6 pm July 13-July 15th, 2012
with Kristin Link
This course combines science and art in a unique approach to learning about the natural world. Participants will explore the environment surrounding McCarthy, Alaska within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park while experimenting with different field sketching and writing techniques. They will draw on the long tradition of documenting observations about the natural world in a sketchbook. Much of the course will occur in the field studying the unique glaciology and geomorphology of the Kennicott Valley and the Wrangell’s flora and fauna. By learning new ways to study their surroundings, and sharing and building on working methods, workshop participants will come away better equipped to appreciate and experience natural environments.
Instructor: Kristin Link earned a graduate level Science Illustration Certificate from California State University Monterey Bay. She has taught field sketching for Alaska Wildland Studies at the Wrangell Mountains Center, and has worked as an illustrator for the National Park Service, Wrangell Mountains Center, Copper River Watershed Project, and elsewhere. Learn more about Kristin here.
Course Fee: $180/person if you register by May 1, 2012; $210/person after May 1st. Current WMC Members receive a 10% discount (not applicable to the early bird price). The workshop cost includes meals and optional camping and food storage facilities. Partial workshop scholarships are available; please inquire at info@wrangells.org. Register soon! For an optional $50 fee, course instructor Kristin Link will provide necessary art supplies; otherwise, students should bring their own materials listed here.
Location and Venue
This field course is a Wrangell Mountains Center (WMC) program. The WMC is a private nonprofit institute which fosters understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of wildlands and mountain culture in Alaska through scientific and artistic inquiry in the Wrangell Mountains. The course is based at the WMC's headquarters in the Old Hardware Store in McCarthy, Alaska. The town of McCarthy is set in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the U.S. Over 23% larger than Switzerland, Wrangell-St. Elias is world renowned for its wild landscapes, high peaks, massive glaciers and rivers, healthy ecosystems, and dramatic scenery as well as its unique cultural history.
McCarthy is approximately a seven hour drive from either Anchorage or Fairbanks (plus time for sightseeing, et cetera). It is possible to fly or arrange shuttles from Anchorage to McCarthy, and occassionally we can help arrange carpools for students, though we make no promises.
McCarthy and neighboring Kennecott, a national historic landmark, are situated within the Kennicott Valley (note the different spellings between the natural features and historical features.) McCarthy and Kennecott serve locals and travelers alike as a gateway to world-class backcountry opportunities and amazing frontcountry hikes and walks (including access to the Root Glacier); the Kennicott Valley also provides a window into some of the most unique chapters in Alaska's history and an authentic, lively contemporary community. 
The course will take full advantage of the field from its base at the WMC's headquarters, the Old Hardware Store. Built in 1908 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hardware Store serves as a cozy, atmospheric place to journal, sketch, and share, and is located just a half mile from the toe of the Kennicott Glacier.
Schedule
Participants should plan to arrive in McCarthy in time to get settled and enjoy dinner at 6pm on Friday, July 13th. The workshop ends with a presentation/display of work following lunch on July 15th. A detailed schedule will be provided with the welcome packet upon registration.
Tasty homemade meals (mostly vegetarian) are included in the price of the workshop. In keeping with the WMC's commitment to cooperative living and sustainable systems, writers are invited to contribute to daily chores connected with our organic garden and clean-up of meals. Every effort will be made to accommodate dietary restrictions with advance notice.
Primitive camping is available for free to participants at a private (and beautiful) site just a short walk from the WMC. Those who opt for camping are welcome to store gear at the WMC and use our rustic shower and facilities there. If you choose to camp, WMC staff will direct you to the campsite and orient you there upon your arrival.
Other lodging options within McCarthy include the full service McCarthy Lodge and Lancaster's Backpacker Hotel, located just down the street. The Kennicott River Lodge and Hostel is another great option outside of town; it's a short bicycle ride or twenty minute walk each way. If you bring a vehicle with you, Currant Ridge Cabins is located on the McCarthy Road about three miles from the road's end; it's about a half mile walk between the parking area there and the Old Hardware Store. Free shuttles run between the river and McCarthy on a rotation with limited hours. If you bring a camper in or would otherwise like to camp out with your vehicle, there are two commercial campgrounds near the end of the McCarthy Road that will accommodate you without advance reservations.
Register for Field Sketching & Journaling
To register for this workshop, please mail in a completed registration form (.DOC or .PDF) with a $75 deposit. Balance is due 30 days prior to the workshop start date. Instructions for payment are included in the form. If you have questions or would prefer to pay online with a credit card, email eleanor@wrangells.org or call (907) 244-7717.
