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Sitka
Sitka is a sea-side town situated on the South-Eastern panhandle of Alaska surrounded by the largest temperate rainforest in the world: the Tongass National Forest. Sitka's natural beauty is due to its mild climate, rich habitat and�relatively low human population making Sitka one of the best places to view wildlife. The waters surrounding Sitka are a popular feeding ground for humpback whales in the late fall and early spring and summertime provides a wonderful opportunity to view tufted puffins and other sea birds at St. Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge. Sea otters, sea lions and other marine wildlife can be spotted out on the ocean as well.
In Sitka, volunteers will have the opportunity to work with Alaska�s oldest conservation organization (since 1967), which works to protect America�s largest national forest � the Tongass. The Tongass contains more old-growth temperate rainforest than anywhere in the world, but is constantly being logged in ecologically disastrous ways. Volunteering with project is a great way to learn firsthand how �on the ground� grassroots conservation activism happens. Volunteers will learn about land management politics, conservation science, and environmental advocacy, while helping to organize community support for wildlands protection. The primary focus of the host organization is to: 1) track every timber sale in the Tongass, and working to stop them through all legal means possible 2) work to get areas protected as federally designated �Wilderness Areas� 3) protect the thousands of miles of coastline surrounding Sitka, for the sake of commercial and subsistence fishing and recreation 4) work to gain a conservation majority in Sitka through grassroots community organizing and environmental education. The host organization consists of a staff of four with a twelve-person board of directors, and their office is located in the middle of Sitka, Alaska. Sitka (pop.8,500) is located on the outer coast of Southeast Alaska in the middle of the temperate rainforest belt. The region is gorgeous rugged and wet terrain, with steep mountains rising right out of the ocean. There are thousands of small, uninhabited and forested islands all along the coast. Individual volunteers can choose to:
.: Project DurationThis project is for two months: June 15th to August 15th.Number of Volunteer Positions: 2 .: AccommodationVolunteers will be accommodated in a house which is five minutes walking distance from the ocean and the office in the center of town. You�ll have to be willing to feed the chickens and put a little care into the garden; it�s two minutes from the trail system, and a little funky, but so is every Alaskan house!.: Volunteer Requirements
.: Project Cost$1500.00 USD/monthCost includes all accommodation and food for the duration of the program as well as airport pickup upon arrival, transport to the program, and daily transportation to the project. |
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