The Conservation Project
Brown Bear Trust Grant
I have had the privilege of being involved with this grant project since its inception. The brainchild of Dr. Joy Erlenbach, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge bear biologist, this grant was written by former park ranger and current owner of Kodiak Island Expeditions, Jennifer Culbertson. Over the course of many years of discussion a consistent conclusion emerged: the residents of Kodiak lack essential knowledge about brown bears and the practices necessary to safely coexist with a species so closely associated with Kodiak Island. Every spring a team of people teach a variety of bear related classes to high school students. We finish our bear program with a trip via float plane out into either Katmai National Park or Kodiak Island so that students can first hand see and study bears in a wild setting.
The program
Education First
In its fifth year, the Kodiak Brown Bear Trust Grant is a program designed to strengthen the relationship between people and bears through education, promote safe behavior in bear country, and inspire young people to become lifelong advocates for the Kodiak brown bear.
Rooted in community collaboration, the curriculum brings together local experts from agencies and organizations such as Alaska Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska State Troopers, Koniag, the Alutiiq Museum, and Kodiak High School to deliver a month-long course integrated into 9th and 10th grade biology and earth science classes. Students learn directly from professionals about bear physiology, habitat and behavior, research and management, regional history, and the cultural significance of bears to the Alutiiq people, while also gaining insight into careers connected to this work.
Community PartnerS
Alaska Fish and Game U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska State Troopers Koniag Alutiiq Museum Kodiak High School
The Capstone
Kodiak Bears in the Wild
The program culminates in a field experience where 16 selected students have the opportunity to observe Kodiak bears in the wild, an experience made possible through partnerships with local air services and bear camps, as well as support from the Brown Bear Trust. By combining classroom instruction, community expertise, and immersive field learning, this program fosters informed, respectful coexistence with wildlife and invests in the next generation of conservation-minded leaders.
Kids in action