I attended the August 2024 Lost Lake Trip. My experience with Ak Geo is nothing short of amazing. I loved the connections I made and the fact that I didn’t have to pay for any gear, and the program doesn’t have any fees for students. This, along with Ak geo covering travel and housing till the trip, really opens the door to so many different people, not allowing location or money to be a restraint. And that fact is why I made so many new friends and connections.
I got to meet so many new people my age who enjoy the same things I do. What made it even better was the Ak geo staff who set up team building activities for all of us, one of them was a jump rope game where all students had to pass the level. I was having the hardest time getting past it, but all of the other kids were so willing to help me pass the level. I think one of the reasons we were all able to connect so much was the activities, no phone policy, and the fact that all of us had a role to keep, for example I was holding the map that day and if someone wants to ask you about where you are you talk to eachother and you even get to help eachother figure it out.
And to allow students to continue having experiences like this, Ak Geo needs donations to continue showing young people that our public lands mean so much to us and deserve to be explored. Thank you so much for your time.