Over the summer, four students from Craig, Naukati, and Hollis ventured into the woods and creeks of Southeast Alaska for eleven weeks of discovery, teamwork and purpose. These students participated in Tlingit & Haida’s Alaska Youth Stewards (AYS) program, a workforce development initiative for rural and Indigenous youth that serves as a stepping stone toward meaningful careers in conservation, environmental education and tribal leadership. The 2025 AYS crew on Prince of Wales Island was led by returning Crew Lead Cheyenne Thompson, who took on expanded planning and coordination responsibilities.
From early June through mid-August, the young stewards completed more than 50 field days of conservation work, cultural learning, and community engagement. On the island, they maintained trails, planted native cedar and spruce seedlings, assisted cultural mentors with cedar tree reconnaissance and totem-pole raising, rebuilt salmon habitat at Jon’s Creek, and cleared more than 1,000 pounds of marine debris from beaches. They also strengthened boardwalks and drainage on trails used by both residents and visitors. Alongside learning hard skills like safe tool use, first aid, and wilderness safety, they also learned leadership, communication, and confidence through service to their communities and the land.
By the end of the season, the crew had improved trails, restored salmon streams, and strengthened connections across the island—between people, culture, and the land itself. What began as summer work became a place-based journey, a shared commitment, and a step forward for the next generation of caretakers.
The Prince of Wales Island AYS program continues to grow as a model for collaborative conservation—uniting Western science and Indigenous knowledge to nurture healthy ecosystems and confident young leaders who will carry this work forward across Southeast Alaska.
Watch the video below of the AYS program’s all-crew training that took place in Glacier Bay earlier this year.
About Alaska Youth Stewards (AYS) Program
The AYS program engages youth ages 14–25 across Southeast Alaska in hands-on conservation work, including stream restoration, marine debris removal, and landslide monitoring. Partnering with local tribes, schools, and organizations, AYS combines science and Indigenous knowledge to provide mentorship, build skills, and prepare youth for future roles as environmental and cultural stewards.
About the Author
Noah Meyer is a former Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow with Tlingit & Haida, working in the Indigenous Stewardship Division. His work focuses on developing tools and resources that support communities in mariculture. He holds a master’s degree in Global Environmental Affairs from the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Relations and applies his studies in environmental conflict and resource security.