Systems
- Spark Plugs
- Preventive Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
Student Deliverable
Snowmachine Fleet Assessment Report
Unit 6: Winter Survival & Risk Management
December 7, 2026 – January 8, 2027
- Layering Systems
- Cold Weather Readiness
- Shelter Construction
- Fire Building in Winter
- Emergency Planning
- Hypothermia Prevention
- Frostbite Prevention
Student Deliverable
Galena Winter Survival Guide
Unit 7: Blackfish Subsistence Unit
January 11 – February 5, 2027
- Ice Safety
- Blackfish Ecology
- Traditional Knowledge
- Harvest Ethics
- Fish Processing
- Resource Stewardship
Student Deliverable
Blackfish Resource Website
Unit 8: Burbot Ecology & Ice Fishing
February 8 – March 5, 2027
- Burbot Biology
- Winter Ecology
- Ice Fishing Techniques
- Fish Processing
- Species Documentation
Student Deliverable
Burbot Field Guide
Unit 9: Snowmachine Operations
March 8 – April 2, 2027
- Pre-Trip Inspections
- Route Planning
- Safe Operations
- Trail Etiquette
- Towing Procedures
- Field Recovery
Student Deliverable
Student-Written Snowmachine Safety Manual
Unit 10: Community Stewardship Corps
April 5 – April 30, 2027
Project Areas
- Fire Pit Reconstruction
- Firewood Projects
- Elder Assistance
- Trail Improvements
- Community Cleanup
- Outdoor Classroom Improvements
Required Deliverables
- Project Charter
- Before Photos
- After Photos
- Impact Report
- Reflection
Unit 11: Capstone Showcase Week
May 3 – May 7, 2027
- Portfolio Completion
- Website Finalization
- Certification Reviews
- Community Presentations
- Awards Ceremony
Final Product
Professional Outdoor Leadership Portfolio Website
Certification Framework
Bronze Outdoor Leader
- Campcraft
- Basic Navigation
- Fire Building
- Website Creation
Silver Outdoor Leader
- Winter Survival
- Ice Safety
- Community Service Participation
Gold Outdoor Leader
- Leadership
- Major Project Participation
- Public Documentation
Platinum Outdoor Leader
- Capstone Project
- Community Impact Project
- Mentorship
- Portfolio Defense
Future Development
- Alaska Standards Alignment
- Detailed Lesson Library
- Risk Management Manual
- Community Project Archive
- Student Portfolio Examples
- Equipment Inventory Dashboard
- Program Evaluation Metrics
- Annual Impact Reports