Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE)

10/13/2026

Curious about what is going on at HAARP? First, it's actually the Sub-Auroral Geophysical Observatory (SAGO), managed by UAF Geophysical Institute and home to a wide variety of scientific instruments.
This Friday, join WISE for a science talk about the new LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) program with Dr. Richard Collins of the Geophysical Institute.
Friday, October 16, 7pm at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Visitor Center Theater.
If you can't make it in person, join on Zoom. Pre-register at tinyurl.com/LIDARtalk
We are grateful to Prince William Sound College: Copper Basin for handling the technology, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for providing funding, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve for hosting this event.

10/13/2026

Coming up this Friday! Learn about a new research tool at the UAF Geophysical Institute Sub-Auroral Geophysical Observatory (SAGO) north of Gakona. This is commonly known as HAARP.
Dr. Richard Collins will introduce the LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), a special type of light beam that is helping scientists understand everything from our weather at the edge of space to the fish in our oceans.
WISE will be hosting a public lecture this Friday, October 16, at 7 pm at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Visitor Center Theater. You can also join online if you cannot make it in person. Pre-register at tinyurl.com/LIDARtalk
We would like to thank Prince William Sound College: Copper Basin for making the technology work, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve for hosting, and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for funding the Science Lecture program for over a decade.

10/12/2026

We are so proud of this project, and the wonderful youth who made it happen. Dipnetters, the quantity of Zip-tie parts on the beach was ridiculous. Do better!

On September 26, about a dozen Kenny Lake adults and children spent the morning cleaning up the beach at the Copper River Bridge. The cleanup was organized by local youth Persephone Nashlund as the …

10/06/2026

WISE friend Derrick Sinyon of Native Village of Gakona took some wonderful photos of the Changing Seasons program last week. For 24 years, WISE has been ushering in Autumn with this outdoor program for 2nd and 3rd graders. The Time Machine was working great, helping us fit a whirlwind of learning into our mornings at Kenny Lake School, and Glennallen School.
Thank you wonderful partners Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Copper River School District, Copper River Native Association, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection - DFFP, and Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission for making it happen!

10/01/2026

Learn how to preserve the food you grow and harvest! We are excited to be hosting an educator from UAF Cooperative Extension Service for workshops in Slana (October 24) and Kenny Lake (October 23) We will be learning how to can/jar meat and fish, and also how to ferment vegetables!
At each workshop there will be door prizes including brand new Presto Canners, tools, jars, and copies of "Upcountry Cranberry," Mary Odden's beautiful book.
Please sign up if you plan to attend! We need numbers to plan, and space is limited. Sign up at www.wise-edu.org or give the WISE office a call at (907) 822-3575

09/23/2026

Happenning now at Glennallen School! Communty members, be sure to join us for the open house from 4-7pm tomorrow (Thursday September 24)
Huge thanks to UAF Geophysical Institute for sending the mobile planetarium to the Copper Basin!

09/21/2026

What contains the entire universe, fits in a school gymnasium, and is coming the Copper Basin this week!
Everyone is invited to our community STEM night this Thursday, September 24, 4-7pm at Glennallen School. The main event is programs in UAF Geophysical Institute portable planetarium! There will also be an indoor rocket range, art projects, wildlife mapping, and the "stream table," which simulates erosion patterns in rivers.
We are so grateful to Copper River School District for co-sponsoring this event, Alaska Department of Fish and Game - Official, Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve for providing activities.
If you'd like to get involved, we could use some volunteers! Contact the WISE office if you'd like to help for the evening.

09/17/2026

Yesterday, Glennallen and Kenny Lake students got a close look at honeybees! Thanks to a glass-sided observation box, they were able to see capped honey, partially finished honey, brood, and even a few larvae in a frame from a working hive. We also checked out beekeeping equipment, a few students tried on the bee suit, and we talked about the difference between being scared and being cautious.
Warm thanks to Jenny Moser for loaning the observation box, and about 1000 bees who endured a major disruption to their buzzzy schedule to visit the classes.

09/15/2026

Keep the Copper River pristine, and help a Copper River Stewardship Program student with her final project!
Join us on Saturday, September 26, 10am at the Chitina River Bridge. We will have trash bags and gloves.
After cleaning up the river banks in the bridge area, we will enjoy lunch together, a hearty soup.
Love how our youth have the gumption to take care of our wild lands!

09/14/2026

Registration is live for our October Canning Workshops! Sign up early, space is limited.
Friday, October 23, Kenny Lake Community Hall, 4pm-9pm
Saturday, October 24, Slana School, 10am-3pm.
Beginners and experienced food preservers are welcome. We will be learning best practices for canning meat and fish, plus have a primer in fermenting vegetables. Everyone will take home canned food.
There will be useful door prizes, including a new Presto canner at each location.
Presented in cooperative with Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve as the start of our Subsistence Resilience project.
Sign up online at www.wise-edu.org, or call (907) 822-3575, or email [email protected].