A previous version of this story documented an unpermitted gold mining activity performed on Sitnasuak Native Corporation land. References to the activity have been removed.
Each fall, Nome’s Anvil City Science Academy takes school to camp. Last week, 60 middle school students spent two full days at Norton Sound Health Corporation’s Camp Nuuk, 20 miles east of Nome. Some parents, teachers, and community volunteers stopped in over the course of the camp to join in on the experiential learning.
Instructors came from partner organizations like Kawerak’s Katirvik Cultural Center for fish cutting. Norton Sound Health Corporation offered a talk on diet and nutrition. Volunteers also offered CPR and first aid training and made herbarium specimens.
Caleb Rhodes, a 6th grader at the charter school, said, “I think the best part of the campout is definitely the breakfast in the morning, when everything is all cold, and then you get this warm, tasty breakfast.”
But, Rhodes said it’s wasn't just good food that kids gained from the campout.
“There’s a sense of community and learning some things, such as, there’s a gold panning class going on right now, there’s salve making, and I did akutuq making as well this morning. So, there’s interesting things to learn and a fun experience,” Rhodes said.
New ACSA principal Emily Annas said the annual campout helps to get a jump on cultural teaching in an ideal setting.
“We have Alaska cultural standards, and it's really hard to do, in my opinion, to teach Alaska culture standards within four walls, because so much of Alaska culture is outside in the environment, and so the campout gives an opportunity to be outside,” Annas said.
Annas said volunteers are vital for the campout to be successful. It couldn’t come together without the immense support of parents and the community. Parent volunteers helped to recruit community instructors, organized and cooked food, donated firewood, and showed up to chaperone. Some local high school students even came to volunteer and support the event.
With her first campout behind her, Annas said she’s already thinking about what next year could look like.
