Welcome Educators!
Whether you’re looking to plan a field trip, request a classroom visit, or find some curriculum ideas; this page is for you!
Field Trips: Need a break from the classroom? Bring your students to the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center! Play a game, make a craft, explore the museum, and learn about local wildlife and culture.
Classroom Visits: Looking for a classroom visit? A ranger can visit your classroom to lead students through interactive curriculum-based activities.
Not in Kotzebue? No problem. We can arrange village visits at no cost to the school for public schools in the Northwest Arctic Borough School District.
*We don't currently offer any distance learning program, but may be able to do in the future.
Programs Offered:
Caribou Focused Curriculum:
Caribou Ranger Read Along (K – 2)
Caribou 101 (3 - 5)
Caribou, Energy Cycles, and Climate Change (5 – 9)
Caribou, Climate Change, and Civics (10-12)
Other Programs:
Owl Moon Ranger Read Along (K - 2): We’ll read the story Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, play a game and make a craft to learn more about owls.
Arctic Animal Adaptations (3 – 6): Students will explore several species that migrate, hibernate, or remain active during the arctic winters, and learn about different arctic adaptations.
Compass and Map Reading (6- 9): Students will learn to use a compass and read a topographic map.
Safety and Survival (6-12): We’ll go through different scenarios to identify important steps and gear to bring along and remain stay safe during different survival situations.
Marine Mammals (6-12): The arctic is home to some incredible marine mammals. Discover how these animals thrive in the icy seas, their importance to local Iñupiaq peoples, and how climate change threatens their existence.
Caribou Soup: An Activity Book based on Iñupiaq Subsistence Traditions.
Junior Ranger Program
Anyone can be a Junior Ranger. Learning is the first step in the journey to becoming a life-long steward.
Complete the activities in the Junior Ranger book and mail the book to the park. Not only will you be able to tell others what you learned about the parks in northwest Alaska, but you can also earn the Junior Ranger badge and saber toothed cat patch.
Caribou Soup
Winner of the Alaska Regional National Park Service’s 2024 Excellence in Interpretation Award, Caribou Soup is an activity book organized around the Iñupiaq subsistence calendar. This booklet aims to provide a fun, interactive way for children in northwest Alaska to explore living off the land.
This booklet was designed in collaboration with Iñupiaq knowledge holders living in northwest Alaska, and brought to life through local artist Holly Nordlum’s illustrations.
The books are free for pickup at the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue, or can be shipped to teachers in the Northwest Arctic Borough School District for use in the classroom.
Visit our subsistence page to learn more about Kuuvaŋmiut (Iñupiaq of the Kobuk River) subsistence practices.
