Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE)

04/29/2026

Copper Basin Friends, come join us today at the Environmental Fair at Glennallen School! There are fun activities for all ages, door prizes, free dinner, and this fun guy who just popped out of a tree stump.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." The Lorax

Thank you Copper River Native Association and all the partners who make this event possible.

04/23/2026

Where can you take a selfie with the Lorax, and make your own Truffula Tree? At the Copper Basin Environmental Fair next week. WISE is teaming up with Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve and looking forward to seeing you there!
The Fair will be Wednesday, April 29 at Glennallen School. Over 30 local and regional organizations will be on hand with activities that share our work and love for the natural world.
Huge Thanks to Copper River Native Association for organizing this annual event.

04/15/2026

Know any students who are curious about careers in Science and Natural Resource management? Join us on Tuesday, April 21, 10am at the Kenny Lake Public Library!
Hands-On Natural Resource Career Explorations
With Anne Runde, Bureau of Land Management - Alaska Campbell Creek Science Center
April 21 | 10am-11:30am
Students get the chance to experience real work in fields like wildlife biology, engineering, geology, botany, and recreation through hands-on activities. Through interactive projects, participants discover how BLM professionals protect and manage America’s public lands. Program is one and a half hours in length, dress to be indoors and outdoors. Meet at the Kenny Lake Library

04/14/2026

The 3rd annual Copper Basin Environmental Fair will be April 28 and 29! WISE will have a Lorax-themed table, with a chance to make and take your own Truffula tree, and help grow a community forest.
Many thanks to CRNA for organizing this event, and all the partners who make it fun and educational.

🌿🌎 Join Us for the 2026 Environmental Fair! 🌎🌿

📅 Tuesday, April 28 & Wednesday, April 29, 2026
⏰ Tuesday: 9:25 AM – 6 PM | Wednesday: 10 AM – 6 PM
📍 Glennallen School

Come explore interactive exhibits, environmental resources, and fun activities for all ages. Learn how we can work together to protect our lands and waters for future generations. 💚

03/30/2026

Alaskans, don't forget to file for your Permanent Fund Dividend, Tomorrow is the last day! And don't forget to Pick Click Give to WISE!

03/18/2026

The deadline is fast approaching to apply for Copper River Stewardship Program! All high school students (and those currently in 8th grade) with close ties to the the Copper River Basin or Cordova are encouraged to apply. The theme this year is glaciers, and we are planning lots of icy adventures including a day on Root Glacier with a glaciologist, and a cruise to Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound.
It's a chance to learn about the watershed with students from around the region, have some adventures, and even earn a .5 high school credit in the process.
This year's program will be June 5-15th.
Find the application at www.wise-edu.org/copper-river-stewardship-program, and don't miss the March 31 deadline!

We couldn't do this without awesome partners: Prince William Sound Science Center, Copper River Watershed Project, Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission, Bureau of Land Management - Alaska, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve

​ High school students from Alaska's Copper River Watershed are invited to apply for the Copper River Stewardship Program!

03/09/2026

WISE is hiring! We have two summer jobs with opportunities to spend time outdoors in nature, learn, inspire, and lead.
The Naturalist Tour Guide leads our Copper Country Discovery Tour, connecting guests from around the world with the natural wonders of the Copper River Basin.
We are also seeking a Summer Program Assistant to help with summer adventures like Geology Camp, Aquatic Ecology Camp, and hikes.
Learn more at www.wise-edu.org/employment

03/06/2026

Curious about the wolves of the Copper River Basin? Where do they live, what do they eat, and how do scientists study such a wide-ranging and elusive critter?
Join WISE and Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission tonight for "Wolf Pack Monitoring: Range, Distribution, and Diet in Ahtna's Eastern Territory" with AITRC Wildlife Biologist Sterling Spilinek. This talk will summarize results from the initial capture and monitoring phase., as well as field metholds, logistical challenges, and the project's role in advancing wildlife science that integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge with rigorous research.
Friday, March 6, 7pm at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Visitor Center. If you cannot be there in person, you can also join online at https://bit.ly/4pAn47d

03/02/2026

Alaskans, you have one more month to file for your Permanent Fund Dividend! Be sure to Pick Click Give to your favorite charities.
A donation to WISE helps get Copper Basin kids exploring and learning in the great outdoors.
Putting on chest waders is a great way to learn about aquatic ecology, as well as outdoor skills, teamwork, and the need to watch where you step!
On the Pick.Click.Give page of your online PFD form, look for Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE)
The deadline is March 31.

02/25/2026

Looking for a family activity during Spring Break? WISE and our partners invite you to Winter Fun Day! After getting shut out by the cold over the holidays, we look forward to a day of outdoor and indoor activities for all ages.
The Ahtna Cultural Center will be open with exhibits and a craft project. We will have skiing (skiis available if you need them) winter survival, wildlife science, crafts, snow shelter building, microscopes, and more.
Snacks and hot drinks will be provided, bring your lunch and dress warmly. Kids 8 and under need to be accompanied by an adult, and all youth need to be checked in when they arrive.
Thanks Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Ahtna, Incorporated, Prince William Sound College: Copper Basin, Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission, Alaska Department of Fish and Game - Official and Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection - DFFP for coming out to help!

02/16/2026

Curious about the history, status, and future prospects of the Nelchina caribou herd? This Friday, Heidi Hatcher of Alaska Department of Fish and Game - Official will share an update and answer questions.
The talk will be Friday, February 20, 7pm at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Visitor Center in Copper Center. You are also welcome to join online, register at https://bit.ly/4b1jtf2
Warm thanks to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for supporting this program for over a decade, and to Prince William Sound College: Copper Basin for making the online option possible.