Alaska Youth Stewards is a regional outdoor summer employment program currently operating in Angoon, Hoonah, Kake and on Prince of Wales Island that hires rural and Tribal youth ages 14-25 to engage in natural resource projects such as stream restoration, invasive species removal and landslide monitoring. Tlingit & Haida organizes the regional efforts of the Alaska Youth Stewards program, providing year-round program support and oversight.
Alaska Youth Stewards provides youth an entry level position into natural resource management. One key factor in the success of these programs is the ability to connect youth with instructors and mentors that have unrivaled knowledge and expertise in natural resource management; Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures; fisheries monitoring; and community forestry. This promotes a localized workforce specializing in forest technology, wildlife habitat management and vegetation inventories. In addition, it encourages youth to serve as community leaders and provides skills to navigate natural resource management careers in Southeast Alaska.
Partnerships
A diverse partnership of organizations has formed to support Alaska Youth Stewards. Together, we believe we can achieve lasting positive impact on participating youth and the future health of our communities.
The Alaska Youth Stewards partnership includes Tribal governments, Tribal corporations, conservation groups, federal and state agencies, not-for-profits, community entities, and committed individuals to deliver programs in rural communities of Southeast Alaska. We work together to reach cultural, ecological, and economic prosperity for our communities and region.
Program Structure
Alaska Youth Stewards uses a community-based approach which includes the sharing of resources and lessons learned across the Southeast Alaska region. Each community has a local host organization that oversees the program, hires and manages payroll and HR for crew leaders and crew members and also supports day to day operations of the program.
A collective impact model pulls together the financial, social, and technical resources necessary to deliver the best possible youth vocational skill building programs. By sharing these resources, we believe that youth will be supported by a career ladder that addresses the needs of both individual crew members and their communities.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be 14-18 years of age.
- Must complete and submit an application each field season.
Communities Served
- Angoon
- Hoonah
- Kake
- Prince of Wales Island – All Communities
AYS Community Contacts:
Tlingit & Haida – Regional Youth Stewardship Catalyst – Gabe Sjoberg, gsjoberg@tlingitandhaida.gov
- Angoon Youth Stewards
- Host Org – Chatham School District
- Community Contact – AngoonAYS@gmail.com
- Hoonah Youth Stewards
- Host Org – Hoonah Indian Association
- Contact – julian.narvaez@hiatribe.org
- Kake Youth Stewards
- Host Org – Organized Village of Kake
- Contact – KakeYouthStewards@gmail.com
- Prince of Wales Island Youth Stewards
- Host Org – Craig Tribal Association
- Contact – AYS.POW@gmail.com
Project Map
Each year, crews track their projects using an interactive Google Map. The crews work on a variety of projects including trail construction and maintenance, stream restoration and ocean monitoring, traditional food harvests and community garden development. Follow along using the map below and see the great work they’re completing each year.
