The Alaska Outdoor Science School

Welcome to the Alaska Outdoor Science School Experience

The Alaska Outdoor Science School (AOSS) celebrates the wisdom of nature through immersive, multi-day programs in environmental education and sustainability. Our experiential, hands-on approach, combined with Alaska’s breathtaking living classroom, provides students with a once-in-a-lifetime experience—one that inspires curiosity, fosters stewardship, and leaves a lasting impression on both participants and the planet.

Our Unique Approach

* Learn by Doing

At AOSS, we blend traditional learning with real-world exploration. Walk on glaciers, hold ice from melting streams, and study rivers and forests teeming with wildlife. These firsthand experiences transform abstract concepts into meaningful understanding, making learning memorable, engaging, and fun.

** The Living Classroom of Haines, Alaska

Nestled at the end of North America’s longest glacial fjord, Haines is known as the Valley of the Eagles and the Adventure Capital of Alaska. Surrounded by glaciers, mountains, and rivers that support all five species of wild Pacific salmon, the area is home to abundant wildlife—from bald eagles and moose to humpback whales and brown bears. Its dramatic landscapes and dynamic geology provide a unique living laboratory for climate study, ecology, and sustainability.

***Cultural Connections

Students also gain insights into the Tlingit people and their village of Klukwan, where Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) links nature, culture, and history. This connection helps students understand how humans interact with the environment and the importance of living in harmony with natural rhythms.

****Transformational Experiences

Whether hiking glaciers, observing wildlife, or exploring cultural traditions, the AOSS experience engages students in ways that ignite curiosity, deepen understanding, and inspire lifelong stewardship of the planet.

      Learning from the Tlingit people in Klukwan was eye-opening. I saw how culture and nature are connected, and it made me want to take better care of the planet. Hiking glaciers and seeing wildlife made it all real.  ~Maya- student

 

      AOSS turned science into an adventure I’ll never forget.  Holding ice from the glacier, coring trees, and trapping salmon made everything real.  ~Liv, student. 

*****See It for Yourself

Curious what the AOSS experience feels like? Watch this 45-second teaser by filmmaker Wes Overvold and step into the adventure.

   I enjoyed everything about my course with AOSS.  Being able to have classroom sessions and being able to experience nature first-hand was fantastic.  I felt like I learned more deeply from this approach..  ~ Amanda, student

  My AOSS course was truly an amazing, once in a lifetime experience.  I learned more in this two week course than I did over an entire semester worth of courses. ~ Quennita, student