NEWS

Newly Arrived Refugees Explore Their Public Lands
Story by Katherine Trudeau, Student Conservation Association intern for the Bureau of Land Management

Imagine the shock of moving to a new country.  Add to that an entirely new environment with animals, plants, and places you have never seen before.  The Bureau of Land Management’s Campbell Creek Science Center hosted a three-day eco-explorer camp in order to help with the adjustment of 20 newly arrived refugees and immigrants.  Students, primarily from the African continent, including the countries of Sudan and Rwanda, spent their time on Campbell Tract exploring a new home full of surprises and adventure.

On the first day students learned about animals they may encounter in Alaska.  They were able to touch bones, teeth, and furs of lynx, fox, wolves and more.  In order to understand how these animals are suited to live in Alaska they played games demonstrating adaptations.  An important focus of the day was safety around moose and bears, since these students are likely to see these animals in their neighborhoods throughout the year.

Student compares the size of her hand to that of a black bear track (Photo by Kate Trudeau)
Student compares the size of her hand to that of a black bear track (Photo by Kate Trudeau) The second day was spent streamside as the students dove into the aquatic biology of Campbell Creek. The older students set fish traps and caught salmon fry to study with the younger children.  No stone was left unturned as the students looked for macroinvertebrates, aquatic plants, trout, and salmon.

 

Student sets a fish trap in Campbell Creek (Photo: Kate Trudeau)
Student sets a fish trap in Campbell Creek (Photo: Kate Trudeau) The third day focused on plants, helping students learn which local plants were edible and which plants were toxic.  Students tasted wild raspberries, smelled Labrador leaves, pressed flowers, and talked about similarities between Alaska’s plants and the plants of their home countries.  After a lesson about seed propagation, students were able to transplant a flower from the Science Center Greenhouse to take home and share with their families.
Students examine aquatic invertebrates up close (Photo: Kate Trudeau)
Students examine aquatic invertebrates up close (Photo: Kate Trudeau) Highlights for the students included nature exploration, quiet time to journal, and the ability to play in the creek as well as the opportunity to be carefree kids. This program was made possible by a partnership with the BLM Campbell Creek Science Center and Alaska Catholic Social Services Refugee and Immigration Services which provides aid to the 130 refugees Anchorage receives every year.  Students on this trip received transportation funding from Every Kid in A Park.
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Katy, Denali Education Program Coordinator – Rooted in the mountains of West Virginia, where she grew up immersed in family camping trips and explorations of local state parks, Katy’s early experiences instilled in her a profound respect for the outdoors and a passion for sharing its wonders.

She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from West Virginia University where she got a footing in the outdoor industry through guiding freshman orientation trips.  Upon graduating, her journey in guiding and environmental education has taken her throughout the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain West, Alaska and the Appalachian region of the United States.

Eventually, her passion took her to Scotland where she completed a Master’s Degree in Outdoor Environmental and Sustainability Education from the University of Edinburgh in between exploring the Scottish Highlands. Since then, she’s called the Greater Yellowstone region and the deserts of the southwest home while guiding and working in the ski industry.

Equipped with certifications in Wilderness First Response, Outdoor Ethics, and Avalanche and Swiftwater Rescue, Katy brings enthusiasm for outdoor exploration and her expertise to every adventure. When not at work, she enjoys in trail running, skiing, reading and finding a good coffee shop to hang out in.

Natasha, Education Program Coordinator – Growing up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Natasha has always loved going on adventures in beautiful outdoor spaces with friends, family, and dogs!

Natasha loves combining her love for the outdoors with principles of stewardship in guiding, personal endeavors, and research- whether rock climbing in the desert, packrafting in the mountains, or using her degree in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability to teach environmental education to youth.

Over the last few years, Natasha has worked as a backpacking instructor for Alaska Geographic, taught place- based environmental science, researched climate change in arctic Alaska, and completed a thesis focusing on inclusivity and accessibility to outdoor recreational spaces and opportunities. Natasha is thrilled to share her knowledge and passion for the outdoors while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. Natasha lives in Anchorage, Alaska and is a Wilderness First Responder.

bio coming soon

Rachael Eggleston, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer – Rachael brings over a decade of experience with Alaska Geographic, where she has led retail, marketing, development, publishing, and brand strategy. As Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, she focuses on driving retail growth, visibility, and educational outreach. She works closely with our teams and public land partners to create content and campaigns that inspire, educate, and invite action. Whether developing a new publication, launching a campaign, or mentoring a teammate, she’s motivated by the belief that meaningful connections can lead to lasting stewardship. She’s proud to contribute to an organization that shares her passion for environmental education, broadening access to public lands and protecting Alaska’s most inspiring places. Outside of work, Rachael can be found hiking, camping, pack rafting, tending her garden, or getting crafty with a new project. She’s an avid reader who believes you can never have too many books or mugs. Rachael shares her home with her husband, Galen, and their very good dog, Lupine, who are always ready for the next adventure.

bio coming soon

Jess Brillhart, Field Course Coordinator – Jess has worked as an educator in several national parks but has called Denali home for many years.  She loves getting people out into the park by coordinating Alaska Geographic’s multi-day courses based out of a field camp near the Teklanika River. She oversees instructor scheduling, university accreditation, registration, and participant communication – ensuring smooth operations and meaningful experiences from start to finish. One of the most rewarding parts of her work is collaborating with scientists and connecting them with the amazing people who participate in our courses every summer.

Shandon Palmer, Staff Accountant – bio coming soon

Karen Bente, Office Administrator (herder of cats) – Born and raised in Wisconsin, Karen came to Alaska via Florida and the Navy. She has been in Alaska for over 40 years and married for 30 years. She has two children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. There is one additional son and three more grandchildren on her husband’s side. All in all, they are spread from Fairbanks to Portland, OR. Karen’s 30 years of progressively responsible office positions made her the ideal candidate for this unique position. Karen works with all of AK Geo including our full-time and seasonal staff, our board of directors, our partners, our donors, our vendors, and anyone who calls or comes through the door. If Karen doesn’t have the answer she will find it.

Liz Munns, Regional Operations Manager – Liz manages the retail operations for eight different sites throughout Alaska Geographic’s network. She has a B.S. in Parks & Recreation Management from Western Carolina University and an M.S. in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University – Mankato. She has worked as a classroom teacher, seasonally for USFS (developed recreation), and in other visitor service positions throughout Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.  Liz considers the Appalachian Mountains (specifically the Smokies) her home, but she loves her life in Alaska! Her biggest joys are picking berries, rockhounding, and spending time with her loved ones. When she’s not at work, her two labrador retrievers usually boss her around.

Steve Brown, Regional Operations Manager & Warehouse Coordinator – Steve is the Regional Operations Manager for seven of the Alaska Geographic stores around the state, including the online webstore at akgeo.org.  He is also the coordinator for the Anchorage warehouse, overseeing the incoming and outgoing of products both for the web store as well as some products which are passing though to other Alaska Geographic stores. He came to Alaska Geographic with 37 years of experience managing and selling Alaska-themed books to the largest retailers in the state of Alaska.

Mark Bailey, Regional Operations Manager – Mark is responsible for retail operations at several of our locations across the state, including Denali National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and our store within the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Mark was born and raised in Alaska. His first job out of high school was at the Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali National Park. Being in the wilderness for a summer sparked his love for public lands, especially Denali. Mark graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics. Mark’s professional experience includes time in the oil industry, politics, state government, and as a small business owner before joining Alaska Geographic in 2022. When not on the job, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and son at home, camping, or fishing.

Andy Hall , Executive Director – Andy is a lifelong Alaskan who was born in Sitka and spent his early years in Mt. McKinley National Park where his father was superintendent. Andy spent many years as a journalist, editor and publisher working at newspapers around Alaska. For 16 years he was the editor and publisher of Alaska Magazine and general manager of The Milepost. He is the author of Denali’s Howl, The Deadliest Climbing Disaster on America’s Wildest Peak, published by Penguin Random House in 2014. He served on the Alaska Geographic Board of Directors for nine years from 2005 to 2014. He has been Alaska Geographic’s Executive Director since February of 2018.

Caitlyn Tetterton, Anchorage Education Director – Caitlyn is an outdoor education professional with over a decade of experience designing and leading impactful education programs, managing risk in dynamic expedition environments, and fostering strong partnerships to deepen community connection to public lands. At Alaska Geographic, she develops place-based education programs that inspire both local youth and visitors, with a focus on making the outdoors more approachable and accessible, empowering the next generation of leaders, and setting a high standard for risk management. Her leadership is rooted in a people-first philosophy that values growth, empowerment, and fostering engaging environments. Caitlyn holds a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation & Education from Ohio University, is a Wilderness First Responder, and holds certifications in Avalanche Level 1, Swiftwater Rescue, ACA Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructing, and is a Leave No Trace Instructor. She stays fresh with the younger generations by teaching skiing at Alyeska on the weekends and leading teen canoe expeditions in California each fall. When she’s not working, she’s usually on a mountain bike, skiing in the backcountry, at a thrift store, or chasing after her senior (and formerly rejected) sled dog.