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a little
alaska...BIG FUN!
June 19-27 2024 • Early Bird special ends 4/15
BIPOC Scholarships - see FAQs • New this year, financial aid scholarships, details coming
Adventure stays for Self Directed Teens in our Cordova, Alaska home
Adventure in Alaska
A Trip for Teens
Cordova, Alaska
June 19-27 2024 Early Bird special til 4/15
If you're a self-directed TEEN looking to spread your wings, stretch your comfort zone and explore your independence, join us for EPIC adventures in the eclectic town of Cordova at the edge of the Alaska wilderness!
Walk along a trail with majestic Sitka spruce trees all around you, you turn a corner and suddenly a glacier fills your view.
Wow! You have never seen anything like it.
The trail continues and with a small group of teens you follow it half a mile to the very foot of the glacier. You touch the ice. Ice cold. You walk on it and it crunches under your feet. You can’t see the end of the glacier, it goes on and on.
You are filled with a sense of wonderment, awe and curiosity.
​
I'M AN ORIGINAL CATCHPHRASE
On this trip you’ll increase your independence as you help design and plan daily adventures while collaborating with other self-directed, unschooled and homeschooled teens and your adult hosts.
As you explore on your own or in small groups of your choosing you’ll further your awareness and respect for the natural world and the natural systems upon which humans, and all life, depends.
Revel in your independence, connect with new friends and deepen your awareness of your interdependence in the larger world. Feel your confidence and trust expand.
The Setting
There is something about Alaska that tends to have a deeply profound effect on a person. The immensity and vastness is mind boggling.
It really is hard to comprehend. The scale of intact nature with little human impact is truly awe inspiring.
Cordova, first inhabited by the Eyak People, is a small, walkable town nestled at the base of Eyak Mountain in majestic Prince William Sound, at the edge of the Copper River Delta, the largest contiguous wetland on the west coast of North America.
Set inside the Chugach National Forest and at the head of Orca Inlet, Cordova is a place made of mountains, forests, glaciers, wetlands and waterways.
Photo by David Little
Once again Cordova has been named the safest city in all of Alaska for 2019.
2,300 people call Cordova home and an additional 3,000 come up in summer to work in the Copper River salmon fishery, US Forest Service and other seasonal jobs.
The people are resourceful, creative, interesting and friendly.
We love sharing our home, our town, the mountains and the Copper River Delta.
You’re our guests and stay with us and our short haired cat in our home and the octagonal handcrafted bunkhouse on our property. They both sit comfortably among trees in our forested 1/3 of an acre lot.
*the cat has not been and does not go in the bunkhouse
Walk along a trail with majestic Sitka spruce trees all around you, you turn a corner and suddenly a glacier fills your view.
Wow! You have never seen anything like it.
The trail continues and with a small group of 8-10 teens you follow it half a mile to a lake filled with icebergs. You touch the ice. Ice cold.
You are filled with a sense of wonderment, awe and curiosity.
I'M AN ORIGINAL CATCHPHRASE
On this trip you’ll increase your confidence as you help design and plan daily adventures while collaborating with other self-directed teens of all sorts - unschooled, homeschooled, traditionally schooled and everything in between - as well as your adult hosts.
​
As you explore on your own or in small groups of your choosing you’ll further your awareness and respect for the natural world and the natural systems upon which humans, and all life, depends.
Revel in your independence, connect with new friends and deepen your awareness of your interdependence in the larger world. Feel your confidence and trust expand.
The Setting
There is something about Alaska that tends to have a deeply profound effect on a person. The immensity and vastness is mind boggling.
It really is hard to comprehend. The scale of intact nature with little human impact is truly awe inspiring.
Photo by David Little
Cordova, first inhabited by the Eyak People, is a small, walkable town nestled at the base of Eyak Mountain in majestic Prince William Sound, at the edge of the Copper River Delta, the largest contiguous wetland on the west coast of North America.
Set inside the Chugach National Forest and at the head of Orca Inlet, Cordova is a place made of mountains, forests, glaciers, wetlands and waterways.
Once again Cordova is the number one of the safe cities in all of Alaska for 2024.
Around 2,600 people call Cordova home. An additional 3,000 come up in summer to work in the Copper River salmon fishery, US Forest Service and other seasonal jobs.
The people are resourceful, creative, interesting and friendly.
We love sharing our home, our town, the mountains and the Copper River Delta with visitors.
You’re our guests and stay with us and our short haired cat* in our home and the octagonal handcrafted bunkhouse on our property. They both sit comfortably among trees in our forested 1/3 of an acre lot.
*the bunkhouse is a pet free zone
We’re centrally located with a five minute walk to Main Street.
The wild salmonberries in our natural, not manicured yard might be ready to pick and eat by the time you arrive. Eagles occasionally land in the 70 feet tall Sitka spruce trees that cover our property. Their branches frame lovely views of Odiak Slough and Orca Inlet.
A short walk from our property takes you to the water’s edge in 2 minutes.
The Food
We cook for ourselves. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided for your entire stay.
Cordova is a hunting and fishing paradise and that is reflected in some of the food we eat: moose, venison and the famed Copper River salmon. And there’s pizza! If you are vegan, vegetarian, gluten or dairy free we’ll accommodate you with equally scrumptious home cooked food. Provided we know ahead of time, we’re happy to accommodate your food preferences.
While meals are available every day at our house, you are welcome to try one of the local restaurants such as the well loved classic Baja Taco. Most establishments have some vegan and gf options.
The Fun
You have at least 9 days to immerse yourself in this unique community and explore the awe inspiring wilderness and eclectic town with other teens on the trip as well as friendly local teens.
To encourage community and getting to know each other, the first evening we’ll have games and icebreakers facilitated by our friend and neighbor who is a pro leading these. We’ll sprinkle team building activities throughout your stay. If you know some and are willing to share, we’re game to try them!
Every day there’s a daily outing. They're weather dependent and along with hiking, swimming and kayaking might also include smoking and jarring salmon and making salve from cottonwood tree buds.
Terrified of kayaking? Don’t worry we’re not tackling any raging rivers and will make sure you feel comfortable and safe on all outings even if that means modifying the activity.
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Everything is close in Cordova and there’s lots of daylight in the summer so in between the daily planned outings, there’s plenty of time to explore on your own or in small groups as you see fit. If you want, one day can be entirely up to you - you get to decide exactly what you want to do and we work with you to make that happen. A big part of this experience is providing you a safe and exciting place to exercise your independence and your heart’s desires!
Depending on interest we can arrange tours of working artist studios, meeting with a wilderness photographer, plant forays with a resident expert, fiber arts workshops with the Net Loft, meditation instruction with our local resident zen lay priest....let us know what you’re into and we’ll see if we can find activities to enhance it!
Cordova has a strong tradition of community and environmental interdependence. We honor that by spending part of one day giving back to the community. We might help pull invasive weeds, clean old fishing web so it can be recycled, chop wood for a neighbor in need or something similar.
Because you’re part of a group designing each day, helping with meals, cleaning up, and arranging your free time, you’ll effortlessly and joyfully acquire tools and skills that respect yourself, others and the planet, and that you can use forever for safe and smooth sailing.
There are so many benefits that come from traveling to a new place, expanding your horizon and stretching your comfort zone. Exploring and playing in the wilderness, exposure to a way of life that is in tune with the weather, tides and the natural world, collaborating and executing plans with a group, hiking on and off trail, kayaking and glacier kayaking, meeting new people and going out and about on your own leads to all kinds of growth and life skills that will help you navigate the rest of your life joyfully and smoothly.
A Few Benefits
Confidence in Who you are
Confidence in What you can do
Expand your Creativity
Increase your Resourcefulness
Realization that you can do anything you set your mind to
Awe, respect and understanding of the natural world and our place in it
Team player skills
Group living skills
Friends!
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You’re sure to do things you’ve never done and that’ll expand your capabilities and your self awareness of your strengths and limitations. You’ll increase your trust in your self and see that you handle new experiences you encounter in life with competence, confidence, respect and a sense of lighthearted playfulness.
How to Get Here
What gives Cordova it’s unique and special character is that it is wonderfully Off the Beaten Path. You can’t drive here. That’s not a problem because we have modern 737 jet air service twice a day from Alaska Airlines. The Alaska Marine Highway provides ferry service from Valdez and Whittier. It takes longer but is a fun and unique way to travel.
Hot tip from locals: nab the Alaska Airlines mileage plan ASAP! That way you can qualify for a sign up bonus of 40,000 or more miles (depending on what special is running) AND, after a year, a low cost companion fare. Then keep accruing miles by using their credit card. (specials are subject to change)
What's Included:
Cost for 2024 season is $1950 by April 15, $2250 after April 15
•Accommodation for the duration of your stay
• All ground transportation including pick up from and departure to the airport or ferry
• All meals
• Washer, dryer and laundry detergent
• All program sponsored activities including tips
• Fun!
What's Not Included:
• Airfare or other transport to and from Cordova
• Souvenirs
• Toiletries
• Personal items
• Spending money
• Discretionary spending such as food from restaurants
• Fees and activities not sponsored by the program
• Electronic devices, chargers and batteries
•Personal, medical or trip cancellation insurance
About Us
Molly Mulvaney and Eric Manzer are longterm Alaska residents, travelers and unschoolers. Eric was a commercial fisherman for over 30 years in Alaska. He's a sailor, backcountry climber and skier. Molly commercial fished for 11 years, practices law and loves skiing and hiking the backcountry. Raising their unschooled teenage son in Cordova for much of his life, they have spent years facilitating fun and adventure with kids of all ages.
Young at heart, they provide an atmosphere where teens are comfortable to be themselves. They encourage collaboration, cooperation and independence in a group setting that focuses on relationships and the joys of learning through living.
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