JUNE 2003
With the summer in full swing in Alaska...there's lots happening...here my latest update...as of June 20, 03
We were very pleased with the turn-out at this years Alaska SeaKayaking Symposium ... especially all the friends and acqaintences that attended the keynote address. Glad to see and meet you all. An informative article by Mr. George Bryson was published in anticipation of the symposium ...read it here....quyana George and ADN.
We have begun the formation of the Alaskan Outdoor Center here in the Y-K Delta. The organization is being developed 'to provide alternative education opportunites for youth in rural Alaska' and is being incorporated as a non-profit here in Alaska. View our web-site...under construction.
AOC is pleased to be working with the Kuskokwim Campus of the University of Alaska to provide recreational kayaking activities for students participating in this years Educational Talent Search (ETS) program. The program is sponsorded by The Council for Educational Oppoutunity. This season, AOC and ETS will provide the opportunity for over 250 Native Youth from across the Y-K Delta to use kayaks.
JULY / AUG 2003
Trainer Tim Pearson of MindJazz and timpearson.net visited with us in Bethel. Tim recently completed a leadership development program with the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) and got a taste of �AOC leadership development� on the Kuskokwim River. After
some capsizing, a float down the river and some challenging new
paddling experiences in our Cobra K-1 Sprint training boats, Tim and I both concurred that �the kayak� can be a metaphor for change, growth and development, especially within the Native community.
We hope to combine Tim�s field of expertise with AOC�s level of experience and commitment to outdoor ed. and develop some educational experiences for students in the Y-K Delta. Looking forward!
In it�s first summer, The Alaskan Outdoor Center, Inc. continues to provide new educational opportunity / alternatives for youth and adults in the Y-K Delta. We have incorporated, filed for 501(C)3 status and adopted the following Mission Statement:
Mission: The Alaskan Outdoor Center (AOC) is committed to providing creative and challenging alternative-education experiences for rural Alaskans. The Center strives to maintain a culturally relevant approach to curriculum development and encourages a high level of sport in all activities. AOC promotes village-based economic development to support the growth and implementation of locally driven educational opportunity.
We�re close to completion of our first season with the Educational Talent Search students at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Kuskokwim Campus...upon completion we will have put close to 175 very happy and competent Delta students through the program. Next year, we hope to expand the program to include more opportunity for ETS students to expand their �kayak� horizons. Thanks to all the volunteers who contributed to the positive experiences for our students.... Matt, Kate, Christian, Michelle, Eric, Holly and of course...Martin and Steve!
I�ve purchased a triathlon-style wetsuit from Quintana Roo and have been swim-training in the Kuskokwim River...this is somewhat of a personal quest to prepare for the upcoming surf season. There is also a general consensus that we need more �in-the-water� sport in the Delta if we are to cultivate our students skill and outdoor education interests. The educational tools we utilize (kayaks, canoes)...and the settings we work in (swift moving rivers and the open ocean) all require a level of comfort and ability 'in the water' as prerequisites! Lets get students there!
FEBRUARY 2004
February is the month of planning for me...while the river remains a frozen highway, ready for ice fishing, hunting, sno-go travel, GREAT Biking and the likes...visions of kayaking plums are dancing in my head.
To that end...the Alaskan Outdoor Center, AOC, has initiated plans with the NIMA Corporation (Nunivak Island Mekoryuk Alaska) http://www.nimacorporation.com
to develop a Culture and Education / Adventure-based learning camp on Nunivak Island on the Bering Sea. NIMA's plans are a consorted effort to enhance the economic opportunities for local Cup'ik and Yup'ik people of the Y-K Delta.
This will be a great opportunity for students and eco-tourist to visit one of USA's great Refuge /Wilderness areas and learn from Alaska's Elders, Scientists, Artists and World Champion athletes. The
partnership will include: the University of Alaska, Alaskan Outdoor Center, NIMA, Nuniwarmiut Piciryarata, Mekoryuk School and others.
Read more about the Cup'ik people of Nunivak Island.
Had great surfing sessions in the village of Yakutat in November... spent 5 days in the community and had surf everyday...most of it all to my lonesome albeit Mr. Russell and friends. Was nice to surf with someone for once! Quyana Charlie!
Have a couple new boats in the oven and spring surf safaris on the brain...We'll be extending our efforts in the Gulf of Alaska, Light-weight / Alpine Style / Extreme Surf Safaring...this is where it originated...this is where it will advance...STAY TUNED!
The Ben M, aka Ben Marcus, is at it again and plans to bring the Alaskan surf scene - main stream with a documentary film and tidal bore antics. Ben insists that Martin Leonard Martin should go 'Hollywood'...
...while I'm very much content with being back woods, I do like Ben, he's a great writer and BELONGS in Alaska...come to Alaska Ben and write on some of our 'real' issues!
Working with one of the greats in the outdoor apparel arena, Sporthill, to develop a more efficient field / kayak / expedition clothing system...lighter, less bulk, warmer, broader use. Will update as things progress!
JUNE / JULY 2004
Summer season is in full swing...and while there is no shortage of daylight that also means there is no shortage of things to do...I've been involved in a number of projects with 'kayaks' playing a major role in the experiential education process...
The Kuskokwim Campus' first Summer Science Field Program took place in June at Nash Harbor on the west side of Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea. Nine students successfully completed a remarkable journey of discovery and exploration.
To learn more about the Kuskokwim Campus' Field Science Program...click here !
In support of the Alaskan Outdoor Center, Steve Carr and I are both assisting the NIMA Corportation with the development of their subsidiary - Nunivak Island Cultural and Educational Adventures (NICEA) at Nash Harbor.
It's a pleasure to be working with my buddy Skip Snaith again...the shipwright extraordinaire is stationed out a nash Harbor and is working with the NICEA crew to develop traditional boat resources for the Island and the camp.
Learn more about Skip Snaith
AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2005
The season continues...Surfing the Bering Sea...Kayaks around Nunivak...Nuq & Mian AdventuresHeee....haaaawwww Enjoy the summer! Cheers, Martin
The summer field season has officially ended...with a bang too...a huge winter storm blanketed the YK Delta and froze-in the rack of kayaks...time to go
;-) to Hawai'i and surf ;-}
Lots of publicating going on the web...here's a list of some new links and technologies that I'm using to disseminate information:
CHECK OUT THE LINKS BELOW
http://martinleonard.blogspot.com/
http://alaskaruralbroadband.blogspot.com/
http://alaskaruraldevelopment.blogspot.com/
We've been working on adopting a few new boats into our work, expedition and surfing schema.
Greg Barton and Oscar Chalupski have done a great job with their EPIC Line of Kayaks and Paddles...very high quality equipment...which we've been putting to the test.
jan 06 Honolulu Hawai'i
Winter season is in full swing...which warrants a serious stay in Hawai'i. Spending time in the islands is a typical Alaskan winter pastime and it a great opportunity to tune up the surfing skills, test-out some new gear and get in swimming shape again. We will be visiting the islands regularly now that the boys are of age!
Thanks to Uncle Chuck, the boys have finally got the opportunity to swim in warm waters...and swim they did! See video
Spent an evening with the Hui Wa'a on O'ahu. Had the opportunity to present some of the kayaking and work done on Nunivak Island and hope to get the presentations into a format for this site. The Hui is O'ahu's oldest and largest rec. kayak club with lots of fine members and plenty of activities to promote kayaking in the islands. They are currently working on a island paddling 'SCALE OF DIFFICULTY' specific to the Islands, something Alaskans should have done years ago...stay tuned!
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