We invite youth to get involved, become active stewards of their communities and help keep Prince William Sound safe from oil spills!
One of our goals is to draw young people into the organization to foster their volunteer skills and support the council's mission.
The Exxon Valdez oil spill happened in 1989, but its effects linger. Even though they might not have been around when the spill occurred, youth and young adults can learn about that disaster and play a vital role in helping prevent another spill.
Funding Opportunity!
Teachers, students and educational groups, are you looking for a partner in a new or ongoing educational program? Funds of up to $5,000 are available!
Specific projects proposed by any student or educational group within the Exxon Valdez oil spill affected region may be funded. Projects or activities must relate to PWSRCAC's mission and responsibilities. Limited funding is available, therefore only those proposals which are deemed most relevant to the mission of the PWSRCAC will be considered.
The Fall 2011 deadline for project proposals has passed. The next deadline for project proposals will be in May 2012.
Recent projects and activities with sponsorship funding from the council:
2011 - Copper River Stewardship Program
Copper River area students participated in the Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment's Copper River Stewardship Program. Led by staff from the institute, students travelled to McCarthy, Cordova and Valdez, learning about the environment of the Copper River and Prince William Sound and how the waters are protected.
Learn more about their trip in the September 2011 edition of The Observer: Educating Alaska's youth is key to future of Sound
Students study Alaska's coastal ecology and environment monitoring
A second year biology class from Valdez High School attended a three day, two night Alaska Coastal Ecology program held at Peterson Bay Field Station near Homer this past April. The students had been studying marine biology and learning monitoring techniques to help monitor our local port for invasive aquatic species.
Learn more about their trip in the September 2011 edition of The Observer: Students study Alaska's coastal ecology and environment monitoring
2010 - Ocean Science and Leadership Expedition
The council helped fund the Ocean Science and Leadership Expedition. Nine high school students from around the country completed the a summer intensive course based in Cordova and Valdez and led by staff from the Prince William Sound Science Center. From August 5-14, the students studied principles of oceanography and marine environmental issues, especially focusing on oil spills, and developed leadership skills in a wilderness learning environment.
Read more about the expedition in the September 2010 issue of The Observer.
The Science Center also created a curriculum based on the expedition: The Science of Oil Spills
Photo: Students stand on Worthington Glacier during the 2010 Ocean Science And Learning Expedition.
2009 - Valdez High School's Biology II class visits the Kasistna Bay Laboratory and Research Center
Valdez High School's Biology II class recieved partial funding through this program for a trip to Kasistna Bay. Read about the trip from the perspective of two of the students in the July 2009 edition of the Observer.
Photo: JiYeon Im, Valdez High School Student, holds a sea urchin found on a class trip sponsored by the council.
2009 - Students witness remaining Exxon Valdez oil on Chugach Children's Forest Expedition into Prince William Sound
"This summer, ten students embarked on a journey around Prince William Sound. Coming from different backgrounds and communities, none of us really knew what to expect on this trip."
Read about the trip from the perspective of one of the students in the September 2009 edition of the Observer.
Photo: Jenny Rankin shows her gloves, blackened by oil remaining on the beaches of the Sound, 20 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Photo courtesy of Jenny Rankin.
Left: Link to Alaska Geographic's video about the 2010 Chugach Children's Forest Expeditions.
