Welcome to Into the Woods Alaska

intothewoodsak

Dedicated to connecting all ages to nature. Get into the woods with us and see why our youth outdoor studies programs are unrivaled in Alaska.

Into The Woods Alaska

Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis

To keep our family, our customers, and our community safe, we are suspending all in-person Into the Woods Alaska programs until further notice. We hope to resume with a small selection of summer camp operations starting in late June through August.

The power of a healthy community

…lies in the health of its members-the sum is greater than the whole of its parts. This is what Into the Woods Alaska stands for. We believe that if more children (and adults) spent more of their time outdoors in nature, we would have a healthier community.

Operating our normal programs during a global pandemic would be antithetical to who we are and our guiding principles.

At this time, the word of the day is ACCOUNTABILITY. Often, the hardest choice to make is the right one. We are accountable to you by making the right choice to close business until the authorities say it is safe to re-open. Be accountable to yourself, your family, and your community by social distancing, washing your hands, and asking for help when you need it.

Thank you for your time, energy, and patience as we navigate this crisis. We are looking forward to getting back into the woods with you and your family.

Meet you in the woods,

~Kristina & Dan

Support your small businesses! Most of the photos throughout our site are courtesy of AFW Productions.

help save small businesses

#smallbusinessrelief #saveintothewoodsalaska

how you can help

Small businesses are the life-blood of a community. Right now, we need your help.

We understand, first-hand, the financial hardships that are a result of the economic shutdown created by the corona virus pandemic. Most families and small businesses, just like ours, are on the brink of ruin and are directly hurt by this crisis.

There are many ways to help us survive the economic fall-out from this global crisis. You can donate to our go fund me to help us cover operating costs and keep our employees. You can share our social media, re-post our posts, and ask your friends to do the same. Additionally, you can purchase or subscribe to our digital content once it is posted on the website.

help into the woods alaska
click to donate to our go fund me

While we were building a lot of momentum going into the busy summer season, this crisis has put us at an abrupt halt due to this virus.  We would be incredibly grateful for anyone who wants to help support our  business, in any way they can.

OUR PLAN

Into the Woods Alaska is going to survive this crisis by being creative and adapting to a complicated, uncertain environment.

We are creating a digital, online catalog of our Outdoor School, filled with Video Tutorials, articles, posts, and podcasts.

In the future, the digital content we are creating now will be coupled with our in-person programs. Additionally, our digital platform is the beginning of our Into the Woods Alaska Home School Program.However we connect with you, whether digitally or in-person, we are glad to be able to continue to enrich both you and your child’s life by sharing our programs with you.Be sure to follow our social media, blogs, and subscribe to our newsletter so you’ll be one of the first to know when our digital Outdoor Studies Program goes live!

OUR YOUTH Summer OUTDOOR STUDIES PROGRAMS

At this time, we are creating a wait list for our summer outdoor studies programs. You may join the wait list with no financial obligation; if the crisis abates enough to the point where we are able to host summer camps, then we will contact you to finalize registration.

summer camps at kincaid park – ages 5-12

From June 22 to August 14, offering weekly M-F summer camp sessions exploring the bounty of Kincaid Park for ages 5-12. Parents drop off between 8-9 am at the Raspberry Trail Head at Kincaid Park, and pick up between 4:30-6 pm at the Kincaid Park Main Chalet.

Limited to 9 children. $350/week

reserve your spot
the anchorage youth hiking club – ages 10-16

From June 22 to August 14, offering weekly M-F summer camp sessions for ages 10-16. Parents drop off between 8-9 am and pick up between 5:30-6 pm at our HQ – the Little Blue Cottage. From there, we pack up in our Subaru Ascent and head our for a day of hiking adventure, exploring the trails of our Chugach State Park.

Limited to 7 children. $400/week

reserve your spot

after school programs

After School Programs run throughout the year from different ASD schools. We run “short sessions” in which we pick up our students from their school for an after-school program in the woods, dropping them off at our centrally located HQ – The Little Blue Cottage.

We also run an after school program in the woods at Rilke Schule. Contact RSI for more information and to sign up.

coming soon: home school outdoor studies programs

Our new digital content platform serves more than one purpose; in addition to providing content for our social-distancing situation, it is part of a larger plan to develop a comprehensive Home School Program.

Our digital platform will help reinforce what our students are learning outdoors. Our Home School Outdoor Studies Program has two pillars: experiential and didactic learning.

Photo courtesy of AFW Productions.

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Outdoor Studies Program: Online Course Offerings

We are building a digital platform of course offerings which correspond to our Outdoor Studies Programs. Browse through our offerings below and check back often to see what we’re working on. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Have an idea for a cool course or topic you would like to learn more about? Reach out to us! contact@intothewoodsalaska.com

woods craft

natural science

conservation

Let’s build something together.

Get in touch!

Youth Outdoor Studies Programs

Experiential learning, Outdoor Studies, and a childhood spent playing in the woods — This is what we’re all about.

Our Youth Outdoor studies programs have three pillars of focus:

1. Recognizing the value of the outdoors as paramount in our lives.

2. Fostering a new generation of thinkers who, as adults, will advocate and work toward the protection of our natural spaces.

3. Safely operating in our back country, learning the fundamental skills needed to be a life-long explorer in our planet’s great, wild beauty.

Book a Summer Program Today

exploring the gift of nature, one season at a time

Into the Woods Alaska is dedicated to connecting children with the gift of nature. Explore our offerings below for our unrivaled, uniquely Alaskan, outdoor educational programs.

Welcome to our Youth Outdoor Studies Programs.

We designed the youth outdoor studies programs for all ages and ability levels, with the aim of teaching children the intrinsic value the world’s natural spaces have in our lives. All of our programs are founded on two pillars of education: outdoor safety skills and the natural sciences. In recognizing the value of the outdoors and developing a deep connection with nature from a young age, children will become adults who advocate for the protection of our planet’s wild spaces.

As we create life-long lovers of the woods, it is important that we teach them the fundamentals of being safe operators in them. We teach a series of outdoor safety skills that make up the fundamentals of being safe in any back country, but especially our own backyard-Alaska. Our outdoor safety skills are designed to set up youth with the necessary skills for a life full of adventure in the great outdoors. Alternatively, if youth decide to further their outdoor education, our programs are the perfect foundation from which to launch into a deeper study of operating in the outdoors in any field.

The beginnings of our Anchorage Youth Hiking Club – our 2019 teen backpacking camp.

We spent one week exploring the hanging valley in the South Fork Eagle River system. These kids are amazing! We can’t wait to get back into the woods for more camping this summer.

Photo courtesy of AFW Productions.

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

When we traverse mountains, woods, bogs, and forests, it is equally important to foster a respect for the life within them. For this reason, we spend an equal share of time focusing on scientific observation of what we are experiencing around us. Children do not need adults to tell them what to think, or even what to ask: they have a much more honed sense of curiosity – a gift of childhood – and they are naturally scientific in their observations of the world around them.

In this climate of polarization and strife, with our planet at a tipping point-balanced on the brink of destruction-Into the Woods Alaska holds science, truth, and open-minded observation very dear. Once children learn how to observe the world as a scientist, we guide them through engaging their curiosity, asking questions about they see, smell, feel, or hear, developing a hypothesis, testing it, and finally developing a theory.

We are living in the biggest mass-extinction event since the Cretaceous-tertiary Extinction 65 Million Years Ago. This, the world’s 6th mass-extinction event, is OUR Anthropocene extinction.

All hope may not be lost to save our planet and the threatened or endangered species. Into the Woods Alaska is a small part of a growing worldwide movement to return to the protection of our natural world. More and more, we are discovering something that has long been forgotten: we are a part of our natural world as much as it is a part of us. If we don’t act now, we may lose what little we have left.

Our programs are dedicated to the idea that all children have a right to grow up playing in the woods; we hold on to the hope that children who have a deep bond with nature will become adults who advocate for its protection. Right now, it is our children who will have the chance to change the world and make it better for everyone.

Summer Outdoor Studies Programs

100% outdoors. Small, family-style groups of 10 or less. Nature immersion. At Into the Woods, we believe that every child has the right to grow up playing in the woods. Into the Woods is locally owned and operated; it was founded by Kristina and Dan, who dreamed of a uniquely Alaskan, outdoor education summer camp experience that teaches youth how to be confident operators in Alaska’s back country.

download the summer explorers parent handbook

The Summer explorers club Day Camp Itinerary:

*note: this itinerary is subject to change based on trail conditions, investigations of interest, group dynamic, or safety conditions. Our guides will keep parents apprised of any major logistical changes to the itinerary and/or group location. 

8:00 to 9:00 am: Drop off at Kincaid Park Raspberry Parking Lot. Kids will play games, make art, have a snack.

9:00 to 9:30 am: Circle up. Discuss science topic of the day, trail route, safety briefing, and introduce outdoors skill of the day.

9:30 to 10:00 am: Journal time: each camper journals their questions of the day, the hypothesis for what they might see or experience concerning the science topic, and all the questions they may have.

10:00: Start exploring!

12:00 to 12:30 pm: Lunch time!

12:30 to 1:00 pm: Journal time: record observations.

1:00 to 2:00 pm: Resume exploring!

2:00 to 2:30 pm: Snack time!

2:30 to 3:30 pm: Outdoors skill training.

3:30 to 4:30 pm: Hike to pick-up point, snack and journal along the way. Kids finish their journal science topic of the day, writing their answer or theory regarding the questions from the beginning of the day.

4:30 to 6:00 pm: Pick up at Kincaid Park Chalet, snack, games, art while kids wait.

The summer explorers club

WEEKLY, M-F SESSIONS FROM JUNE 22 – AUGUST 14

  • Ages 5-12
  • Drop-off 8-9 am at the Raspberry Road trail head parking area
  • Pick-up 4:30-6 pm at the Kincaid Park Main Chalet Area
  • Limit 9 students per weekly session
  • Student to Guide Ratio = 9:1
book a summer camp today

With safety as our top priority, our summer camps are designed to unleash your child’s imagination while we learn how to become confident operators in the great Alaskan outdoors. Into the Woods summer camps focus on outdoor safety skills and natural science; learning these skills through play and experience, our campers become more confident in themselves, learn the value of teamwork, and learn how to be still and observe the bounty of nature all around us.

Into the Woods Alaska Summer Camps are about combining the importance of simple play outside with what nature can teach us.  We strive to teach kids to observe the world around them and ask the age-old question you as a parent are familiar with: “why?”  Why do the trees in Alaska grow in the forest but not the beach? Why does this rock look different from that one? Campers will spend a majority of their time exploring the many ecosystems and trails that Kincaid Park has to offer from the beach to the bluffs to the forests!  We will have periodic breaks at the Main Chalet or under a shelter we set up (with a tarp or a natural shelter we create!), but each day we will challenge our young explorers to be more aware and build their knowledge in our low student to guide ratio of 10:1. 

Each session will have two components that we will continue to build upon throughout the week: science and outdoors skills.  We will use age appropriate teaching techniques to strengthen your child’s abilities to be responsible and safe in nature as well as increase their knowledge about the natural world around them.  Some of our science topics include mammals of Alaska, ecosystems, insects, food web, and vegetation of Alaska as well as whatever rabbit hole your young explorer may take us with their own observations. Our outdoor safety skills include map reading and route finding, building shelter, filtering water and signs of hypothermia.  We will accomplish this in the following itinerary.

Offering week-long, full-day sessions from June 22 to August 14: Our Summer Explorers Club is for ages 5-12. Drop-off at the Raspberry road trail head/parking area, and pick-up at the Kincaid Park main chalet area, these camps are 100% outdoors from start to finish and offer a small, family-style group experience of a maximum of 10 participants.

Gear List:

Click the Link Below to view and download our recommended gear list for a full day of exploring the in the Kincaid Woods. This list is what we recommend, however use your best judgement. If it is a very hot, dry summer, we likely won’t need hat or gloves! However, some summers are wet and chilly, in which case warmer gear (on the list) is essential!

Download the gear list

For this day of fun and learning to happen we expect our campers to come with appropriate footwear and clothing to spend most of the day outside playing in the woods. We also want them to come with a bag lunch to eat picnic style on the trail as well as extra snacks and water.  Additionally, we recommend packing a spare set of clothes for when we return in case their original outfit gets wet while exploring.

Safety is of utmost importance to us for your young explorers as well as our guides.  We therefore have safety protocols in the event of an emergency or necessary field medicine.  Our lead guides are CPR/ first aid and/or Wilderness First Aid certified at a minimum while some are certified at a higher level of Wilderness First Responder.  All personnel at Into the Woods, LLC have background checks and references. All guides will carry appropriate radios and communication equipment as well as bear spray.  All guides are trained in and will follow wildlife and environmental safety standards both at camp but also during their personal time off.

Photo courtesy of AFW Productions.

The Anchorage Youth Hiking Club

WEEKLY, M-F SESSIONS FROM JUNE 22 – AUGUST 14

  • Ages 10-16
  • Drop-off 8-9 am at the Little Blue Cottage: 4306 Hayes Street
  • Pick-up 5:30-6 pm at the Little Blue Cottage
  • Limit 7 students per weekly session
book a summer camp today

As your child gets older and has more responsibility, Into the Woods Alaska offers a way for them to build confidence and self-reliance in Alaska’s outdoors in all seasons.  We want your child to experience and interact with nature not just on a recreational level but also as a naturalist and environmental steward.  We strive to teach them to observe the world around them and record their findings using the scientific method. Campers will spend a majority of their time exploring the many ecosystems and trails that the Chugach State Park has to offer from the alpine valley of Powerline Trail to the peak of Flat Top!  We will have periodic breaks to journal and eat but each day we will venture farther physically, socially or academically as we challenge our young explorers in our low student to guide ratio of 7:1. 

Each session will have two components that we will continue to build upon throughout the week: science and outdoors skills.  We will use various teaching techniques to strengthen your child’s abilities to be responsible and safe in nature as well as increase their own knowledge about the natural world around them.  Some of our science topics include ecology, geology and wildlife biology of Alaska as well as whatever rabbit hole your explorer may take us with their own observations. Our outdoor safety skills include orienteering, signs of hypothermia and how to avoid it, and basic survival techniques.  We will accomplish this in the following itinerary.

view and download Anchorage Youth Hiking Club Parent handbook

Take time to notice the amazing plants that flourish in the harshest of environments.
Let’s get to the iron at the peak! Near Point, May 2019
The first Anchorage Youth Hiking Club group. These kids are amazing!

GEAR LIST AND SAFETY

Safety is of utmost importance to us for your young explorers as well as our guides.  We therefore have safety protocols in the event of an emergency or in the event of necessary field medicine.  Our lead guides are CPR/ first aid and/or Wilderness First Aid certified at a minimum while some are certified at a higher level of Wilderness First Responder.  All personnel at Into the Woods, LLC have background checks and references. All guides will carry appropriate radios and communication equipment as well as bear spray.  All guides are trained and will follow wildlife and environmental safety standards both at camp but also during their personal time off.

For this day of fun and learning to happen we expect our campers to come with appropriate footwear and clothing to spend most of the day outside hiking in the woods, valleys, and mountains of the Chugach State Park. We also want them to come with a bag lunch to eat picnic style on the trail as well as extra snacks and water.  Additionally, we recommend packing a spare set of clothes for when we return in case their original outfit gets wet while exploring.

view and download anchorage youth hiking club gear list

ANCHORAGE YOUTH HIKING CLUB SUMMER DAY CAMP ITINERARY

*note: this itinerary is subject to change based on trail conditions, investigations of interest, group dynamic, or safety conditions. Our guides will keep parents apprised of any major logistical changes to the itinerary and/or group location. 

8:00 to 9:00 am: Drop off at our HQ in the hearf of Anchorage: The Little Blue Cottage (4306 Hayes St.). Kids will play games, make art, have a snack while everyone arrives. We leave promptly at 10 am.

9:00 to 10:00 am: Circle up. Discuss science topic of the day, trail route, safety briefing, and introduce outdoors skill of the day. Journal time: each camper journals their questions of the day, the hypothesis for what they might see or experience concerning the science topic, and all the questions they may have.

10:00 to 10:30 am: Leave for trail head. We choose a different trail each day. Due to the fickle nature of Alaska trails, there are many environmental factors that go into choosing the perfect trail for each day based on group dynamics, our topic of learning, and environmental/wildlife conditions. We keep parents apprised of all our movements, where we are going, when we leave and when we are returning. 

12:00 to 12:30 pm: Lunch time!

12:30 to 1:00 pm: Journal time: record observations.

1:00 to 2:00 pm: Resume exploring!

2:00 to 2:30 pm: Snack time!

2:30 to 3:30 pm: Outdoors skill training.

3:30 to 4:30 pm: Hike to end point; snack and journal along the way. Kids finish their journal science topic of the day, writing their answer or theory regarding the questions from the beginning of the day.

5:30 to 6:00 pm: Pick up at The Little Blue Cottage, 4306 Hayes St. 

Photo courtesy of AFW Productions.

what we do

nature immersion

Immersing oneself in nature and distancing from screen devices is the perfect way for every child to spend their summers –immersed in Alaska’s great wild beauty.

outdoor safety skills

At Into the Woods Alaska, an important part of each Outdoor Studies Program is to build upon a foundation of outdoor safety skills that will last your child a lifetime.

natural science foundations

We build upon a set of natural science foundations that set your child up for a life of evidence-based and observational learning, a scientific skill which can be applied to any field and leads to success in any endeavor.

unparalleled outdoors experiences for alaskan youth

Youth learn confidence, teamwork, and a life-long passion for the great, wild beauty of our planet.

Photo courtesy of AFW Productions.

Our Alaska Youth Expedition Club will spend three weeks exploring the beautiful Alaskan Summer with our family – the founders of Into the Woods Alaska. We plan a new itinerary each year, taylor-made to our group and interesting areas to explore in Alaska. This expedition includes a mixture of backpacking thru-hikes, camping spots, day hikes, and beach base-camp stays. It includes our standard investigation of natural science topics and outdoor safety skills. When your children are with us, they become a part of our family and we treat them as such – caring for them by keeping them safe and holding them to expectations of kindness, respect for our planet, and a fierce desire to learn about the world all around us!

Enjoy a summer spent at a remote Alaskan Beach, going on exploratory day hikes, watching whales, salmon, seals, and seabirds in their natural environment while we learn outdoor safety skills and investigate natural science topics. Sleep under a tarp with the sound of waves and Alaska’s great wild beauty all around you. This is nature immersion at its finest and the highlight of our summer!

the alaska Youth expedition club

2020 Backpacking and Beach Base Camp Youth Expedition

  • Ages 12-16
  • Limited to 6 students
  • Student to Guide Ratio = 3:1

COMING SOON! STAY POSTED. Email us at contact@intothewoodsalaska.com with ALASKA YOUTH EXPEDITION CLUB in the subject headline if you are interested in this experience.

Tentative trip dates: Sunday, July 19 – Sunday, August 9

Photo courtesy of AFW Productions.

What parents are Saying

Jay Reto – 2019

“My six year old son attended Into The Woods Camp during in-service days at school.  We’re relatively new to the area, and coming from California, we are not well trained in the terrain and weather conditions of Alaska. 

Into The Woods provided a safe, education and all around fun experience for him.  The staff and volunteer who tended to the kids are trustworthy, responsible and very knowledgeable about: weather conditions, gear needs, trail safety, and survival techniques.

All of which they help impart onto the kids.  Of all the camps he’s attended, this is the one he excitedly talks about and asks when he gets to go again.  And for what it’s worth, they also know how to make a killer thermos of hot cocoa.”

Into the Woods, LLC Policies for Youth outdoor studies programs

You may download and print our policies by clicking HERE.

PAYMENTS: Please use our online booking system on our website at http://www.intothewoodsalaska.com. Payment is due in full when you book your adventure, camp or trip.

PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN INITIATED CANCELLATIONS AND REFUND POLICY: In the event that you are unable to join us the following guidelines will apply. Full Refunds will be provided 60 days prior to the trip/camp date. 50% refunds will be provided 30-59 days prior to trip date. The 50% retained by ITWAK can be credited towards another trip if used within 12 months. No refunds will be provided within 29 days of the trip date. This policy has been established to meet the demands of planning well organized trips. If for any reason a trip ends early there will be no refund. All cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted in writing or emailed to: intothewoodsalaska@gmail.com.

IF YOUR TRIP/CAMP IS CANCELLED BY ITWAK: If, for any reason, ITWAK has to cancel your trip, all deposits and trip payments will be refunded in full, or, are fully transferable to another trip. ITWAK will not be responsible for any costs associated with cancellations including, but not limited to: flight cancelation fees, flight change fees, and/or associated lodging and meal fees. In the unlikely event that an ITWAK trip/camp fails to enroll a minimum amount of campers within 15 days of the start date of the session, said session will be cancelled, and a full refund shall be returned to the camper’s family, or the camper shall have the option to enroll in a different session, as space allows. Into the Woods, LLC will make every effort to immediately notify the camper’s family of this situation.

RELEASE, ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RISK AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT: All participants are required to sign our
Release, Acknowledgment of Risk and Indemnity Agreement. Please take time to read this form and make yourself familiar with it before signing.

MEDICAL INSURANCE: ITWAK requires that all guests have their own health insurance. Individuals are solely responsible for any medical costs, including all associated rescue, evacuation, and transportation costs. Please take time to review your medical insurance policy. Make certain that your coverage extends to the location of your trip, and that it provides coverage for any potential, associated, costs.

TRAVEL INSURANCE is highly recommended. In many cases travel insurance will help cover medical expenses, evacuation costs, lost baggage, travel delays, and other costs in the event of cancellation of the trip. We have worked with almost every provider of travel insurance and feel strongly that the Adventure Travel Protection Plan from AIG/Travel Guard is the best one available. It has significant benefits if purchased within 15 days of making your trip payment. Additionally, purchasing a family or single subscription to LifeMed Alaska is a good idea. In the event that you or your child must be medically evacuated from the backcountry, LifeMed will cover the costs beyond what your personal insurance will cover.

WEATHER DELAYS AND ASSOCIATED CONSIDERATIONS: In the event that your trip is unable to depart at the scheduled time, individuals are responsible for any associated costs including food and lodging. Furthermore, weather and associated logistical challenges may make it difficult to cover all curriculum points. In the event that a trip is delayed or changed in response to unforeseeable forces of nature, ITWAK is not responsible for any delays or changes in trip structure. The natural world is a highly volatile and ever-changing environment. ITWAK guides are experts at dealing with this changing environment. Despite the guides’ best efforts, weather and environmental conditions can change the focus of a trip.

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Trip participants are responsible for their own well-being. This includes good health and strong physical condition. Trip members and their families are responsible for: knowing all pre-departure information, preparing proper equipment and clothing, conforming to basic standards of personal hygiene (to minimize the risk of travelers diseases) and acting in a considerate manner toward all group members and with respect for each country’s customs. Participants are prohibited from using illegal drugs and alcohol while on ITWAK trips. Participant gives their consent for ITWAK to use their photograph, likeness and/or voice to be used in its publications, including its website and social media accounts. Participant’s responsibilities further include the following: (1) they are responsible for reviewing the various forms, releases, and information contained in the web site and forms; (2) they will follow the instructions and directions of guides and expedition leaders.

DISCIPLINE POLICY: ITWAK adheres to and applies the Anchorage School District’s behavior and discipline policies. Into the Woods, LLC does not tolerate: Behavior that threatens the physical or emotional safety of self or others; Destructive behavior; Behavior that is a detriment to the quality of the camp or impedes other children from engaging in the camp to the full extent. Should a child display these behaviors, the owner will contact the registering parent / legal guardian. If the child’s threatening, destructive, or detrimental behavior continues the owner will request: immediate pick up, suspension, or dismissal from program. Dismissal from the camp may occur depending on the severity and frequency of the behavior. If a child is dismissed from the program, a refund will not be provided for the camp / week in progress. However, the parent/legal guardian will receive a 50% refund for all remaining camps for which the child is registered.

LATE PICK UP POLICY: Late pick up from camp will result in a $1.00 / minute charge. This rate will take effect after 6:00 p.m. Failure to pay will result in dismissal from all subsequent camps / trips with no refund.

For individuals dealing with behavioral, motivational or rehabilitation issues, ITWAK is not an appropriate choice.
Participants must be able to meet the physical, mental, social or safety demands of our trips. Guests may be expelled if ITWAK deems their behavior unsafe, disruptive, or distracting from the educational goal of their trip/expedition. Harassment, use of drugs and alcohol, theft or misuse of property, low motivation and disregarding instructions are examples of behavior that will lead to expulsion. If a student/participant is expelled there will be no refund, and the student/participant is responsible for costs incurred from their expulsion.

PRIVACY POLICY – when submitting information and/or payment online

Information We Collect: We recognize your right to confidentiality and are committed to protecting your privacy.We use the information that we collect on our web sites to provide you with a superior customer service experience and to communicate with you about products, services, and promotions.Your privacy is very important to us. Be assured that we do not sell or distribute our customer list to third parties.

Security: When you place a deposit/payment online, your personal information and credit card or debit card information are encrypted using SSL encryption technology before being sent over the Internet. We use SSL technology to prevent your information from being stolen or intercepted while being transferred to us and once we have received it. Your credit card information is always stored in encrypted form in a restricted-access database that is away from our Web site database so it is not connected to the Internet, to keep it safe from hackers. However, no method of transmission over the Internet, or electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, while we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Looking out at Bold Peak across Eklutna Lake. September 2019

Outdoor School: Video Tutorials

Stay tuned…

We have tutorials on the way for you to enjoy and get ideas for homeschooling and family adventures during these tough times of social distancing.

For now, enjoy these promo videos from our first year at Into the Woods Alaska!

-Meet the Team-

We are a small team of talented outdoors enthusiasts and professionals with a wide range of skills and experience. We love what we do, and we do it with passion. We look forward to working with you.

our team

Bri Ramsey

Guide

Bri grew up on the East Coast going on family outings in Acadia National Park, which inspired her to study Environmental Science. After earning her degree, working, and traveling abroad, she found herself closer to home teaching outdoor education in the San Bernadino mountains of California. She spent a summer guiding backpacking and rock climbing trips for a summer camp in the Ansel Adams Wilderness outside Yosemite National Park, when her brother convinced her to come visit him in Alaska for a taste of The Last Frontier.

Deciding Alaska was the place for her as well, she moved up the next summer to be a sea kayak guide in Seward and has lived in Anchorage ever since. Bri has continued to work with kiddos through a before and after school program and is ecstatic to return to teaching youth in the best playground the world has to offer, the great outdoors.

Email me: bri@intothewoodsalaska.com

“In nature nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways and they’re still beautiful.”

– Alice Walker

Luke Portera

Guide

Luke grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains in Tennessee. His formative years were spent exploring the wilderness surrounding his hometown. After graduating high school and moving to Atlanta for school, he quickly found community amongst the wilderness guides at his school’s outdoor organization. 

While at school in Atlanta, he led hiking and mountain biking trips throughout the southeast for students and community members of his university. After many vacations to Alaska and time spent experiencing the state’s natural beauty and vibrant outdoor community, he decided to settle in Anchorage. 

In his spare time he enjoys exploring the mountains with his terrier mix, Adak, and sampling Anchorage’s vibrant cuisine.

Email me: luke@intothewoodsalaska.com

“It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space”

– Edward Abbey

Kristina Kvernplassen

Co-Owner & Guide

Kristina grew up in Anchorage, where she spent her childhood playing in the woods in the BLM tract off of Elmore (then Abbott road), discovering hidden worlds in the dwarf spruce trees up at Glen Alps, camping and backpacking throughout Alaska, and zooming around the woods and trails of Kincaid Park. Now Kristina is raising her kids to play in these same woods and learn to love the woods as much as she does.

Kristina is honored to have the opportunity to get kids outdoors to play in the woods and learn new skills with Into the Woods Alaska, a company she founded with her husband Dan, and hopes to continue to do so for many years to come.

Dan Dillehay

Co-Owner & Guide

Dan grew up in Great Falls, Virginia, playing in the woods around his house and camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In high school, he went to an outdoors-education based program and his passion for the outdoors grew. He made his way to Montana for university, and then followed his parents up to Alaska, where he discovered Alaska’s great wild beauty was unlike anything he had yet experienced and the salmon and trout fishing was the best in the world. Dan met Kristina and their first date was hiking on the South Fork Eagle River trail…and the rest is history!

Suki the Dog

Our chief trail dog in residence, we love her spirit and snuggles!

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