Alaska

This is an entirely camping-based program. The group will camp in National Parks, State Parks, National Forest Service land, and private campsites. The majority of our campgrounds are “front-country,” meaning you will be close to the group’s van while camping. While at these front-country campgrounds you will have restroom facilities and water for drinking, cooking, and washing hands. Many of the campgrounds will also have showers on-site.

As a part of the adventure, you will also set out on a 5-day/4-night backpack in the Alaskan wilderness. For this section you will be carrying your personal gear (clothes, sleeping bag and pad) as well as all group gear (tents, cooking gear) needed for this component. These campsites will be “wilderness sites” and may not have running water or bathroom facilities.

Each group will travel together, with the leaders, in a combination of 15-passenger van and trailer, which will carry the personal and group gear. These will become the group’s mobile home base so it will be important that students help keep the van and trailer clean and organized through their journey.

Students are generally pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food on an ARCC program. The group will work together to create each unique menu and prepare the delicious meals throughout the duration of this trip, with occasional meals out at local restaurants. Vegetarian and other dietary needs (i.e., allergies, food preferences) are easily catered for. Students should inform ARCC of any dietary needs before the start of the program.

If you are traveling from somewhere in the United States and are under the age of 18, airlines do not require photo identification. It is a good idea to travel with a picture I.D. if possible, but it is not necessary to bring a passport. A school identification card with your photo on it is best, but a library card or credit card with your name on it is also helpful. If you are traveling to Alaska from somewhere outside of the United States, you will need to bring your valid passport.

Nearly all of the U.S. state of Alaska is in the Alaska Time Zone. It is four hours behind the east coast and one hour behind the west coast.

As a part of the program, you will be setting out on an multi-day wilderness backpacking trip. It is essential that you bring a backpack that is sized to your body and comfortably carries your essential items during this component. For this reason, you should bring a properly fitted backpack (either internal or external frame) for this program. You may also bring a small daypack to use for day hikes and shorter day trips.

During the rest of the trip the group will be navigating through airports, getting in and out of the van, and carrying their personal items to and from their campgrounds. It is essential that everyone is able to carry their own personal belongings and we have found the most effective way to do this is to pack in a backpack or duffle.

The best time to visit Alaska is during the summer months of June and July which consists of warm, dry days and cooler evenings. The weather can vary greatly throughout our journey depending on location and elevation so it will be important to pack according to our extensive packing list, with an emphasis on proper layering. The interior of the state, near Denali, is usually warm and dry with average highs around 70 degrees and the lows around 50 degrees. The backpacking route can experience very cold weather and potentially even sleet/light snow, so warm clothes and layers are essential! In coastal areas like the Kenai Peninsula, the weather is usually wetter and cooler, so you should be prepared with rain gear and warm layers. Because weather patterns are unpredictable, you should be prepared for rain or other inclement weather conditions at all times.

There will be opportunities for regular showers during the trip, however you should not expect to take showers every single day. There will be no shower opportunities during the backpacking section due to the remote nature of the backcountry. There will be at least two laundry stops during the trip. For ease of travel, quick dry clothes are recommended on the packing list.

All activities, accommodation and meals are covered by tuition, but you will want some personal money to pay for airline baggage fees at the airport, souvenirs/gifts, laundry, extra snacks, and emergencies (lost items, clinic visit, etc.). We suggest bringing spending money of roughly $75/week, for a total of $175-$225 for the entire trip (most of this cash/money should come home). Most students opt to bring small amount of cash, as well as personal debit or credit cards.