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Sitka Counseling hosts Walk For Recovery on Saturday, Sept. 26

September is National Recovery Month, a month set aside to help educate Americans about substance use and mental health disorders. In Sitka, people can honor the month by participating in the Walk For Recovery on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Meet at Harrigan Centennial Hall by 10 a.m. to join the socially distanced walk over the O’Connell Bridge and back. This event celebrates those who are in recovery from mental health and substance use disorder. A limited number of free t-shirts are available, and participants are asked to please wear masks. This event is hosted by Sitka Counseling.

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Sitka Sound Science Center announces last two guided tide pool walks of summer

The Sitka Sound Science Center is excited to announce its last two Guided Tide Pool Walks of the summer. There will be two walks this week, at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, and at 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 21.

Join SSSC Aquarium Manager Sandy McClung for a morning of fun tide pool exploration. We will meet in front of the Mill Building, and after a brief intertidal overview, participants will head out to Sage Beach (adjacent to the Science Center) to look for the amazing animals that call the intertidal zone home. Walk will last approximately one hour. Due to COVID-19, we are asking all participants older than the age of 5 years old to wear a face covering, and to maintain social distancing.

The cost is $10/adults, $5/kids (ages 3-12), space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Identification cards are provided. To book your spot, visit www.sitkascience.org and click Book Now. For more information, contact Sandy at 747-8878, Ext. 16, or smcclung@sitkascience.org.

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SEARHC to host Wednesday walking group during August

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) health promotion staff will host weekly fitness walks starting on Aug. 5. The weekly walks take place at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays during August at the lower Moller Field track.

Everyone is asked to bring and wear a clean face-covering (mask) and follow public health guidelines about social distancing. Walkers will walk around the track as many times as they like to increase their step counts for the 29-day Start Stepping Southeast walking challenge that runs Aug. 3-31. Prizes are available for participants in this challenge.

For more information, contact Doug Osborne at 966-8674 or douglaso@searhc.org, or go to http://www.searhc.org/startstepping to register your steps.

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Sitka Trail Works to host trail maintenance event on Sunday, other events later in August

Volunteers are needed to pull alders along the Sawmill Creek Road separated path during the Sitka Trail Works trail maintenance event at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2.

Individuals should bring water and gloves and meet at the gravel parking lot about a quarter of a mile past Whale Park on the left side of the road.

Tools and a limited number of gloves will be provided. A mandatory COVID-19 pre-screening questionnaire and a liability waiver must be completed prior to participation.

Social distancing between different household groups and the wearing of face coverings (masks) are being encouraged. Teens wanting to help must attend with an adult.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, there will be a 14-mile Herring Cove to Medvejie Bike Ride (seven miles each way). For this event, meet at 10 a.m. at the Herring Cove Trail parking area off Sawmill Creek Road. This mountain bike ride is moderate in difficulty over gravel roads.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, there is a five-mile Verstovia Hike. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Verstovia Trailhead for a strenuous uphill climb.

There also is a Sitka Half-Century Bike Ride scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 22-23, where people will ride a course as individuals then record their rides with the Sitka Cycling Club. Last year there also were shorter courses for those riders who didn’t feel up to doing a full 50 miles. Details for this event are still being finalized, so watch the Sitka Cycling Club website for more info.

These events are free, but donations to Sitka Trail Works will be accepted. The donations for the Verstovia Hike will be split 50-50 with Waypoint For Veterans, a Sitka-based nonprofit that provides outdoors opportunities for veterans and first responders.

For more information about these events, call 747-7244 or visit http://www.sitkatrailworks.org.

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SEARHC offers Start Stepping Southeast walking challenge in August

 

You can walk and win with SEARHC’s new August steps challenge. This is a free, all-ages, fitness program open to all residents in Southeast Alaska. The 29-day Start Stepping Southeast walking challenge starts Monday, Aug. 3, and goes until Monday, Aug. 31.
All walkers will need to register, and download a tracker at searhc.org/startstepping. Participants who turn in a weekly steps log, by 3pm every Monday, will be rewarded with opportunities to win great prizes.
  • A weekly raffle for a $50 gift card to a local business, or a Fitbit.
  • A grand prize drawing of  $100 for most steps walked in August, and bonus incentives.
  • A pair of prizes for a duo who walks the most steps in the buddy system category.
Having a walking partner for encouragement, support, and accountability is recommended, but not necessary. Walkers will be challenged to set and reach weekly step goals. Please follow all public health guidelines concerning social distancing and appropriate safety measures.
For more information, contact Heleena Van Veen at heleenav@searhc.org or Hannah Schlosstein at hschlosstein@searhc.org. To register and log your steps, go to searhc.org/startstepping.
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Sitka Sound Science Center announces three more guided tide pool walks in July

The Sitka Sound Science Center is excited to announce three more summer Guided Tide Pool Walks in July. There will be two walks this week, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, at 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, and at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 25.

Join SSSC Aquarium Manager Sandy McClung for a morning of fun tide pool exploration. We will meet in front of the Mill Building, and after a brief intertidal overview, participants will head out to Sage Beach (adjacent to the Science Center) to look for the amazing animals that call the intertidal zone home. Walk will last approximately one hour. Due to COVID-19, we are asking all participants older than the age of 5 years old to wear a face covering, and to maintain social distancing.

The cost is $10/adults, $5/kids (ages 3-12), space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Identification cards are provided. To book your spot, visit www.sitkascience.org and click Book Now. For more information, contact Sandy at 747-8878, Ext. 16, or smcclung@sitkascience.org.

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Sitka Trail Works to host Gavan Hill to Harbor Mountain hike on Saturday, July 11

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sitka Trail Works has had to cancel many of its usual guided hikes and bike trips this spring and summer.

But there will be an event happening at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, with the six-mile Gavan Hill to Harbor Mountain hike. This is a strenuous uphill climb that starts at the Sitka Cross Trail trailhead next to the Sitka High School Performing Arts Center. This event is free, but membership donations are welcome.

Other events in this summer’s scaled-down schedule include a Herring Cove to Medvejie Bike Ride on Saturday, Aug. 8, a Verstovia Hike on Aug. 15, and the Sitka Half-Century Bike Ride on Saturday, Aug. 22.

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Sitka Sound Science Center announces more guided tide pool walks in July

The Sitka Sound Science Center is excited to announce two more summer Guided Tide Pool Walks in July. There will be two walks this week, at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, July 6, and at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7.

Join SSSC Aquarium Manager Sandy McClung for a morning of fun tide pool exploration. We will meet in front of the Mill Building, and after a brief intertidal overview, participants will head out to Sage Beach (adjacent to the Science Center) to look for the amazing animals that call the intertidal zone home. Walk will last approximately one hour. Due to COVID-19, we are asking all participants older than the age of 5 years old to wear a face covering, and to maintain social distancing.

The cost is $10/adults, $5/kids (ages 3-12), space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Identification cards are provided. To book your spot, visit www.sitkascience.org and click Book Now. For more information, contact Sandy at 747-8878, Ext. 16, or smcclung@sitkascience.org.

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Sitka Sound Science Center announces more guided tide pool walks in June

The Sitka Sound Science Center is excited to announce two more summer Guided Tide Pool Walks in June. There will be two walks this week, at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, and at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24.

Join SSSC Aquarium Manager Sandy McClung for a morning of fun tide pool exploration. We will meet in front of the Mill Building, and after a brief intertidal overview, participants will head out to Sage Beach (adjacent to the Science Center) to look for the amazing animals that call the intertidal zone home. Walk will last approximately one hour. Due to COVID-19, we are asking all participants older than the age of 5 years old to wear a face covering, and to maintain social distancing.

The cost is $10/adults, $5/kids (ages 3-12), space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Identification cards are provided. To book your spot, visit www.sitkascience.org and click Book Now. For more information, contact Sandy at 747-8878, Ext. 16, or smcclung@sitkascience.org.

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Sitka Sound Science Center brings back guided tide pool walks this week

The Sitka Sound Science Center is excited to bring back our summer Guided Tide Pool Walks. There will be two walks this week, at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 8, and at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9.

Join SSSC Aquarium Manager Sandy McClung for a morning of fun tide pool exploration. We will meet in front of the Mill Building, and after a brief intertidal overview, participants will head out to Sage Beach (adjacent to the Science Center) to look for the amazing animals that call the intertidal zone home. Walk will last approximately one hour. Due to COVID-19, we are asking all participants older than the age of 5 years old to wear a face covering, and to maintain social distancing.

The cost is $10/adults, $5/kids (ages 3-12), space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Identification cards are provided. To book your spot, visit www.sitkascience.org and click Book Now. For more information, contact Sandy at 747-8878, Ext. 16, or smcclung@sitkascience.org.