What is the Junior Practicum?

The Junior Practicum is a work experience.

You should begin planning the Junior Practicum in your sophomore year. Think of it as trying out your career. Choose carefully because your Practicum supervisor may offer you real employment. After all, they just trained you. It’s in their interest to bring you back as an employee. It’s in your interest to think seriously about what career opportunities you want to explore.

Just this summer, Ellen, one of our students, set up her Practicum as a sled dog handler at Denali National Park. She lived with sled dogs for four months, running them for tourist, walking them for exercise, tending to the puppies, and of course, scooping lots and lots of poop. She set it up with a series of phone calls, faxed the relevant documents to her Practicum supervisor at Denali National Park, and coordinated everything with her advisor in just two meetings. The point is that Ellen knew what she wanted. There is no reason why you can’t do the same thing.

Your Practicum can be 3 – 12 credits. It just depends on how many credits you need. Generally transfer students, who already have a load of credits, take their Practicum for 3 – 6. Traditional students can take advantage of the full 12 credit load and graduate a full semester early. Expect to work about 40 hours for each credit you sign up for. Twelve credits of Junior Practicum would be a full summer. You can take your Practicum for a grade or you can take it pass/fail. There are advantages either way. What’s important is that you manage your credit count and take the Practicum for only the credits that you need. Your advisor will help you sort that out.

Here are just a few of the Junior Practicum opportunities available to you:

• The Wilderness Society, Environmental advocacy
• The Alaska Center for The Environment, Environmental advocacy
• The Alaska Mountaineering School (AMS), Mountain guide
• Mountain Trip Alaska, Mountain guide
• Trailside Discovery Camp (Anchorage), Environmental education with great little kids
• The National Outdoor School (NOLS), Logistics
• Campbell Creek Science Center, Environmental Education
• Alaska Public Lands Information Center, Work with the Public in Anchorage
• US Forest Service: Girdwood District, Everything from trail work to kayaking patrols
• Student Conservation Association (SCA), Almost anywhere in Alaska
• Alaska State Parks, Lots of internal divisions to choose from
• Anchorage Municipality, Parks and Recreation
• Mclaughlin Youth Center, Therapeutic Recreation
• North Star Hospital: Anchorage and Palmer, Therapeutic recreation
• The Ascending Path, Glacier guide/interpretive hikes
• MICA guides, Glacier guide/interpretive hikes
• St. Elias Mountain Guides, Glacier guide/interpretive hikes
• Kennocott Mountain Guides, Glacier guide
• Alaska Alpine Adventures, Back packing and van tour guide
• Eagle River Visitor Center, Interpretation and environmental education
• Alpenglow Ski Area, Work and ski at the ski area
• Challenge Alaska, Disabled persons
• Denali National Park, Lots of choices
• The Murie Center, Environmental Education
• Denali Alaska Interpretation
• Campfire Girls
• Anchorage Girl Scouts

Before you contact one of these organizations, meet with your advisor to be sure you’re a good match for that internship. Bring a current resume and prepare a cover letter that explains how you’re qualified and that you understand the mission of the organization you’re applying to. Most of these internships are unpaid, but you should be prepared to negotiate either room and board, or a stipend to cover your living expenses.