Pacific High, STA Earn
Forest Service Award
The Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Pacific High School gardening class will be recognized at the Sitka Tribal Council’s Zoom meeting on Aug. 19 for being two of seven recipients of the USDA Forest Service’s 2019 National Volunteers and Service Award.
The award was earned through their collaboration with the Tongass National Forest’s Sitka Ranger District to build awareness about a traditional food source, the Tlingit potato.
Sitka District Ranger Perry Edwards, Regional Forester David Schmid, and others, will present a plaque and a letter signed by USDA Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen.
“These award winners really demonstrate and put into action our agency core values of service, of conservation, diversity, of safety and our interdependence,” Christiansen said during the award announcement video on June 19. “As Forest Service employees we understand that relationships with people and communities are absolutely essential in achieving our mission. Thank you so much and congratulations for your outstanding contributions in helping us achieve our important conservation mission.”
Seventh-three nominations were submitted for this year’s awards, the highest number of nominations in the past 10 years. Nominees exemplified the Forest Service’s core values of service, conservation, diversity, interdependence and safety.
Edwards believes the project and partnership have strengthened relationships with the Sitka Tribe and local schools, giving much of the credit for its success to tribal and school leadership.
“Tammy Young from the Sitka Tribe has been an incredible force behind this project, as have several teachers and the principal at Pacific High School,” Edwards said. “It has connected the Tribe, Sitka’s Pacific High School and the Forest Service in shared stewardship of a traditional resource.”
For more information, call 747-2708 or email michelle.putz@usda.gov.
Donations
The White Elephant Shop is asking Sitkans to stop donating books until further notice.
‘‘We have run out of room,’’ White E volunteers said.
Sidewalk Art
Kits Available
4-H and the Baranof Kids Summer Camp is offering sidewalk chalk coding kits to all Sitka kids, ages 5-18.
Kits will be handed out 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the SEACC center (between Baranof Elementary School and Pacific High).
Each kit includes instructions and five pieces of sidewalk chalk. Additional art activities will be provided.
Call Kari at 752-7323 with questions.
Art in Elements
Camp for Youths
Sitka’s 4-H will host an Art in the Elements Camp 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Aug. 12-14.
Guest artists will guide participants through various artistic techniques inspired by the environment. A list of art materials needed will be sent out in advance and any specialty items will be provided.
Art sessions will be held virtually with individual explorations in nature encouraged. Contact emily@sitkawild.org for information.
Survival Skills
Topic of Camp
Sitka 4-H will host its final camp of the season 1-3 p.m. Aug. 25-26.
Survival skills will be taught through fire starting, shelter forging, and other subjects.
Participants will meet virtually with hands-on challenges. Contact emily@sitkawild.org for information and registration.
Sport Fishing
Book Seeking
Photo Entries
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is seeking submissions to its 2021 Sport Fishing Regulations Summary book cover photo contest.
Each year ADF&G Division of Sport Fish publishes four regional Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklets - Northern, Southcentral, Southeast and Southwest.
Entries of youth anglers and families or friends fishing together are needed for the cover photo contest. The submission deadline for photo entries with a completed and signed media consent release form is 5 p.m. Oct. 31.
A maximum of three photos may be entered. Lay-out restrictions are such that only horizontal photos will be considered for the front cover. Both vertical and horizontal photos will be considered for inside pages which have no age requirement.
For photo submissions to be considered, photos must be accompanied by a completed media consent release form.
The department said if anglers under 18 are included in the photo, the media consent release form must be signed by a parent or guardian. The name of the body of water or drainage in which the photo was taken and information about the angler(s) in the photo are requested.
ADF&G said photos that show evidence of fish and game violations, unethical, or unsafe actions or advertisement will not be considered – this includes youths in a boat without a life vest.
Email photos and completed and signed media consent release forms to Jessica Etheridge, jessica.etheridge@alaska.gov.
Aquarium Has
Expanded Hours
The Sitka Sound Science Center Aquarium has added more visiting hours.
Open hours are now 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and noon-4 p.m. Wednesdays.
Admission is $5 for everyone ages 3 and over; under 3 and members are free. Face coverings are required and must be worn by everyone over the age of 5. Reservations are required, and can be made by going to www.sitkascience.org and click book now.
