Tidelines Institute
Vitals
- GYA Accredited Since: Unaccredited by the GYA. Please see the Standards for more information.
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Enrolling:
Yes - Mission Statement:
Our mission is to educate a diverse generation of citizens, stewards, and leaders through immersive courses in the communities and wildlands of S’íx’ Tlein (Icy Strait) and Sít’ Eeti Gheeyí (Glacier Bay).
We explore our home through the liberal arts and scientific inquiry, hands-on work and sustainable harvest, community events, hiking and paddling, and honoring Tlingit culture and values.
Discovering lifeways both innovative and ancient, we learn to serve and lead, to heal and connect, and to tackle timeless questions and urgent global challenges. -
Level of Independence/Supervision (mouse-over for definition):
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Attachments
Program Locations
Typical Itinerary
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |
|
W e e k 1 |
Arrive in Alaska! Outdoor local foods dinner on campus, followed by short hike to the beach for campfire circle, icebreakers, and intention setting. | Tour of campus followed by bike ride around the town of Gustavus. Intro to the Tidelines farm, garden, and livestock! | Class: Environmental Law & Policy, Alaskan perspectives. Hike to the hydroelectric plant and learn about renewable energy and microgrids. | Class: Indigenous history of Southeast Alaska. Attend presentation at Huna Tribal House. Intro to foraging for wild plants. | Class: Writing our own wilderness ethic. Afternoon intro to carpentry and construction projects on campus. Power tool orientation. | Kayak safety orientation followed by overnight paddle trip to Pleasant Island. | Pleasant Island campout! Hike to the top of an extinct volcano, explore flora and fauna of old-growth temperate rainforest. |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |
|
W e e k 2 |
Pleasant Island campout! Deep listening exercise. Harvest wild bull kelp. | Class: public lands: what are national parks and national forests? Make a huge batch of kelp salsa with our local foods educator! | Class: local plant ID exercise, with focus on traditional uses. Workshop: how to filet and smoke wild-caught salmon. | Class: global impacts of climate change and Alaska's retreating glaciers. Greenhouse restoration project. | Class: planning our climate campaigns. Afternoon whalewatching paddle in Bartlett Cove. | Wilderness First Aid class (day 1) | Wilderness First Aid class (day 2) |
This calendar outlines a pretty typical 2-week segment of the first month of the program... but weeks will vary a lot! You'll take different classes, learn different labor roles, and plan your own outings and events. Plus, those will be interspersed with field trips: a multi-day paddle in Glacier Bay, a week in the Tlingit community of Hoonah, and a longer stay at our Inian Islands campus are all part of the normal itinerary.
Program Outcomes
- Growth as a leader
- Growth as a responsible member of a community
- Connection to the natural world
- Understand the world through western scientific perspectives
- Understand the world through Indigenous perspectives
- Confidently plan and execute a backcountry trip
- Attain a Wilderness First Aid certification
- Learn the basics of carpentry and mechanics
- Learn the basics of gardening/farming/wild foraging
- Learn the basics of food preparation & preservation
We believe that all young people should know how to plant a garden • write an essay • splint a broken bone • cook a meal • test a hypothesis • paddle a kayak • run a meeting • navigate with map and compass • catch a fish • build a shed • create community!
Program Details
- Program Starts: Summer
- Program Duration: Semester
- Typical Program Cost: $28,100
- Program Financial Aid: Yes
- Other Financial Aid Details:
Students may be able to use their financial aid from their college or university to attend. Tidelines Institute also awards financial aid.
Staff Training and Certification
Tidelines staff are long-time Alaska residents with outstanding teaching credentials, including degrees from the nation's most elite universities. The majority hold active Wilderness First Responder certifications, and all participate in our annual staff training.