Environmental Commitment
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Chilkoot High Adventure Base is committed to preserving and protecting our natural environment through meaningful education and action. We believe that understanding the world around us, recognizing its beauty, and minimizing our impact are essential steps toward a sustainable future.
On every course, scouts develop an awareness of their relationship with the land and a respect for the wild places they explore. These lessons extend well beyond the trip itself—empowering participants to carry environmental ethics into their daily lives.
PROTECTION & PRESERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION
Since the early 1990s, International Wilderness Leadership School (IWLS) has been dedicated to environmental education and stewardship. Our instructors integrate lessons in glaciology, marine biology, and minimum impact camping into each course, placing these experiences in the broader context of global environmental change.
In a century defined by climate change and ecological challenges, education plays a vital role in fostering responsibility for the earth’s ecosystems. We aim to help scouts develop a personal land ethic and the leadership skills needed to protect these places for generations to come.
PUBLIC LANDS
Public lands are a shared legacy. Across the country, communities face critical choices between short-term resource extraction and long-term conservation. We believe that wilderness education and sustainable tourism offer a powerful alternative that supports both environmental preservation and local economies.
By actively engaging with public lands, scouts gain an understanding of their value—not just in dollars, but in clean water, thriving ecosystems, and the freedom to explore wild places.
MINIMUM IMPACT CAMPING
All of our programs are built on minimum impact principles:
Camping in established sites
Packing out all waste
Avoiding unnecessary fires
Respecting wildlife and natural resources
These practices model responsible behavior and reinforce our commitment to Leave No Trace ethics in every setting.
PARTNERSHIPS & SUPPORT
Chilkoot High Adventure Base proudly supports organizations working to protect and preserve the natural environment through education and advocacy:
Wilderness Education Association — Promoting land ethics and elevating wilderness education nationwide.
The Nature Conservancy — Protecting critical lands and waters to sustain biodiversity worldwide.
Southeast Alaska Conservation Council — Safeguarding old-growth forests, fish and wildlife habitat, and cultural resources in Southeast Alaska.
Lynn Canal Conservation — Fostering environmental awareness and protecting the natural environment of Southeast Alaska for over 30 years.