<font size=+2>Kanuti Refuge:  Henshaw Creek Weir Science Camp</font><br><br><table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-color: blue;"><tr><td>Project Name</td><td> Henshaw Creek Weir Science Camp</td></tr><tr><td>Project Number</td><td>124</td></tr><tr><td>Location</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dates</td><td>July 19 to July 24, 2009</td></tr><tr><td>Duration</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Number of Volunteers Needed</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Description</td><td>Kanuti Refuge staff will cooperate with nearby village tribal councils, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), and the Allakaket Traditional Council (ATC) to host a science camp at the Henshaw Creek fish weir in July 2009. Topics and activities will include stream ecology, aquatic invertebrates, fish identification, fish dissection, sampling procedures for age, sex and length, weir technician duties, habitat characteristics, data analysis, fish painting, science and conservation career possibilities, plants, waterfowl, and conservation of habitat in refuges.

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This science camp is geared towards junior high and high school students who reside in villages near Kanuti Refuge.  Approximately 10-15 students will attend the camp, along with 2-4 elders from Allakaket, Alatna and/or Hughes.  TCC will provide 1-2 lead staff for the full length of the camp. Kanuti Refuge will provide 1 lead staff for the full length of the camp, and may also provide 1-2 visiting staff who will assist for one half to one full day. Partners ADF&G will also likely provide 1 staff for the entire length of the camp. The purpose of the camp is to provide an exceptional hands-on, field-based opportunity to get students living near the Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge excited about science and natural resources management, teaching them the importance of sound land management practices on refuges to conserve migration corridors, spawning areas and rearing habitat for native fish and wildlife. It will also provide opportunity for students to interact with refuge staff, state staff, and Native non-profit government organizations to learn about the role of refuges and partners in protecting fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. Experiences and knowledge gained will be taken back into communities and shared with others, improving understanding of refuge programs and strengthening relationships. Finally, this camp will help TCC and the refuge identify and mentor future Native and rural Alaskan fisheries and wildlife biologists and natural resource managers, who are under-represented in these career fields.      

 <br><br>
This camp is conducted at Henshaw Creek Weir, a remote, working fish-counting weir in the refuge that is staffed by Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) technicians. The site is accessed by motorboat from Allakaket (the nearest community with air service) via the Koyukuk River and Henshaw Creek, or by a floatplane landing on the Koyukuk River and followed by a short motorboat trip up Henshaw Creek.

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Lodging is in tents, so it is a "camping" experience!  Volunteers will fly from Fairbanks to Allakaket via commercial air service and should plan to arrive in Allakaket either in the evening on July 18th (A 1pm -2pm departure from Fairbanks will bring an arrival to Allakaket between 330-530pm) or in the morning on July 19th (An 8am or 9am flight out of Fairbanks will bring an arrival to Allakaket between 10am-1pm).  For staff and volunteers arriving on July 18th, lodging will be in the Allakaket Tribal Office, where futons are available in several small rooms. Web access and phones are available, but at present the office does not have running water (clean drinking water is available) and restroom facilities are very primitive (ie. an outhouse). It is possible that shower and toilet facilities will be available at the washeteria next door during limited hours.  Staff and volunteers will go to Henshaw Weir on July 19th (with all gear) to set up. Camp will begin on July 20th in the afternoon (students will arrive via motor boat on the morning on July 20th), and will conclude on July 24th after a final wrap-up morning session.  Volunteers will be returned by motorboat to Allakaket and will be able to make afternoon flights leaving Allakaket (around 1 pm) on July 24th with an arrival in Fairbanks between 330-530pm. 

 <br><br>
The refuge will provide meals and lodging in the field and transportation to the field site from Fairbanks or Allakaket. Friends will pay for transportation to Allakaket from Alaskan cities..

 </td></tr><tr><td>Skills Needed</td><td>Professional education background desirable, with some knowledge of fisheries preferred. We are very hopeful that one volunteer will be able to assume a leadership role in developing and presenting curricula on behalf of the refuge, working closely with our lead partners.  With one volunteer in a leadership role, the second volunteer could be any wildlife enthusiast who shares a passion for refuges and teaching others about them.  Both volunteers should enjoy working with jr. high and high school aged students.

 </td></tr><tr><td>Education Topics</td><td>All topics should be geared toward junior. high and high school aged students. Topics can vary widely depending on the background and skills of the volunteer, but should be related in some way to Kanuti Refuge resources and/or issues.  Examples - an artist or photographer could put together a very informative and fun session that relates to natural resources; a writer could present a session on documenting experiences in nature through journaling; a botanist could do several sessions on identifying invasive plants and preventing the spread of noxious weeds.  Other topics could include sustainability, careers in natural resources, nature observation skills or other subjects related to the refuge.  We are open-minded!</td></tr><tr><td>Materials Needed</td><td>Tents will be provided.  Volunteers will need to bring a sleeping mat, sleeping bag, warm clothing, comfortable and rugged shoes for walking on sand, personal care items, bug repellant, water container.  Other useful items include; headlamp or flashlight, lighter, reusable coffee mug, small mirror, sunscreen, bug jacket, camera, journal and pen or pencil, small pocket knife for personal use, jacket with hood for rainy weather, shorts and sandals for warm weather, binoculars, small ziplock bags for collecting samples of flowers or small rocks, small beads (seed beads) to use during on-going native beading activities.</td></tr><tr><td>Contact</td><td>Kristin Reakoff ( 678-2028 through May, 678-5209 May-Sept or kristin_reakoff@fws.gov), Joanna Fox (456-0330 or joanna_fox@fws.go</td></tr></table>
Project Name	Henshaw Creek Weir Science Camp
Project Number	124
Location
Dates	July 19 to July 24, 2009
Duration
Number of Volunteers Needed	2
Description	Kanuti Refuge staff will cooperate with nearby village tribal councils, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), and the Allakaket Traditional Council (ATC) to host a science camp at the Henshaw Creek fish weir in July 2009. Topics and activities will include stream ecology, aquatic invertebrates, fish identification, fish dissection, sampling procedures for age, sex and length, weir technician duties, habitat characteristics, data analysis, fish painting, science and conservation career possibilities, plants, waterfowl, and conservation of habitat in refuges. This science camp is geared towards junior high and high school students who reside in villages near Kanuti Refuge. Approximately 10-15 students will attend the camp, along with 2-4 elders from Allakaket, Alatna and/or Hughes. TCC will provide 1-2 lead staff for the full length of the camp. Kanuti Refuge will provide 1 lead staff for the full length of the camp, and may also provide 1-2 visiting staff who will assist for one half to one full day. Partners ADF&G will also likely provide 1 staff for the entire length of the camp. The purpose of the camp is to provide an exceptional hands-on, field-based opportunity to get students living near the Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge excited about science and natural resources management, teaching them the importance of sound land management practices on refuges to conserve migration corridors, spawning areas and rearing habitat for native fish and wildlife. It will also provide opportunity for students to interact with refuge staff, state staff, and Native non-profit government organizations to learn about the role of refuges and partners in protecting fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. Experiences and knowledge gained will be taken back into communities and shared with others, improving understanding of refuge programs and strengthening relationships. Finally, this camp will help TCC and the refuge identify and mentor future Native and rural Alaskan fisheries and wildlife biologists and natural resource managers, who are under-represented in these career fields. This camp is conducted at Henshaw Creek Weir, a remote, working fish-counting weir in the refuge that is staffed by Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) technicians. The site is accessed by motorboat from Allakaket (the nearest community with air service) via the Koyukuk River and Henshaw Creek, or by a floatplane landing on the Koyukuk River and followed by a short motorboat trip up Henshaw Creek. Lodging is in tents, so it is a "camping" experience! Volunteers will fly from Fairbanks to Allakaket via commercial air service and should plan to arrive in Allakaket either in the evening on July 18th (A 1pm -2pm departure from Fairbanks will bring an arrival to Allakaket between 330-530pm) or in the morning on July 19th (An 8am or 9am flight out of Fairbanks will bring an arrival to Allakaket between 10am-1pm). For staff and volunteers arriving on July 18th, lodging will be in the Allakaket Tribal Office, where futons are available in several small rooms. Web access and phones are available, but at present the office does not have running water (clean drinking water is available) and restroom facilities are very primitive (ie. an outhouse). It is possible that shower and toilet facilities will be available at the washeteria next door during limited hours. Staff and volunteers will go to Henshaw Weir on July 19th (with all gear) to set up. Camp will begin on July 20th in the afternoon (students will arrive via motor boat on the morning on July 20th), and will conclude on July 24th after a final wrap-up morning session. Volunteers will be returned by motorboat to Allakaket and will be able to make afternoon flights leaving Allakaket (around 1 pm) on July 24th with an arrival in Fairbanks between 330-530pm. The refuge will provide meals and lodging in the field and transportation to the field site from Fairbanks or Allakaket. Friends will pay for transportation to Allakaket from Alaskan cities..
Skills Needed	Professional education background desirable, with some knowledge of fisheries preferred. We are very hopeful that one volunteer will be able to assume a leadership role in developing and presenting curricula on behalf of the refuge, working closely with our lead partners. With one volunteer in a leadership role, the second volunteer could be any wildlife enthusiast who shares a passion for refuges and teaching others about them. Both volunteers should enjoy working with jr. high and high school aged students.
Education Topics	All topics should be geared toward junior. high and high school aged students. Topics can vary widely depending on the background and skills of the volunteer, but should be related in some way to Kanuti Refuge resources and/or issues. Examples - an artist or photographer could put together a very informative and fun session that relates to natural resources; a writer could present a session on documenting experiences in nature through journaling; a botanist could do several sessions on identifying invasive plants and preventing the spread of noxious weeds. Other topics could include sustainability, careers in natural resources, nature observation skills or other subjects related to the refuge. We are open-minded!
Materials Needed	Tents will be provided. Volunteers will need to bring a sleeping mat, sleeping bag, warm clothing, comfortable and rugged shoes for walking on sand, personal care items, bug repellant, water container. Other useful items include; headlamp or flashlight, lighter, reusable coffee mug, small mirror, sunscreen, bug jacket, camera, journal and pen or pencil, small pocket knife for personal use, jacket with hood for rainy weather, shorts and sandals for warm weather, binoculars, small ziplock bags for collecting samples of flowers or small rocks, small beads (seed beads) to use during on-going native beading activities.
Contact	Kristin Reakoff ( 678-2028 through May, 678-5209 May-Sept or kristin_reakoff@fws.gov), Joanna Fox (456-0330 or joanna_fox@fws.go