2025 Juneau Nature Seminar

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Walking Woosh eel’óox̱ʼu héen (Mendenhall River)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Join us for an immersive outdoor experience as we explore Woosh eel’óox̱ʼu héen (Mendenhall River). This professional development program is designed for Juneau School District teachers and staff, offering a hands-on learning opportunity focused on the river.

The course runs Friday, May 30 – Sunday, June 1 from 9 AM – 3 PM each day.

As Juneau’s relationship with Woosh eel’óox̱ʼu héen becomes increasingly complex, we will study the river’s geology, landforms, and how it has changed over time. We will examine its natural and cultural history, as well as its relationship with surrounding organisms, including humans.

Naturalists Steve Merli and Richard Carstensen will guide our off-trail exploration. Over three field days, we will walk the river’s path from its source to the ocean – starting at Sit’.áa (Mendenhall Lake) and ending at the delta on Taashuyee (Mendenhall Wetlands).

Throughout the program, we will set aside time for reflection and discuss ways to engage students in immersive experiences that foster lifelong learning.

Note: Participants must be able to walk 2-3 miles per day, including through sometimes rough terrain, off-trail areas, and potentially wet conditions.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Friday, May 30: Meet at Back Loop Bridge
Saturday, May 31: Meet at Brotherhood Bridge
Sunday, June 1: Meet at the Airport Dike Trail

Since we’re walking along the river, we’ll end each day at a different location. We’ll use private vehicles to shuttle participants back to cars at the starting point of the day’s hike.

Final project/journal due: July 15, 2025 (only for those seeking credit through UAA)

For additional details, check out the “Description” tab below.

REGISTRATION GUIDELINES

Discovery Southeast does not charge for this program. However, teachers seeking Ed 581 professional development credit must register with UAA, pay their accreditation fee, and complete the seminar, independent study, and a final project/journal. We’ll provide you with the information you need, if you’re interested.

Members of the general public (outside of the Juneau School District) are welcome to enroll after May 20.

Although there is no cost, be sure to “check out” below to confirm your registration and reserve your spot. You should receive a confirmation email/receipt from info@discoverysoutheast.org.

Please complete our Participant Agreement within 48 hours of registering. You can review or complete the Participant Agreement here.

If the course is full (“out of stock”), you can join our waitlist here.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, May 27.

QUESTIONS?

Reach out to mclain@discoverysoutheast.org.

Description

COURSE SCHEDULE (IN DETAIL)

Friday, May 30, 9 AM – 3 PM | Back Loop Bridge

We will gather together for the first time, preview the goals for the course and the credit option, and get to know each other. The first leg of our hike will take us from the headwaters of the river and along the riverbank.

Saturday, May 31, 9 AM – 3 PM | Brotherhood Bridge

We will examine some of the recent changes along the river banks and human efforts to prevent flooding and erosion. We will travel near the Kaxdigoowu Héen Dei before crossing the river to examine deposition and sand bars.

Sunday, June 1, 9 AM – 3 PM | Airport Dike Trail

On our final day, we will explore the interface between the river and the ocean. We will practice reading the landscape to understand how the river has changed in the years since the end of the Little Ice Age and continue conversations about how our relationship with the river has evolved.

UAA CREDIT OPTION & SYLLABUS EXCERPT

If desired, teachers may enroll in a 1-credit class ED 581 via the University of Alaska, Anchorage, which requires a small fee (roughly $100). Because we feature different places each year, teachers can take these courses (and have!) in successive years without fear of redundancy.

This one credit course requires 15 hrs of direct contact time, and approximately 30 hrs of engaged learning outside of class. A final project/journal will inform what you have learned and how you plan to apply it in the classroom. *Final paper/project due: July 15, 2025

From the syllabus:

Instructional goal:

We will cover geology, glaciology, and landforms along Woosh eel’óox̱ʼu héen (Mendenhall River) with an emphasis on changes over time. By walking the river, we will also foster stronger understanding of its path and historic forms and expand comfort engaging in nature as a classroom environment.

Defined outcomes:

1. Conceptual grounding: Participants will become familiar with the geology and landforms of Woosh eel’óox̱ʼu héen (Mendenhall River) and develop an understanding of how the area has changed over time.
2. Resource fluency: Participants will become familiar with local and regional literature on geology, glaciers, rivers, and landforms, as well as observational and oral knowledge of change along Woosh eel’óox̱ʼu héen.
3. Field skills: Participants will be able to identify features along Woosh eel’óox̱ʼu héen and understand geologic processes that shaped and continue to shape them.

PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT WAIVER

While registering, you’ll be directed to complete the Participant Agreement. We recommend you take a moment now to look over a copy, so you’re comfortable with it before registering. Registration is voluntary, so if you don’t agree with the terms there, please don’t register, and instead let us know at info@discoverysoutheast.org.