YOUTH CAMPS
Where exploration meets education
Northern Sun Tours is dedicated to advancing outdoor education and environmental awareness through customized, experiential programs. We combine decades of field experience with a commitment to safety, inclusion, and stewardship, empowering students to develop skills, confidence, and a lifelong respect for public lands.
8-day natural science camp
Chugach to Wrangell Geology and Natural Science Camp
June 15 – 22, 2026
Online Course Begins February 1, 2026 — Enroll Now! Open to 8th–12th grade high school students
$3,100
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Includes full curriculum, pre-trip online lessons, access to Google Classroom resources, and a 8-day field-based adventure camp.
Join us for an 8-day natural science camp that begins in Anchorage, spends its first night at the Knik Glacier, continues with four days of exploration in the McCarthy/Kennecott area, and finishes with three nights in Valdez, Alaska. Alaska students have the opportunity to earn science credit toward high school graduation. Through this immersive, experiential field camp, students will participate in lessons on glaciers, ecology, geology, plant and animal identification, and regional natural history.
This camp is all-inclusive. Students will receive a personal packing list and use of a sleeping bag and sleeping pad. All food, transportation, and basecamp gear are included. Each participant will also receive a personal natural science kit to use throughout the camp and take home afterward. The trip price covers all lodging, meals, and included activities.
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This 8-day natural science expedition travels through some of Alaska’s most iconic landscapes — from the dynamic icefields of the Knik Glacier to the historic heart of the Wrangell–St. Elias Mountains and the dramatic coastal environments of Valdez. For more than a week, these incredible settings become our classroom as students develop field science skills, deepen their understanding of natural systems, and earn high school science credit through hands-on, experiential learning.
The journey begins in Anchorage with a short drive north to the Knik Glacier, where we spend our first night. Here, students are introduced to glacier dynamics, local ecology, and the powerful forces shaping Southcentral Alaska. From there, we travel east into the McCarthy/Kennecott region for four days of exploration. Students will investigate the storied Kennecott Mines, hike along Root Glacier, and conduct field studies in one of the most geologically diverse areas in the state.
Our final days are spent in Valdez, where mountains meet the sea. Over three nights, students examine coastal and marine ecosystems, study fjord formation, and participate in field labs along the shores of Prince William Sound. Scenic hikes, rich wildlife, and unforgettable views round out this coastal portion of the trip.
This camp is all-inclusive. Students receive a personal packing list and the use of a sleeping bag and sleeping pad. All meals, transportation, and lodging are provided. Each participant will also receive their own natural science kit to use throughout the program and take home afterward. The trip cost includes all instruction, activities, and expedition equipment.
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DAY 1: Knik Glacier Tour and camp
DAYS 2–5: McCarthy
DAYS 6–7: Valdez
DAY 8: Valdez: Return to Anchorage
Knik Glacier Trip Highlights:
• Glacier observation and ice-formation lessons
• Short hikes and field investigations around the glacier terminus
• Evening camp with views of the Chugach Mountains
McCarthy/Kennecott Trip Highlights:
• Guided exploration of the historic Kennecott Mill complex
• Root Glacier hike and glacial geology lessons
• Field studies on alpine ecology and glacial landscapes
• Time in the remote community of McCarthy
Valdez Trip Highlights:
• Coastal field labs and tide-zone exploration
• Lessons on fjord formation and marine geology
• Scenic hikes above the Sound with opportunities for wildlife observation -
All meals, lodging, and transportation during the camp
Access to Google Classroom pre-trip lessons and resources
A personal natural science field kit (yours to keep!)
Individual packing list and gear support (sleeping bag and pad included)
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This program is currently approved for credit through:
Galena City School District
IDEA Homeschool
Anchorage School District
We can assist in arranging credit transfers to other in-state or out-of-state schools.
For homeschooling programs, please review our Welcome Letter for registration and curriculum details.
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Total Cost: $3,100
A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space for your student. Final payment is due March 31, 2025.
📞 Contact us today to book or request additional information:
Phone: 907-885-8753
Email: northernsuntours@gmail.com
7-day field-based adventure camp
Denali Highway Natural Science Camp
July 19 – 25, 2026
Online Course Begins February 1, 2026 — Enroll Now!
Open to 8th–12th grade high school students
$3,100
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Includes full curriculum, pre-trip online lessons, access to Google Classroom resources, and a 7-day field-based adventure camp.
Alaska State students ages 14 and up are invited to join us for a one-of-a-kind learning adventure along the Denali Highway, one of Alaska’s most scenic and remote wilderness corridors.
This Natural Science Adventure Camp blends outdoor education with hands-on fieldwork. Students explore the stunning landscapes of the Denali region while studying geology, glaciology, ecology, watershed health, orienteering, backcountry safety, and wildlife ecology. Participants may also earn high school science credit through the Anchorage School District and partner homeschool programs.
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The Denali Highway is a true Alaskan gem — a vast wilderness of mountains, glaciers, rivers, and tundra stretching between the Alaska Range and endless northern skies. For seven days, this will be our classroom. Students will gain firsthand experience observing and understanding the natural world while developing outdoor leadership and field science skills.
The adventure begins with pick-up (TBA) at a central Anchorage location. From there, we travel north along the George Parks Highway, stopping at scenic viewpoints for short hikes and lessons. We’ll camp at established sites along the Denali Highway, with a full itinerary provided to families prior to departure.
An informational online meeting will be held approximately one month before the trip to review logistics, itinerary, and packing requirements. A Zoom link will be provided for remote participants.
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Days 1–2: Brushkana Camp
Days 3–5: Maclaren Glacier Camp
Day 6: Tangle Lakes Camp
Day 7: Return to Anchorage via Glenn Highway -
All meals, lodging, and transportation during the camp
Boat ride and canoe trip on the Maclaren River
Access to Google Classroom pre-trip lessons and resources
A personal natural science field kit (yours to keep!)
Individual packing list and gear support (sleeping bag and pad included)
-
This program is currently approved for credit through:
Galena City School District
IDEA Homeschool
Anchorage School District
We can assist in arranging credit transfers to other in-state or out-of-state schools.
For homeschooling programs, please review our Welcome Letter for registration and curriculum details.
-
Total Cost: $3,100
A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space for your student. Final payment is due March 31, 2025.
📞 Contact us today to book or request additional information:
Phone: 907-885-8753
Email: northernsuntours@gmail.com
Alissa Peter, Senior from Quinhagak, Alaska
“The setting and overall feeling of the trip is a 5 star rating because you get to experience beautiful scenery everywhere you go. Maclaren was especially beautiful and we were surrounded by nature, even when you had to use the bathroom it was beautiful! The feeling of the whole trip was always exciting and I couldn’t wait for the next activity to happen.”
Ida Bodony, Junior from Galena, Alaska
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”

