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A two-day, trails-based day program for ages 7–11 that turns Anchorage’s beaches, glaciers, and trails into hands-on science, stewardship, and cultural learning. Small groups and expert partners make it ideal for families who want practical outdoor skills and summer fun.
A two-day, trails-based day program for ages 7–11 that turns Anchorage’s beaches, glaciers, and trails into hands-on science, stewardship, and cultural learning. Small groups and expert partners make it ideal for families who want practical outdoor skills and summer fun.
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Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by KMTA · Anchorage, Alaska
On summer mornings in Anchorage, the Pathfinders program turns the city into an outdoor classroom where beaches, glaciers and trails teach seven-to-eleven-year-olds to read the landscape. Operated as an Anchorage-based expansion of the Kenai Mountains Turnagain Arm (KMTA) trails program, Pathfinders runs Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., pairing short hikes with hands-on stewardship, art, and cultural sessions. Each two-day session stitches together distinct environments: shoreline play at Kincaid and Anchorage's sandy beach; geological exploration at Byron Glacier in Portage Valley; ridge and meadow hikes in Chugach State Park; and lake-side discovery at Eklutna Lake. Kids meet at Abbott Loop Community Park with additional pickup points at Girdwood Ranger Station and Portage Pass Trailhead for some outings. The program partners with Chugach National Forest, Anchorage Public Lands Information Center, Alaska Trails, Trout Unlimited and local trail crews to bring experts onto the trail for salmon talks, atlatl demonstrations, and trail-building activities on Wolverine Peak Trail. What sets Pathfinders apart is its curriculum: every day is trails-based and designed to blend outdoor skills with stewardship. Young participants practice core trail techniques, learn safe river and shoreline awareness, and get supervised time using basic trail tools under crew guidance. Sessions are rated Easy, Moderate or Hard so families can choose trips that match experience and fitness; ratings reflect daily mileage and terrain rather than age alone. The local terrain is dramatic and compact. Portage Valley and Portage Glacier illustrate glacial geomorphology with carved U-shaped valleys and moraine ridges; Turnagain Arm’s tidal flats and Kincaid’s beaches contrast with alpine heaths and spruce-birch forests of the Chugach. Seasonal salmon runs, shorebird concentrations and the occasional moose or bald eagle make wildlife lessons tangible for kids. Practical notes: register per session—families may sign up for one or both days—and expect trail footing that includes roots, rocks and wet sections. Pack a daypack with layered clothing, a refillable water bottle, lunch, and rainproof outerwear. Group sizes are small (6–12), supporting hands-on learning and stronger supervision; KMTA offers van pickup for designated meeting points. Pathfinders gives young Anchorage residents a clear path from curiosity to competence: experiences that teach map-reading, leave-no-trace ethics, and the pride of helping maintain local trails. For families who want an active, locally rooted summer program that turns the city’s wild edges into confident outdoor play, Pathfinders delivers a memorable, practical introduction to Alaska’s backcountry. Sample session themes—Beaches & Glaciers, Living Landscapes, Trail Magic and It's Salmon Time—mix science, cultural skills and hands-on projects such as watercolor geology sketches and supervised tool work. Sessions run on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays in June and July 2026; families can register per day to fit schedules without committing to a full week and small groups of 6–12.
moderate.
Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 9am–4pm.
Children should be comfortable hiking 1–6 miles depending on session rating, able to manage uneven terrain and carry a daypack.
Pathfinders is for youth ages 7–11 from Anchorage, Turnagain Arm and Whittier areas; recommended for children entering 1st–5th grade.
Ratings reflect daily mileage and terrain: Easy up to ~2 miles, Moderate 3–4 miles, Hard 5–6 miles with uneven or steep sections—choose based on fitness and experience.
Default meeting point is Abbott Loop Community Park; some days add pick-ups at Girdwood Ranger Station or Portage Pass Trailhead—watch session details for meeting points.
Yes, families may register their child for one or both days of each two-day session.
Groups run small (minimum 6, maximum 12) to ensure hands-on learning and safe staff-to-child ratios.
Supervised, age-appropriate tool use is part of trail-building sessions; water activities (like lake dips) depend on weather and are always monitored by staff.
The program connects to the Kenai Mountains Turnagain Arm (KMTA) National Heritage Area and features local cultural skills like atlatl demonstrations offered with Anchorage Public Lands partners.
Pathfinders emphasizes leave-no-trace ethics and partners with Alaska Trails and Trout Unlimited for hands-on stewardship projects to protect trails, rivers, and salmon habitat.
KMTA (Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm) runs outdoor education and youth programs based in Seward, Alaska. KMTA offers seasonal camps and weekly programs that connect children to local wetlands, forests, and marine environments through hands-on activities, art, and science. Programs emphasize outdoor skills, team building, and environmental stewardship while providing guided outings such as paddleboarding, sea kayaking, cross-country skiing, and ice skating. Programs are targeted to specific age groups and grade levels: Fresh Air Fridays serves elementary-age children with sessions in Seward and Moose Pass, a Middle School expansion provides activities suited to older youth, and Coastal Connections Camp offers multi-day exploration of the Kenai Mountains and Turnagain Arm. Activities include time capsule creation, group art projects, and supervised outdoor excursions designed to foster community pride and practical skills. KMTA’s programming focuses on safe, supervised experiences in Alaska’s natural settings and aims to inspire curiosity about local ecosystems. Families can expect structured activities that combine recreation, education, and creative expression. KMTA is recognized within the outdoor education community and featured resources list the organization among regional youth outdoor programs. For parents seeking experiential, place-based learning opportunities in Seward and nearby Moose Pass, KMTA provides a range of seasonal and weekly options that emphasize connection to the landscape and community involvement.
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