The SeaLife Center

Today we visited the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. Our tour was the behind the scenes one so we learned much more about the center and animals than we could have on our own. The center does a lot of rescue and rehab of orphaned sea mammals and, depending on the age and condition of the animal, will try to release it back to the wild. They do have a small group of harbor seals and sea lions on site which we were able to see. One of the harbor seals was very playful and would follow someone on the other side of the glass- it was entertaining to watch both the seal and person leading her. There were also lots of fish and birds to see around the area.
Seward doesn't have much going on after dinner but hopefully we will find a productive and fun way to spend our last night in Alaska. In a little over 24 hours we will be boarding our flight home, something not everyone wants to do at this point!

Picture: Michael and Emily playing with the seal

Kenai Fjord Tour

Today we arrived in Seward and right away got ready for our 6 hour tour of the fjords. We were in Resurrection Bay as well as the North Pacific. There was a lot of stuff going on despite the overcast day. We were able to see mountain goats, black bear, tons of birds, porpoises, sea lions, humpback whales, and orca whales. The orca whales were awesome to see as they were busy eating and very active. We saw them surface multiple times and watch as one swam right under the front of our boat. We also went out to the Holgate glacier and watched that for a while. Coming into the glacier we plowed through some small chunks of ice in the water that had broken off of the glacier recently. While at the glacier we were able to see pieces fall off and crash into the water-- It was very cool to see. On the way back we saw more birds and a couple more humpbacks but nothing like on the way out. It seemed to be a pretty successful day for most of the group.

Pictures: Holgate glacier

Port of Seward

Sea lions out in the bay

Russian River Hike

Sunday we made our way out to the Russian River campground for a hike. We met up with Marilyn Gravenhorst, a Wartburg alum living in the area who took us around the trails. The hike was about 5 miles total and had some great views. At the halfway point we saw the Russian River falls where the salmon will return each year to lay eggs.
After the hike we were invited back to the Gravenhorst's for dinner and enjoyed the home cooking and stories. The rest of the night was pretty relaxed as we started to get ready to head out for Seward and the Kenai Fjords tour Monday.

Pictures: our group on the Russian River trail

Russian River falls

A True Russian Experience

We had to leave the beautiful views of Homer Saturday but got on our way to Soldatna. We had two stops along the way: the first at a boat launch into the ocean and the second at a small Russian village. We had hoped to see a commercial fishing boat be launched or pulled up but no such luck.
The second stop took us to Nikolaevsk, a small village of Russian heritage. We tried to stop in and see the Russian orthodox church in town but could only see the onion domes from the outside as it was closed. After that we found the only cafe in town and stopped for lunch. At first we didn't think we would get in but the lady who owned the place, Nina, came driving up and opened it up for us. She was the nicest lady but had a thick Russian accent and dressed in traditional clothes. We got in and she made us a traditional lunch of borscht, dumplings, pierogies, tea, and cream puff dessert. While she was cooking we could look around the gift shop and if we bought something she would let us take pictures in traditional Russian outfits, so a few members of the group got to do so. The food was decent (not many of us had experienced Russian food before) and the experience was one to remember!

Pictures: Lida, Sarah, and Nina

Susan and Cameron

Off to Kenai

Sorry it's been a while since there's been an update but we've been keeping busy! On Thursday we packed up and left Anchorage to travel down the Kenai Peninsula. Along the way we stopped at a wildlife conservation center and got to see some bears! Although we haven't been able to see any wild ones, these were awesome to see.
After the wildlife center we settled in for a 3 hour drive to Homer, a small town right at the end of the road. It's surrounded by the ocean and mountains and we had a great view of both from our hotel rooms. We also got some fresh fish for dinner and everyone enjoyed that.
Friday we were able to go sea kayaking in the Peterson Bay just off the coast from Homer. The weather was perfect for being on the water and we got to see some great views and wildlife. Along with the multitudes of birds around we saw a sea otter and a couple porpoises. By the time we were done everyone was cold but had a great time. The rest of the afternoon we spent at a museum commemorating the history of the area and had the rest of the night to enjoy the view or catch up on sleep!

Pictures: View from the hotel at low tide

Brown bears!

Sea kayaking

Out on the Ranch

The ranch

Monday morning the last group headed out to the ranch so here is a taste of what we all got to experience out there. Upon arrival we met Frank, an awesome guy that is the definition of a mountain man. He briefly introduced us to the area and then put us to work. The last group at the ranch worked on cleaning up the yard from the winter by picking up pieces of wood and metal posts. It was easy work and a nice day to do it. After cleaning up and grabbing a bite to eat, Frank took us to the mountains to the old lucky strike mine area. There was still so much snow out there-enough to be taller than our vans at some points! We did a little sledding and then had a snowball fight, mainly us against Frank. He's awesome though, took it well, and gave it right back to us. We had some beautiful views of the mountains while up there.
Back at the ranch, we had some downtime during which some of us went 4 wheeling, created the massive bonfire, or helped with making our moose spaghetti dinner. The rest of the night was spent around the bonfire and enjoying the midnight sun-I don't think it ever got completely dark while we were there!
The second day at the ranch was spent cleaning some more and having ample time for target practice at the shooting range. The rest of the night was very relaxed around the campfire again and smoking salmon in the smokehouse. While we were there we saw and heard a moose, were alerted to a possible bear out in the woods (the dogs chased it out though) as well as all the animals on the farm including horses, goats, yaks, geese, and turkeys. Everyone had a great time while at the ranch and would probably have spent the entire trip out there if possible!
The groups not at the ranch were able to continue working at the discovery center and consumer apartments doing some spring cleaning and helping to prepare activities. Today was our last official day with Hope so we had a short goodbye gathering and will be getting ready to head south to the Kenai Peninsula tomorrow.

Pictures: midnight at the ranch

Monica, Sydney, Emily, Michael, JuTone, Keita, and Cameron in the mountains

Adventure Times Four

Sunday was full of things to do. The group at the ranch decided to stay another night and was able to experience more of the rural Alaskan life. They were up there for the pig butchering, among other things, and really enjoyed their break from the city.

Back in Anchorage, we made a trip to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Living History Farms of Alaskan culture. While there, we were able to see housing types for the different cultural groups, artifacts and animal skins each would use, and learn more about the people from each region. After touring around the "villages" we watched ceremonial song and dance by native Alaskans. The whole experience was really neat and everyone enjoyed it.

In the afternoon, the Anchorage group found a couple more adventures. We went for a hike at Thunderbird Falls. The hike wasn't too intense (after the initial hill!) and had some awesome views of the waterfall and surrounding mountains. There was a trail that went right up to the base of the falls that we took which ended up being so cool!

After our hike we thought we would go find a local ice cream place to try. However, google maps failed us in this endeavor as the first two places we tried didn't exist and the third took us to an ice cream distribution center. Giving up on a local place, we found the cold stone in town. Instead of going straight for the ice cream though we took a detour to a pizza place across the street. It was kind of sketchy so hopefully the cook knew what he was doing! Finally we got our ice cream and went back to the hotel ready to fall in bed.

Pictures: mountain view on the hike

Totem pole at the heritage center

Thunderbird falls

Friday and Saturday

Since I wasn't able to post yesterday here is a double update.
Friday the second group (Cameron, Kelsie, Kate, and Emily) headed up to the ranch for the night. Their tasks were supposed to include butchering some pigs so we will look for some stories from them. The remaining two groups worked in Anchorage at the discovery center painting and at a private home raking up leaves.
Saturday both groups were able to visit the Saturday market while hanging out with some of the residents we met earlier in the week. The market was pretty cool and had a wide variety of things to buy and food options (buffalo, salmon, reindeer...). The residents had a good time despite the cold weather!
Also, we had a closer encounter with a moose so here's a picture to share.

Pictures: Moose!

Keita, Michael, JuTone and Monica working hard

Sydney and Natalie (a resident) at the market

The Discovery Center

Today we spent our morning working at HOPE's discovery center. The center is a really neat place where consumers can come and do artwork or other activities in the Rec center. Half of the group was in the rec center sorting and counting puzzle pieces while the other half was in the art area doing some sanding and painting. We had barely done much work and the people there were telling us to take a break! We seemed to get a good chunk of the painting done before lunch though which will definitely help them out.

Pictures: Emily, Kate, Hayley, and Michael sanding away.

Michael painting like a pro.

Moose Poop...a lot!

Today we again worked with Hope at different locations in Anchorage. The group at the ranch is still there but should hopefully get back sometime later tonight. One group went back to the apartment building to do some yard work. We raked and scooped up so many leaves and trash...13 garbage bags worth! We also encountered moose poop, and lots of it. It was surprising how close they would get to the apartments, some remnants were less than five feet from the building! While we worked, some of the residents came out to talk and keep us company. They are so nice and can tell the best stories :)
The other group continued to paint today. They are so good and work so hard the residents at their location keep coming up with new walls they want painted! The big project of the day was a bright red bedroom for one of the residents. They were so excited and thankful to have a fresh look in their homes.

Last night was an opportunity to see the northern lights. They were supposed to be going between 1:30 and 2:00 in the morning, but since Anchorage was right at the edge of the viewing area they were not as intense as hoped. The sky was a cool blueish-green though.

Pictures: Kate, Emily, and Kelsie raking the yard.
Emily talking with one of the residents at the apartments.

Work Day Two

We had our second day of work today and experienced Hope from a new angle today. This morning one group ( Sarah, Lida, Alyssa, and Hayley) headed out to the ranch owned by Hope for the night and I'm sure will have stories to share later this week. The other two groups went to work at a couple locations around Anchorage. The first group went painting at some condos. They really brightened the place up with accent walls of violet, grass green, and sunshine yellow, all picked out by Hope consumers. The second group met a few of the more independent consumers at an apartment complex and spent a couple hours this morning getting to know two of the residents fairly well. They seem really active and were excited to see some new people they could talk to.
Since the paint needed to dry overnight we got done early today and spent the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the beautiful heat wave (60 degrees!) we had today. With clear blue skies, the mountains were especially pretty today :)

Picture: Keita, JuTone and Monica painting

Welcome to Hope

This morning we had our orientation with Hope. We got together with the Irish students also volunteering and learned all about the mission, beliefs, and values of Hope. They are a very client centered organization and really look out for the integrity of those they serve. After our formal introduction to Hope we had a BBQ with the Irish students and community members associated with Hope. We finished our day with a chat with local social workers and learned a little about the first hope cottage.
After dinner a group of us went on a walk down by the lake by our hotel. The views of the mountains were amazing, so here is one to share :)

The Great Outdoors

Today was a free day for us to explore the area. We split off into different groups and each found an adventure. One group took to the trails and hiked up in Chugach State Park just outside of Anchorage. The view of the city and bay were amazing as well as the views of the surrounding mountains. It was still very snowy so we were climbing over (and sometimes into...) large drifts to follow the trail. By the time the hike was done, everyone's shoes and jeans were thoroughly wet. The other group was able to explore the Anchorage museum, which turned out to be a very cool place. Apparently the moose they had on display, which seemed large to us, was only a small one by Alaska standards. The museum also had a great explanation of the history of the area.
Tonight we experienced a true Alaskan restaurant: Gwennies. They had a wide variety of options including multiple types of seafood, good burgers, and reindeer sausage. It was definitely an experience to get and one we will remember.
Tomorrow we start back with HOPE and will have a better idea of the work they do and how we can help in this short period of time.

Picture: hiking in Chugach State Park

Walk and Roll for HOPE

Today was HOPE's big fundraising event: the Walk and Roll for HOPE. The community is very supportive of this and many come out to participate in the walk and activities. We began our day at the park early to finish some last minute set up and determine our jobs for the rest of the morning. Some of us were in charge of the t-shirts while others kept up the drink station or kept other parts of the event moving smoothly. There was a great turn out this year and they seemed to raise a substantial amount of money to support this organization. One of the largest teams there today walked in support of a little girl born deaf, blind, missing half of her brain, and unable to digest food. Although she only lived for about a year and a half, she is so representative of the good HOPE can do for disabled people and their families.
After taking all the tents down and packing up supplies, everyone seemed to need some time to regain their energy, so as of now there are no big adventures for today. Tomorrow we have a free day so I'm sure we will find an adventure somewhere :)

Work Day One

Today we got our first taste of service work for the trip. We visited HOPE, got to know some of the staff, and helped with the set up for their big event tomorrow. We're getting more used to "Alaska time" (we are told a certain time but may not actually start right away or end early; it's very laid back) so between loading and unloading the truck we had a nice lunch break at an awesome pizza place and time to walk around downtown again. After the break we unloaded trucks, set up tents and tables, and became experts at unwrapping water bottles. By the time all that was done the park looked ready to go for a big event and there shouldn't be much for set up tomorrow morning. It seems that the events of the past couple days along with a long flight and time change have worn most of us out so it will probably be an early night so we can hit the ground running for the Walk and Roll tomorrow morning.

In other news, we recently saw our first moose! There was one small one eating grass just next to the hotel last night and another this morning eating breakfast in a neighbors yard.

Pictures: working to set up tents for tomorrow's event

Exploring Anchorage

Today we got acquainted with the city. After a short drive through the city, we headed out to Arctic Valley. This is a ski and hiking area with beautiful views (see picture below). We all got out and hiked over snow and tundra for a couple of hours which was amazing! While up there it began to snow, completing the atmosphere of the hike.
After leaving Arctic Valley we headed back to downtown Anchorage. The city is nice and not too big so walking around was no problem at all. Between all the shops to look in and the mountains or water surrounding the city we were pretty occupied for a few hours. We even found a few bears around to hang out with :)

Welcome to Alaska!

Well, we finally made it! After an hour and a half delay in Minneapolis we arrived in Anchorage yesterday about 9:00 local time (midnight Iowa time) but it felt more like 7:00 since it was still so light out. Along the way we had beautiful views of the mountains both over Canada and Alaska. Leaving the airport we were greeted by mountains all around and temperatures in the upper 30s...just when it started to feel like summer at home too! We arrived at our hotel, got checked in, and then some of us went back out to check out the area and find some dinner. Although we didn't get back to the hotel until after 11:00, it still hadn't gotten completely dark!
Today we will have a get acquainted with Anchorage day before we start real work later this week.

Picture: flying in over Alaska