June 29, 2026, by Lisa Teas Conaway

Pictured above Ghunaaxhdují (Willoughby Peterson) assisting a student carving.

Light streams in, illuminating rough cuts on a cedar log; there are piles of wood chips on the ground, and the intense aroma of cedar fills the air. Students are crowded around the carving site for an intimate view of the traditional art of carving totem poles with Ghunaaxhdují (Willoughby Peterson). In Lingít culture, carving is an important art form used to depict stories, events, and represent clans and people. Ghunaaxhdují graciously allowed each of the students the opportunity to take turns shaving rough spots from the pole, making for a memorable introduction to their field course studying the ecology, culture, and history of Southeast Alaska.

“I was pleasantly surprised at how ‘all in for Sitka’ the students were! They really immersed themselves in the town and in the natural resources and were so enthusiastic about their shared experiences and adventures.” – Dr. Lara Roketenetz

This was the first field course for Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC) this season and the first hosted by our new Research and Education Coordinator, Chase Coleman. Chase took over the role from Sarah Tobey, who recently relocated across the country. Tobey began working on field courses in 2021, growing the program to include high school through university courses and deepening relationships with many schools that return to Sitka year after year. Each course dives deep into different aspects of life in Sitka, some with an emphasis on culture, others on sciences, but all gave Tobey the opportunity to work closely with Sitka’s wealth of knowledge bearers. Both Tobey and Coleman are skilled at crafting amazing settings primed with natural learning experiences that made the transition between the two feel seamless.

“Sarah gave me the confidence to try to figure out how we were going to bring students from Ohio all the way to Alaska! She was so supportive of the idea and let me brainstorm with her all of the components that we could add into the class. Chase stepped in and helped make those initial sketches a reality! We couldn’t have asked for a better team at SSSC to help make this course a success!” – Dr. Lara Roketenetz

Over the course of a week, 11 students, accompanied by two faculty members, explored the depths of Sitka through both a humanities and ecology lens. Days were filled with hiking into muskeg alpins, walking the harbors, studying marine ecology, interviewing culture bearers, fishermen, and so much more. At the end of the course, all students were able to choose a subject and present a project proposal to help the community in some way. There was a wide variety of projects, from measuring toxins in fish to designing a nature-based school curriculum, really showcasing how each student was able to take something unique away from their experience.

Students work at sorting marine debris collected from local beaches for processing.

“You could tell the students were really inspired by the people that they met in Sitka and the topics that they explored throughout the week. These types of open-ended projects are often intimidating for young scholars because they really require broad, creative thinking and have a lot of unknowns. It’s projects like this that enable students to become more confident and innovative in their ideas and their problem-solving skills.” – Dr. Lara Roketenetz

This intensive week concluded with a potluck beach barbecue, filled with laughter and excitement. This group of students is off to face their next lineup of classes, more likely in the traditional classroom, but there are more to come for Sitka. The University of Akron (where this group came from) is already planning on coming back and hoping to make the field course experience a bi-annual opportunity for their students. 

“I hope this is the first of many collaborations between SSSC and the University of Akron. As my first field course in this role came to a close, I couldn’t have asked for a better group to share the experience with. Many thanks to Dr. Roketenetz, Dr. Weeks, the students, and the many SSSC staff, presenters, and community partners whose enthusiasm and generosity made this course possible.” – Chase Coleman

Coleman is already hard at work planning the details of SSSC’s next field course this summer, with a total of six planned throughout the year. There are also more intensive learning opportunities in development with an eye on continued education opportunities for adults. We can’t wait to see what Coleman is planning for the future.

University of Akron students, staff, and Chase Coleman on a wildlife tour.