The north for science program engages primarily urban, underserved youth in an immersivefield science and outdoor recreation experience in northern alaskas public and wild lands.north for science aims…

The north for science program engages primarily urban, underserved youth in an immersivefield science and outdoor recreation experience in northern alaskas public and wild lands.north for science aims to enhance scientific literacy, foster a stewardship ethic, and facilitatedeep personal connections between participants and public lands. This is accomplished bytaking a group of 7TH and 8TH grade youth on an eight day trip north through alaskas centralbrooks range on the dalton highway, camping at blms marion creek and galbraith lakecampgrounds, and visiting university of alaskas toolik field station. While on the trip, theyouth are involved in a variety of place-based inquiry learning activities led by BLM outdoorrecreation specialists, other agency personnel and education specialists, and field scientists. These activities make the science content relevant and compelling, while the outdoor campingnature of the trip itself empowers participants with the knowledge and skills to experiencepublic lands safely and responsibly. As the program is free for participants, north for science needs significant partnership support to operate. These BLM funds will be used to assist theprogram with staffing, insurance, vehicle rental and supplies.north for science furthers dois and the administrations priorities by targeting underserved, low-income youth, increasing awareness and understanding among youth of how the unitedstates stewards its public lands, and exposing these youth to a variety of potential futurecareers based on scientific inquiry, the effects of climate change, and public land resourcemanagement and stewardship. North for science participants gain an enhanced understandingof and access to BLM public lands along the dalton highway corridor, learn how climate changeis affecting both the subarctic and arctic ecosystems of northern alaska, and learn and practicesafe and responsible outdoor recreation skills on public lands. As such north for science provides blms outdoor recreation specialists opportunities to interact with and educate anengaged and enthusiastic group of underserved youth. This direct interaction with programparticipants will assist BLM in developing future management actions regarding outdooreducation and recreation opportunities for youth on public lands. North for science alsoprovides an opportunity for BLM recreation specialists to explain and demonstrate theircareers, potentially igniting the interest of future BLM careers amongst participants.north for science develops a future cadre of scientifically literate public land stewards. Byparticipating in the program, the youth will discover inspiration for future careers related toarctic and subarctic climate change science, earth system science in general, and or public landresource management. Through noth for science , participants will gain the knowledge, skills, and practices needed for safe and responsible outdoor recreation in alaska. These outcomesbenefit the participants directly, and the public at large as our public lands can best bestewarded by a citizenry who have direct knowledge and experience of safe and responsibleoutdoor recreational use of those lands.