Becharof National Wildlife Refuge Refuge: Taquka Kuik (Bear Creek) Science Camp

Project NameTaquka Kuik (Bear Creek) Science Camp
Project Number250
LocationBecharof Lake within the Becharof NWR
DatesSept. 10-14, 2010
Duration1 week
Number of Volunteers Needed1 FILLED
DescriptionBecharof National Wildlife Refuge is seeking a volunteer to lead high school students attending our annual Science Camp in learning about photography. We have a camera kit ordered through USFWS that will provide cameras and a printer, as well as an activity guide. Our goals are: • to help students view their world in new ways; • to teach them skills that will be useful in both work and personal life; • to use cameras as one tool for helping students learn more about Becharof NWR specifically. Duties: The instructor we are seeking needs to be comfortable working with high school students. They need to be conversant with the equipment that will be used. Authenticity is important: the instructor should preferably have extensive personal and/or professional experience with photography. Subjects that will be included in the curriculum include: bears, birds, aquatics, geology, paleontology, archaeology, culture, and traditional technology. Ideally, it would be good to incorporate the cameras into all of these activities and lessons. The activity guide could also provide a stand-alone program. The volunteer will be expected to accompany the students on excursions to help them use their cameras. It would be great to have a CD/DVD at the end of the camp using the images the students took as something for them to share with their schools. The setting: Taquka Kuik (Bear Creek) Camp is located on the windy shore of Becharof Lake, Alaska’s second largest lake, in the heart of Becharof NWR. It is within the Becharof Wilderness boundary, a tiny outpost on a gravelly glacial spit. Views across the lake to the south are dominated by lovely, volcanic Mount Peulik. Walks within range of camp reveal marine fossils. Nearby is Bear Creek, which in the fall, is packed with both salmon and brown bears. Brown bears are a constant presence. Bear-watching can be spectacular. All groups moving outside the perimeter of camp will be accompanied by a USFWS trained and designated person carrying a shotgun and bear spray. The camp, a cluster of recently rehabilitated cabins, has no running water or electricity—it is maintained in keeping with its wilderness surroundings. One larger cabin will be the gathering area, and a Weatherport on a raised platform will be set up as a kitchen. At least part of camp (including the kitchen) will be enclosed by an electric fence. Solar batteries are used to keep the electric fence in operation, and a system can be set up to help charge batteries or run electronic equipment for short periods of time. Based on the number of students attending (yet to be determined, but no more than 12), adults will be distributed through the cabins as chaperones; and there may be one cabin just for adults. Tents can also be set up for private sleeping quarters for adults. Access to camp is by airplane, either on floats or wheels. There may be an opportunity to explore the area by boat—this is still being discussed with the Lake and Peninsula Borough School District. Participants: In addition to the students, there will be at least one teacher from Lake and Peninsula Borough School District, and one from Bristol Bay Borough School District. USFWS staff will likely include: Visitor Services Manager Julia Pinnix, Biologist Susan Savage, and Refuge Ranger Orville Lind. USFWS volunteers will also likely include: archaeologist Tom Prang, and field assistants Tara Callaway and Bret Greenheck. Elder Paul Boskoffsky will probably also attend as an honored guest. There may well be additional adults included. Getting there: Peninsula Airways offers flights into King Salmon at least twice a day year-round (weather permitting). Once a volunteer arrives, we have abundant free housing available. Housing includes bedding, towels, dishes, microwave, coffee maker, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, dish and laundry soap, and other similar necessities. To reach camp, it is necessary to fly in a small plane, usually one of the refuge’s. lane. Wheeled planes are not subject to this requirement (unless travelling for great distances over open water). In order to fly in a refuge floatplane (or a floatplane hired or paid for by the refuge), passengers are required to attend two days of training in aircraft safety and crash survival, including a half day in a swimming pool for experiential practice. Without “dunker” training, no one may ride a USFWS floatplane. Both wheeled and floatplanes may land at Bear Creek. It is a short flight—about 30 minutes from King Salmon. In some cases, based on wind direction, the walk to camp may be up to half a mile. At other times, the walk is negligible. Necessary equipment: All food will be provided during Science Camp. Tents, sleeping bags, and pads are available with advance notice. Bear spray will also be provided with advance notice. Warm clothing and raingear are essential. Head nets and mosquito repellant are recommended. Hiking boots and rubber boots are both recommended. Fishing can be excellent in the area. You must have a current state license, of course. Bring your own fishing pole(s) and tackle. Communication: The camp will be in touch with headquarters in King Salmon daily by radio. In emergencies, a satellite phone will also be used. No personal calls are permitted on the satellite phone, unless you bring your own SIM card.
Skills NeededVolunteer is expected to teach the students to use cameras as a tool for learning more about Becharof NWR. Volunteer must have the following skills and certifications: Volunteer needs to be comfortable working with high school students. They need to be conversant with the equipment that will be used. Authenticity is important: the instructor should preferably have extensive personal and/or professional experience with photography. Volunteer must have completed Dunker Training. In order to fly in a refuge floatplane (or a floatplane hired or paid for by the refuge), passengers are required to attend two days of training in aircraft safety and crash survival, including a half day in a swimming pool for experiential practice. Without “dunker” training, no one may ride a USFWS floatplane. Volunteer must be able to hike a half mile carrying equipment from floatplane to camp. In addition to submitting an application on line, volunteer should address all required skills and certifications in a separate email to betty.siegel@alaska.net, Volunteer Coordinator.
Education TopicsSubjects that will be included in the curriculum include: bears, birds, aquatics, geology, paleontology, archaeology, culture, and traditional technology. Ideally, it would be good to incorporate the cameras into all of these activities and lessons. The activity guide could also provide a stand-alone program. The volunteer will be expected to accompany the students on excursions to help them use their cameras. It would be great to have a CD/DVD at the end of the camp using the images the students took as something for them to share with their schools.
Audience AgeHigh School teens
Materials NeededWarm clothing and raingear are essential. Head nets and mosquito repellant are recommended. Hiking boots and rubber boots are both recommended. All food will be provided during Science Camp. Tents, sleeping bags, and pads are available with advance notice. Bear spray will also be provided with advance notice.
Other Outreach OpportunitiesVolunteer will use the opportunity to inform students about the Friends group and Alaska's 16 NWRs.
ContactJulia Pinnix, Visitor Services Manager (907) 246-1211 Julia_Pinnix@fws.gov or betty.siegel@alaska.net