Alaska Geographic’s mission is to connect people with Alaska’s public lands. In this effort it is inevitable that our staff, participants, and customers may be exposed to some risk. Wherever possible, Alaska Geographic strives to reduce the risks we face through careful planning, trained staff, and following industry standards for outdoor education. Even with the best precautions, Alaska Geographic acknowledges that some inherent risk in our activities is unavoidable, and is even necessary in order to fulfill our mission.
Courses and activities with Alaska Geographic often take place in remote areas of Alaska. Due to the inherent challenges of the natural environment and traveling in Alaska, risk is a continual element of any Alaska Geographic activity. The uncertainty posed by nature combined with the judgments and abilities of participants and staff leads to risk. Risk management, in this context, is the ability to make a decision when the outcome is uncertain and relies on our ability to perceive and quantify the risks we face. Alaska Geographic is committed to promoting the physical and emotional well-being of all participants and we are proud of our excellent record managing the risks of wilderness travel.
Alaska Geographic has invested in the quality of its risk management practices by participating in Risk Management Training offered by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), an organization with over 40 years of experience managing risk in wilderness environments. With the assistance of this training and review of our operational plans by a private consultant, Alaska Geographic has refined its risk management strategy encompassing all levels of our organization. In order to mitigate the risk that is inherent in all outdoor activities, we have invested time and resources in these practices because the health and well being of our participants is of the highest priority.
Wilderness courses involve many hazards that can pose a risk to even the most experienced traveler. Activities ranging from simple day hikes to climbing glaciers can, due to the unpredictable forces of nature or an error in judgment, become dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
Safety precautions and risk management practices are taught on every course and participants are expected to provide self-care during challenging weather conditions. Each participant plays an important role in the success of an Alaska Geographic course. Good physical conditioning and a positive mental attitude are essential.
Our courses travel through remote areas that can create complex situations should an emergency arise. It is not uncommon to be days from medical help, but Alaska Geographic staff and our contractors are trained in wilderness first aid and backed by our established wilderness emergency response and evacuation systems.
Our staff carry at least one communication device to use during life or limb threatening emergencies, but this does not guarantee communication from the field. Portable telephones and radios can be unreliable depending on terrain, atmospheric conditions, and other variables.
Alaska Geographic has specific policies for our programs that work with minors. These policies follow industry standards for outdoor education and include such practices as requiring background checks for all staff working with minors that are unaccompanied by a parent, guardian, or their k-12 teacher. We also provide specific training to our field staff for supervising and teaching minors.
Alaska Geographic is committed to being inclusive to all individuals and does not discriminate individuals with restrictive physical or medical conditions. Each of our courses has its own unique physical challenges for participants, and this is outlined in the course overview documents. Within the regulations and approval of our federal land agency partners and within the abilities of our staff, Alaska Geographic takes great effort to accommodate individuals with particular needs. For example, using the industry standard practice, our staff are trained to work with participants that have severe allergies and are certified by our advising physician to care for these individuals in the unlikely event of an anaphylactic reaction. We have accommodated participants with assistance dogs on our courses and we’ve hosted youth with learning disabilities. If you have any questions about your attendance on a course please call our office for a confidential discussion with a program manager (phone number below).
It is important that you understand there will be risks involved if you participate in one of our courses or activities. Alaska Geographic cannot guarantee your safety. The risk of injury, even serious injury or death, is always present in the outdoor environment. Yet this should not prevent you from enjoying outdoor activities in Alaska. In fact, many participants with Alaska Geographic courses will learn how to identify hazards and adapt their behavior to minimize illness and injury in Alaska’s wilderness. This is an important part of Alaska Geographic’s educational mission.
Anchorage Education Manager
Kaia Fihn
907-771-8482
Denali Education Manager
Autumn Young
907-771-8485
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.
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.
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.
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.