Field Trips & Presentations
We love educating students!The AWCC hosts hundreds of school children in the fall and spring from all over the State of Alaska. Our naturalist staff provides educational programming that captivates students with exciting facts and information about Alaska’s wildlife.
Visiting the AWCC During the School Year
Come visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for a fun and engaging learning experience!
There are four opportunities for you and your K-12 students while visiting the sanctuary. These opportunities are available during the school year from September 15 – May 15:
- You and your students can explore the wildlife center on your own! Self-guided options include:
- Students can self-guide themselves through AWCC using interpretive signs and audio guides
- Teachers can lead a tour using AWCC’s tour guidebook and audio guides
- Students can participate in our Free Scavenger Hunt through Action Bound
- You and your students can explore the wildlife center with a Naturalist Tour Guide!
- You and your students can explore the wildlife center with a Naturalist Tour Guide and then attend a Porcupine Presentation!
- You and your students can explore the wildlife center with a Naturalist Tour Guide and participate in another Naturalist Led Program! See program descriptions below.
Naturalist Led Programs
Walking Tour with Naturalist Tour Guide: An AWCC staff member will lead students on a one-hour long walking tour through the sanctuary. Students will learn about the Alaska wildlife represented by ambassadors at AWCC and hear stories of how some animals came to be in our care. Grades: K – 12 (1 hour)
Porcupine Presentation: Students are introduced to one of our porcupines while learning about unique adaptations, life history, and similarities/differences between predator and prey. Grades: K – 12 (30 minutes)
Alaska Animals Puppet Show: Learn about Alaska animals with the help of AWCC’s puppets and staff! The puppet show lasts approximately 25 minutes and is followed by hands-on activities with animal skulls, hides, and antlers. Grades: Pre-K – 2 (45 minutes total)
Awesome Adaptations: Students will learn how Alaska animals have uniquely adapted to live in a harsh environment. Students will have hands-on experience investigating skulls, fur, teeth, and bones. Grades: 3 – 6 (1 hour)
Adaptation Stations: Students learn about the AWCC’s wildlife from this interactive, bio-fact based drop-in program. This option is ideal for groups to interact with on a rolling basis during their visit and for larger groups. Grades: K-12 (booked in hour increments)
Adaptation Station options:
- Tracks and Scat: Become familiar with animal tracks and signs. Learn how to recognize what wildlife has passed through your area.
- Skull Morphology: Learn to identify different animal skulls based on their features. Test your knowledge with a matching game.
Endangered Cook Inlet Beluga Monitoring: Join AWCC staff for a beluga whale monitoring session at the point. Students will use data sheets to collect information about beluga presence, behavior, and environmental data. While learning about life history and Cook Inlet beluga population recovery as a critically endangered population. On selected available dates. Grades: 4 – 12 (approximately 2 hours)
Interacting in Wild Spaces: This program is offered in collaboration with U.S. Forest Service and Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. Come to Portage Valley to learn how to interact with wildlife and learn all about wildlife safety and awareness. Participants will also travel down the road to visit the Chugach National Forest’s Begich, Boggs Visitor Center and surrounding trails to learn about exploring your national forest and how to recreate responsibly. Grades: 3-5 in Anchorage School District (This full day program begins at 10:00am and concludes at 2:00pm)
Contact the Education Department at education@alaskawildlife.org or 907-783-0058 x 8 for more information.
Please read our cancellation policy.
Visiting the AWCC During the Summer
There is one opportunity for you and your K-12 students while visiting the sanctuary. These opportunities are available during the summer from May 16 – September 14:
You and your students can explore the wildlife center on your own! Self-guided options include:
- Students can self-guide themselves through AWCC using interpretive signs and audio guides
- Teachers can lead a tour using AWCC’s tour guidebook and audio guides
- Students can participate in our Free Scavenger Hunt through Action Bound
Due to increase in visitation, we are unable to offer additional programs during our summer season.
Colleges visiting the AWCC (September 15 – May 15)
There are three opportunities for you and your students while visiting the sanctuary. These opportunities are available during the school year from September 15 – May 15:
- You and your students can explore the wildlife center on your own utilizing AWCC’s free audio guides and interpretative signs at each habitat.
- You and your students can explore the wildlife center with a Naturalist Tour Guide!
- You and your students can explore the wildlife center with a Naturalist Tour Guide and then attend a Porcupine Presentation!
Colleges visiting the AWCC (May 16 – September 14)
There are two opportunities for you and your students while visiting the sanctuary. These opportunities are available during the summer from May 16 – September 14:
- You and your students can explore the wildlife center on your own utilizing AWCC’s free audio guides and interpretative signs at each habitat.
- You and your students can explore the wildlife center with a Naturalist Tour Guide!
AWCC Visits You
The AWCC staff can visit your school or organization! To learn about outreach programs that can travel to you, visit our Outreach from AWCC webpage.
Contact the Education Department at education@alaskawildlife.org or 907-783-0058 for more information.
Please read our cancellation policy.