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ITN CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The following is a list of ITN activities and events scheduled for 2008.  Our field season spans from April to October.   Details and volunteer opportunities will be announced prior to each event through local media outlets, flyers and mailings.  Become a member today to get involved!

April 11-13 `
Long Island Marine Debris Clean-up. 

Boy Scout troop 626 will conduct a two-day marine debris cleanup on Long Island, about 5 miles from Kodiak city. This will be the first and smallest of the 3 large-scale cleanups scheduled for 2008. ITN will arrange logistics, provide safety training, and arrange removal of the marine debris following the event. On-scene project management provided by Scoutmasters of troop 626. Funding provided by Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation and NOAA. Follow up.  Mission Accomplished! 28 participants removed 16 cubic yards and 2200 lbs of marine debris from Long Island.  Read the newspaper article here.

May 2-4
Trails Summit  

The topic of the summit is “Epic Kodiak Adventures”.  We will feature an Friday evening event showcasing two 30-minute presentations about once-in-a-lifetime expeditions in Kodiak and Southwest Alaska.  Presentations will include a father/son kayak expedition around Afognak, a trek from Old Harbor to Larsen Bay, an ascent and descent on skis of the Shishaldin volcano, and an uber-trek from Fraser Lake to the Rendezvous at Bell's Flats.  Saturday and Sunday will feature volunteer training courtesy of Alaska Trails, including concepts and techniques on sustainable trail design and construction. There will be a fundraising event, door prizes and other educational opportunities.  Proceeds will benefit Island Trails Network.  Follow up:  Over 100 people attended the Trails Summit fundraiser, and Jillian Morrissey and Mike Shields of Alaska Trails delivered top-notch training to our volunteer trail crews despite cold, wet conditions.

May 7, 10, 14 and 17
Pre-season Kayak Clinics

These half-day courses will consist of practical exercises in a swimming pool. The course will be free to the public, and held at the USCG recreational facility and using the base swimming pool.  Following the practical module students will be able to demonstrate basic skills of safe kayak launch, wet exit, assisted rescue, and self rescue. Each class is limited to 15 people. The course is directed at recreational kayakers including adults, young adults and families. The course is sponsored by Island Trails Network, and is free to the public.  Kayaks donated by Orcas Unlimited Charters of Kodiak.  Exact dates and times to be announced. Follow up:  Over 30 people attended the clinics, building skills from wet exiting to kayak rolling. 

June, 2008
National Trails Day - Island Lake Trail Improvement

Volunteer Crews trained at the ITN Trails Summit will lead volunteers from the community in making improvements to the Island Lake Creek trail connecting Mill Bay to Island Lake.  Boy Scout Troop 626 will construct a new bridge where an old one has fallen, and community members will assist in installing 260 feet of running plank boardwalk low-lying, wet areas of the trail.  Funding provided by Kodiak Island Borough. Update:  Rescheduled for 28-29 June. 

July 19-27
Shuyak Uncovered

The MV Island C, an 83’ charter vessel will provide meals, accommodations, transport to Shuyak for 11 guests and 4 crew, each of whom will participate on a clean-up of Dead Bird Beach at Shuyak Island. Marine debris education and naturalist programs will take place in the vessel’s classroom in the main salon. Hiking and world-renowned kayaking opportunities at Shuyak will also be offered. With a target of 30 super sacks and 133 cubic yards of debris collected, this will be the largest marine debris operation in Kodiak to date. On-scene project management provided by ITN.  Funding provided by Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation and NOAA.  Proceeds from the sale of berths on this trip will benefit Island Trails Network and future marine debris clean-ups (see Sitkinak, below).  To find out more about the Shuyak event, click here. 

August 4-11
Summit Lake Geo-track Demonstration

The 2008 re-route of the Summit Lake Miam trail involves re-routing 1.5 miles of new trail crossing 5 bridges built last year, and the installation 970 feet of hardened trail surface, and one stream crossing.  We will be employing SAGA crews for a week-long period in the field.  SAGA crews perform trail work and recreation site enhancements all over Alaska while teaching leadership, conservation, and hands-on outdoor education (www.servealaska.org). Though a statewide organization, SAGA will be recruiting young people locally who are between 18-25 year old for hired positions on this project.  Volunteers with ATVs are needed for advance equipment staging.  Funding provided by Polaris, Inc.

September 3-12  
Portage Trail Geoblock Project

Working in the remote Karluk river valley, we will assemble and install 2600 linear feet of fully paved Geoblock, as part of a five-year trail hardening project spearheaded by Koniag, Inc.  This reflects a doubling of last year’s efforts, thanks to more efficient techniques learned over years of work on this trail.  Technical assistance on this project provided by National Park Service RTCA.  Volunteer opportunities may be available, and will be announced to ITN members as the dates draw closer. Funding provided by Koniag, Inc through a grant from the NRCS. 

October 5-11
Sitkinak Marine Debris Clean-up

Our most ambitious marine debris clean-up to date, a volunteer work crew  fly to Sitkinak for one week this fall.  Our crew will make temporary camp along the beach, and move along a 5-mile stretch of the north shore, filling super sacks of debris for collection.  The M/V Lazy Bay, a landing craft, will backhaul the debris from the beach after delivering cattle to the Sitkinak ranch, the island's only tenants.  Funding provided by Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation and NOAA.

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Island Trails Network- PO Box 4371 - Kodiak, Alaska - 99615 - 907.539.1979 -  info@islandtrails.org