“Obviously being from Georgia I knew nothing about snow.”

In one of Abby’s high school classes, students were required to research different universities and their programs, then apply to one. Abby figured that if she was going to attend college it needed to be in a “cool” state. Alaska intrigued her and during her research she came across the outdoor studies program at APU. She applied for the purposes of her class, but when the acceptance letter came in the mail, and she did some more research she realized the program sounded like an incredible opportunity. Despite having no prior connection to Alaska, or to the world of outdoor studies, Abby decided to take on this new adventure. Abby graduated from high school in May 2021 and, by August, she was paddling a canoe down the Yukon River as part of her first expedition course at APU.

Hands On, Experiential Learning

Abby quickly realized that the Outdoor Studies field courses at APU were more than just academic. She credits these challenging experiences with shaping much of her personal and practical growth. One of her most memorable courses was the 2024 Winter Wilderness course, where she served as a Teacher’s Assistant. The trip included 3 days of backcountry skiing at Devils Pass in -25 degrees Fahrenheit and the course took place over her 21^st birthday. Unbeknownst to Abby, the professor, Anne St. Clair, had packed candles, lights and treats, and the class had a party for her in one of the cabins.

Life on APU’s Campus

Abby came to APU knowing no one, and now it’s safe to say she knows (and is adored by) everyone. She refers to the APU campus as her “forest community” because while living on campus she spends everyday walking through APU’s forested trails. What Abby says she will miss most after graduating is the sense of connection she gets from being able to step outside and immediately run into familiar faces, always ready for a friendly chat.

Living on campus for four years has given her countless memorable experiences. Her favorite class on campus was Eeva Latosuo’s “Climbing Systems”. Coming to APU without climbing experience, Abby effectively learned how to use climbing gear before she learned how to climb.

Beyond the Trail: Lessons Learned from the Journey to Mushing

Throughout her time at APU, Abby served as a Teaching Assistant for nearly every Outdoor Studies course she could fit into her schedule. For her senior project in 2024, she set sights on a particularly ambitious challenge that involved a dog mushing expedition along part of the traditional Iditarod route.

Unfortunately, the winter of 2025 turned out to be some of the worst for snow sports in almost a decade and Abby had to rethink her senior project With guidance from her advisors, she shifted gears and developed a comprehensive risk management plan for future APU dog mushing courses. In addition, she created a detailed instructor handbook aimed at supporting the long-term sustainability of the class. During her senior project presentation, Abby spoke passionately about the potential for dog mushing to play a meaningful role in outdoor education, and she hopes to explore this idea further in her future career.

Onward and Upward

Beginning in the summer of 2023, Abby completed her outdoor studies practicum with Onward and Upward, a program run by alumnus Randy Dowd. She has continued to work with the program every summer since. Abby speaks with great enthusiasm about her experiences, especially those involving the children she worked with in Nome. Onward and Upward brings youth from communities across Alaska and immerses them in outdoor environments where they develop skills in camping, wilderness medicine, leadership, rock climbing, and sustainability.

Abby recalls her first trip to Nome in particular, where several of the children had traveled from smaller surrounding communities. Abby came to realize quickly that Nome, a place she considered to be a small, remote community, was in fact a city for many of these children.

After graduation, Abby is very excited to continue to work with Onward and Upward!