Improving capacity of the seven chugach regional resources commission tribes through youth education and wildlife research and monitoring - the chugach regional resources commission (crrc) proposes…

The Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) received a $478,959 Project Grant from the Administration for Native Americans under the Native American Programs (CFDA 93.612) awarded on September 30, 2025, with a completion date of September 29, 2028. The grant funds a three-year initiative designed to enhance youth engagement in natural resource sciences while strengthening wildlife population monitoring and management capacity across seven tribes in the Chugach region of Alaska. The project builds upon CRRC's existing environmental monitoring work in herring population genetics, sockeye salmon, moose, algae, and ocean chemistry by integrating a dedicated youth education component.

The primary products and services include hands-on training opportunities for tribal youth ages 16-25 from the seven CRRC communities, featuring wilderness training camps, participation in salmon escapement counts, wildlife tracking, and ocean chemistry sampling. The initiative aims to develop the next generation of natural resource specialists equipped with outdoor skills and environmental monitoring expertise to support traditional practices and environmental stewardship. By addressing the current gap in youth engagement in outdoor sciences, the project delivers capacity-building services that position tribal communities to sustain their natural resource management capabilities and cultural practices for future generations.

Improving capacity of the seven chugach regional resources commission tribes through youth education and wildlife research and monitoring - the chugach regional resources commission (crrc) proposes a project to enhance youth engagement in natural resource sciences while monitoring and managing wildlife populations in the chugach region. Building on previous successes in environmental DNA analysis for herring populations and ongoing monitoring of sockeye, moose, algae, and ocean chemistry, crrc aims to add a youth education component to their existing research programs. The project will provide hands-on training opportunities for tribal youth ages 16-25 from seven crrc communities, focusing on outdoor skills, wildlife research methods, and environmental monitoring. Activities include wilderness training camps, participation in salmon escapement counts, wildlife tracking, and ocean chemistry sampling. The project addresses the current situation where few tribal youth are engaged in outdoor sciences, aiming to build the next generation of natural resource specialists who can help sustain traditional practices and environmental stewardship for future generations.