With the support from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the Tanana Chiefs Conference, inspiration from the former "Ski Go" program (organized by Jennifer/Merrick Johnston & Marcy Baker), and gear donations from AMH, Rossignol, and private donors; Krista Radar, Tamra Kornfield, and I were able to travel to schools along the Koyokuk River to do some fun-focused skiing clinics. 
We brought a monstrous load of luggage full of skis, boots, and poles for all ages and sizes so that every student would get the chance to ski.
The kids lining up to get fitted for gear during one of our optional after-school skiing sessions.
Most of the kids had never been on skis before. They learned "K'enaanee KKaazoot" (it's fun to glide on snow) or in other words, "skiing is FUN!" in the Koyukon Athabascan language. It was really neat to see the kids fall in love with a sport that is so healthy and practical for their environment.
With the extended daylight hours of the spring and warm (+25F) mid-day temperatures, many of the kids would beg to continue skiing past their dinner time, even if we had been skiing for 3+ hours after the in-school sessions.
They couldn't get enough of going up and down the steep river banks and hitting a few jumps.
We visited Allakaket/Alatna, Hughes, and Huslia. Each village was unique in its own way depending on the size, village situation, and school schedule.
We experimented with a variety of games and activities depending on the group size, age, and experience level. Activities ranged from playing the "Caribou and Wolves", relays, races, and Easter egg hunts-- all on skis of course! It was a blast and very busy. By the end of each day we were all happily exhausted.
Racers lining up to start in the first "K'enaanee Kkaazoot Race" in the village of Huslia. They loved the post-race ribbons.
The snowmachine (or "Snow-Go") trails and frozen rivers were perfect for the kids to learn to stride or skate ski. Skiing is such a practical, sustainable, and healthy way to get a round to visit a friend or go to the 1 town store in this area-- especially with the outrageous price of fuel out there.
Here's Tamra assisting one of the younger skiers down a hill.
Tamra (R), Heidi (Center), and I worked very well together as we each had the same goals in mind and we each brought something to contribute. For example, Tamra has a background coaching "Little Nordic" in Anchorage and had all sorts of tips I would've never thought of that were useful especially for the kids new to skiing. Tamra and I have family roots in rural AK which fueled our desire to go back. My coaching experience has been mainly with the aspiring racers and I was able to use some structure and game ideas that I learned through being a "Fast and Female" mentor. Heidi was also a invaluable asset, since she has been on a village ski-coaching trip in the past and she works with with Tanana Chiefs Conference (putting together rural AK master gardening clinics, etc) and knew what to expect in this region. Without her work with networking, organizing and planning of logistics, the trip wouldn't have gone smooth as it did.
The three of us also wanted do some skiing of our own too and take advantage of being in the Arctic circle, so we put together an extended weekend backcountry skiing/winter camping extravaganza in Brooks range (just north of Bettles, AK) before the coaching portion of the trip. 
I learned a lot of climber's tricks from Heidi to keep warm through the -20F nights and mornings. When the sun came out though (from early am-10:30pm) it was intense, especially with reflection off the snow. After the first night I was sure to sleep with my sunscreen to make sure it didn't turn into a frozen tube of ice...my face got a fried early in the trip.
This was our rig to get back to the Bettles airstrip: a snowmachine, over-loaded retired Ididorod sled, and a home-made rope tow. There thousands of telemark turns to be had behind the swerving sled.
Overall, this village trip was rewarding, exhausting, and eye-opening all in one. I enjoyed seeing the kids LOVE skiing. I met a lot of vibrant, smart, talented kids. I was constantly amazed at the incredible 24-7 work that the village teachers do out there, and am not sure how my parents did it for a decade! I learned a lot about how I can be a better "teacher". At times, I was frustrated by an entitlement mentality. I have been re-evaluating my ideas of the most effective and sustainable ways to contribute to the unique communities of rural AK. I'm not sure exactly what my role will be, but I'm still searching, learning, and enjoying the process.
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