News

Denali Education Center is thrilled to be supporting a new bird research program in Denali National Park called Critical Connections. In partnership with the Murie Science and Learning Center and the National Park Service, we will be working with park scientists Carol McIntyre, Ph.D., Laura Phillips, and Jason Reppert and renown bird scientists to place ultra-light geolocators on migratory songbirds. Pulitzer Prize nominated author, birding expert, and friend of Denali Education Center, Scott Weidensaul; Iain Stenhouse, Ph.D., Senior Science Director for the Biodiversity Research Institute; photographer, naturalist, and bird bander George C. Gress; and DEC staff member Jill Boelsma will join the park scientists in an effort to capture and tag two species that migrate to Alaska each summer to breed. In the past month, park scientists have been obtaining and mapping location information for Swainson’s thrush and gray-cheeked thrush – the target species of the study.

The program hopes to gain insight into the movements of and challenges facing these species by tracking them from their breeding grounds here in Alaska to their wintering grounds as far away as South America and back again. The plan is to recapture the same birds next summer, remove the locators, then download and analyze the data. This is possible as these species are known to have “nest fidelity” meaning that they return to a similar location every year to breed. The geolocators are state of the art technology. Their small size should not encumber these fascinating migrants.

Denali Education Center has a long history of supporting park science. Over the past 10 years, Denali Education Center has awarded $150,000 to researchers in Denali Park through the Discover Denali Research Fellowship program. We are supporting this effort both monetarily and by providing in-kind support to the scientists in the field. We are looking forward to hosting lectures at our facility from these experts regarding this ongoing research program.

We invite you to follow us on Facebook and keep an eye on our news page for progress reports, pictures and further information.

Read more about Critical Connections on the Denali National Park website.

Begin your artistic journey into summer with a group art show at the Denali Education Center! Pieces should reflect a sense of migration and must be hung on the walls. All media is encouraged, especially writers who wish to share thoughts and stories about migration.

The show will kick off with an artist’s reception on Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m. and will be on display through Friday, June 12. The “Migrations, Libations” theme was created to coincide with the wine tasting fundraiser with the same name, set for Friday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m. Additionally, there is an Artisan and Farmer’s Market set for Saturday, May 30 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Share your art with the community  for three fabulous events in a row!

Works can be available for sale during these events, and for the duration of the show with a percentage of sales benefiting community programs and new initiatives at Denali Education Center.

If you are interested in submitting your artwork, contact either:

Michael Howard, DEC Event Manager, events@denali.org or (907) 683-2597
-or-
Mary Bee Kaufman, artists liaison, marybeeart@gmail.com or (907) 299-2039

To register for the Migrations, Libations: A Wine Tasting Fundraiser, click here.

Longtime Denali and Healy resident Don Mellecker passed away on April 8. He was kind, generous and considered the best friend of many. Don was always willing to give his time, energy and laughter. His passing leaves a hole in the community – he is greatly missed!

Don asked that any memorial donations be given in his name to the Scott Menke Memorial Fund. We are honored by his request. To make a contribution in Don’s name:

• Write a check to Denali Education Center and write “in memory of Don Mellecker” in the memo line. All funds will be put in the Scott Menke Memorial Fund. Send to: P.O. Box 212, Denali Park, AK  99755
• Contribute online…if you do so, we request that you send an e-mail to info@denali.org indicating that your online contribution is in memory of Don.

Don loved to bike, wind surf, snow machine, play poker and spend time with friends. He was one of the first Denali Borough Assembly members and the general contractor who built the McKinley Park Community Center. He had worked throughout the borough including the Usibelli Coal Mine, Skyline Lodge and as a tour bus driver in Denali National Park. A full obituary ran in the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer on April 14.

Scott Menke was a treasured and inspiring young member of Healy who encouraged the creation of Denali Backcountry Adventures. The Scott Menke Memorial Fund was created to honor Scott’s memory. Funds raised benefit all of our youth programs and are channeled toward direct costs such as gear replacement, food, supplies and campground fees. In addition, the fund benefits local students and embodies the incomparable spirit Scott shared with us.

Calling all campers!

Both Denali Discovery Camp and Denali Backcountry Adventures youth camps open for registration on Monday, April 13 at 9:00 a.m.

Registration is available both online (links to registration on the youth page will be made live Monday morning) and by calling 907-683-2597 (be patient as we only have two phone lines!).

Denali Borough residents will be given preference, and non-residents will be placed on a waiting list. By close of business Wednesday, April 15, any non-local residents on the wait list will be added as space allows. Any remaining spaces will be assigned first-come, first-serve. Space may be reserved by check in the mail commitment (preferred) or credit card.

Denali Education Center is excited to announce a new program available to all visitors to Denali National Park: Life in Denali.

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in a cabin without running water, or travel 130 miles to the nearest grocery store? Are you curious about life in Interior Alaska during the eight long months of winter?

Life in Denali will answer all your questions as local residents share their personal stories and photos of remote Interior Alaska life. 

Hear about surviving winter darkness, layering for extreme temperatures, living with wildlife, outhouse etiquette and other everyday adventures in the far north. You will feel part of this special community after getting an insider’s glimpse into why people settle, and stay, in remote Alaska!

This 50-minute program takes place in the beautiful Charles Sheldon Center, a building constructed by the community with over 4,000 volunteer service hours.

5:00 p.m. nightly
Mid May – September

$25/person

Advanced reservations recommended. Call us at (907) 683-2597.
Many Denali-area hotel front desk and concierge staff will reserve a seat for you!