School Program Booking
Updated for Spring 2027
Program requests are made via an online form. See below for more information on the booking process!
Booking requests for Spring 2027 will open in October. Please check back here for updates.
Booking and Reservation Information
Alaska Coastal Ecology Programs
Alaska Coastal Ecology programs are available each year from April-May and August-September. We open the online request form for spring program bookings in the preceding fall. The opening date will be posted on this page, and submissions may take place any time starting on that date. There will be a priority booking window, after which we will take requests submitted up to that point and begin organizing them into the spring calendar. Requests will continue to be accepted until the calendar is filled (usually by January!)
Submission of a booking request will prompt an automatic response that confirms our receipt of the form and contains a copy of your answers for your records. You will receive communication from Coastal Studies within 2-3 weeks after submission with offers for trip dates. Our emails have a tendency to end up in spam, so please check there if it seems you aren’t receiving communication from us!
When booking, please pay special attention to the following:
Please submit 3 date options that are at least a week apart. Double check that the dates you submit are correct and don't fall during a time that your group cannot travel.
Group numbers; please do not exceed the maximum group size for each location, or the max number of chaperones (see our FAQ page for more info).
A separate form must be filled out for each individual class attending. Do not lump multiple classes into one form.
For two night programs, please do not request Tuesday or Thursday start dates unless it is absolutely unavoidable. These are much harder to place.
If you have a large group that needs to be split into two different programs, please go through the form as you would for a single group and let us know in the "Additional Comments" section at the end of the form if you would like for the two groups to switch out at one location (for example, the first half comes to the field station on a Monday-Wednesday, and the second half follows that Wednesday-Friday), or, if you would like for the two groups to have simultaneous programming at both the Field Station and Kasitsna Bay Lab.
If you need to request an exception to any of the parameters listed in the booking form, those should be made in the "Additional Comments" section at the end of the form (not a separate email) so that we have them early on. We cannot guarantee that we can make exceptions to everything, but knowing the needs of our groups ahead of time does make it easier to plan around and confirm any necessary changes. Please remember that we work with and arrange unique logistics for 30+ classes each spring, and be kind and reasonable in your requests.
Wynn Nature Center and Beluga Wetlands Day Programs
Reservations for the Wynn Nature Center and other CACS day programs can be made at any time by submitting the Day Program Booking Form that is linked at the bottom of this page. Please note that depending on how many programs we are running, we may not be able to accommodate all requests. Providing multiple days of availability helps us to schedule your group.
Confirmation and Deposit Information
Field Trip Date Confirmation
Offered trip dates will be held for two days and need to be accepted in that time frame before the dates will be made available to other classes. Expect official field trip date confirmation within three weeks of submitting your reservation request. Please keep in mind that some dates will be highly requested by multiple groups, and you are required to provide three different date options that could work for your trip. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we try to fit as many groups as we can into a tight spring window.
After our initial booking window, requests are handled on a first come first serve basis. We can take overnight program requests any time after the booking period opens, but keep in mind that our spring is usually full by January!
Deposits
A non-refundable deposit of $300 is due for each Alaska Coastal Ecology or Oceanography program. Trip deposits are due upon receipt of confirmation letter for fall and winter programs and spring trip deposits are due by December 1. If the deposit is not made by the deadline, the trip dates can be offered to classes on our waiting list.
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies follows a 3-stage payment process for all school programs. We require payment of 30% of the estimated cost of your trip by February 1st. The 30% deposit is non-refundable if your school cancels after February 1st. Complete payment will be invoiced to your school after the trip is complete in order to bill for the most accurate headcount.
A note about our prices: We do our best to keep our school programs at cost. This covers boat transportation, instructor time, lodging, and the inherent costs of running a facility. As the prices of gas, electricity, and overall cost of living fluctuate, we unfortunately must raise our prices to meet them. In an effort to avoid significant jumps, you may instead notice prices increasing incrementally over the next few years in response to direct costs.
One teacher per group is discounted at $130.
Thank you for supporting our programs!
Pricing
Online Booking Forms
School programs are booked via an online booking form.
Day Program bookings are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Booking for Spring 2027 booking will open in October.
Our philosophy
At the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, our educational philosophy focuses on providing opportunities for place-based and experiential learning in ways that are culturally responsive and respect students' knowledges, perspectives, and identities. Most of our teaching takes place outside of a conventional classroom environment. This often means getting a little muddy or swamping your boots–it’s all part of the learning process. We create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, and we facilitate opportunities for growth through developmentally appropriate challenges and responsibilities. We work to foster healthy interactions with peers, positive relationships with trusted adults, and strong connections to local ecosystems and communities.