By Cayley Eller Following our recent spring break a handful of lucky Alaska Pacific University students and administrators had the pleasure of hanging out with former APU instructor David McGivern. Dave, who was a beloved member of the faculty at APU was a prominent figure in developing the climbing program at the University, as well More
Outdoor Studies Department
Eagle Glacier Collaboration
A new engineering project between UAA and APU looks to bring the two neighboring communities a little bit closer. Civil engineering students from UAA recently had the opportunity to travel up to the APU Thomas Training Center on the Eagle Glacier. The facility, nearly 5,000ft high up in the Chugach, gives APU Nordic athletes the More
Alaska Pacific University Outdoor Studies Professor and Her Dog Will Hunt You Down and Find You.
By Paul Twardock Search and Rescue is a major focus of the outdoor profession, and of Alaska Pacific University’s Outdoor Studies Program. Outdoor Studies Associate Professor, Eeva Latosuo, is an active member of the Alaska search and rescue community, in particular the Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs. Eeva and her dog, Sisu, have been involved More
Alaska Pacific University’s Paul Twardock Joins Host of KSKA’s “Outdoor Explorer” to Discuss Winter Adventure in Alaska’s Public Use Cabins.
Winter in Alaska is a magical place. Students, staff, and faculty thrive under the Northern Lights with a variety of strategies. They hunker down reading, watching movies, studying, and flexing one’s creative mind. Many, however, also embrace winter by getting outdoors. Nordic skiing, ice skating, snow shoeing, “fat” mountain biking, and simply walking in the More
APU on the Air: KTVA visits Louise’s Farm School
Anchorage-based KTVA Channel 11 highlights the University’s outdoors-based education in a segment about Louise’s Farm School. Aired Oct. 29 and reported by KTVA’s Lauren Maxwell, the news story takes viewers to the 800-acre Kellogg campus in Palmer. KTVA is the local CBS affiliate. Farm School students are shown making devil’s club salve and walking through More
APU on the Web: Candela explains icefield study for LinkTV viewers
Glacier science undertaken by double-major Sal Candela is showcased in a short film that takes viewers to one of the world’s largest non-polar masses of snow and ice. Candela, ’15, is completing bachelor’s degrees in Outdoor Studies and Earth Science and was selected for summer 2013 fieldwork by the Juneau Icefield Research Program. It recruits More
OS Faculty Profiles: David McGivern
Which comes first, experience or judgment? Wrong question, says Associate Professor David McGivern. For OS students, attitude is everything. Not long ago my colleagues and I were thinking about our expectations for students who undertake backcountry journeys of their own. On our minds was the tale of a student who attempted to surf an More
Spring Creek Farm Journal Week 1
The trail wound its way up into the hills, around small, weed-edged ponds, and across a shallow stream. It was lined with spruce trees and berries, and the smell of leaves beginning to decay filled the crisp air. It was perfect country for grouse and moose and bears. – John Elvis Smelcer, author of Alaskan More
Academics, affordability add to APU’s ranking on Outside magazine’s Top 25
Alaska Pacific University is among Outside magazine’s top 25 colleges for students seeking affordable wilderness outings as well as academic courses that require outdoor fieldwork. In rankings released Aug. 14, APU placed 16th on a list that includes powerhouses like Stanford, Bowdoin and University of California campuses at Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa More
Mountain Rescue, Outdoor Studies
Mountain Rescue students deploy at Kooteney Highline with a Norwegian Reeve, used for slot canyon and water rescues. These students are in the third week of four weeks of training. The course begins with improvised rescue systems during week one, pick offs during week two, highlines during week three, and deflection and guiding lines during More
