Activity details
Pathfinders Camps celebrate life in the Kenai Mountains Turnagain Arm (KMTA) National Heritage Area through trails-based explorations. Local youth engage in hiking, outdoor skill building, art, storytelling and stewardship activities while learning about the vibrant people and important landscapes that shape our shared stories. 2026 Pathfinders camps cover a variety of themes, with program weeks based out of Seward, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing and Hope. We are excited to be partnering with Chugach National Forest, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Watershed Forum, Alaska Trails, Trout Unlimited and others to connect kids to some of the incredible stewards, stories, and projects of the KMTA region.
These programs are open to KMTA area youth ages 6-10. Families have the option to register their child(ren) for one or both days of each camp session. Pathfinders programs are open to youth from all KMTA communities (Seward, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Hope, Whittier, and Girdwood).
Pathfinders program days are rated Easy, Moderate or Hard. All programs are trails based. Please read the “FAQs” section before registering your child for Pathfinders programs. Additionally, each Camp has 1-2 “Meeting Points” where KMTA offers pick up & drop off to participating kids via KMTA’s Van.
2026 Program Schedule (all programs are Tuesday – Wednesday unless otherwise noted)
- May 29 (Friday): Summer Pathfinders Kick-Off
- June 2 – 3: At Home in the Wild
- June 23 – 24: Exploring our Inland Trails
- June 30 – July 1: Our Trails, Our Stories
- July 14 – 15: A Day in the Life
- July 21 – 22: Living Landscapes
- August 14 (Friday): Summer Pathfinders Finale
What’s included
- Professional, knowledgeable, and fun-loving instructors
- All program activities & materials
- Transportation
- Snacks
- Outdoor gear (rain gear, boots, hats & gloves) available upon request
Itinerary
May 29, 2026: Pathfinders Kick-Off
Friday, May 29: Let’s kick off summer vacation with a day at the beach! We’ll hit the trail to Tonsina for a day exploring the State Park in our backyard. Through beach play and exploration of the coastal forests we’ll weave in themes of our communities’ close connection to our marine environments.
- Meeting Point: Seward Elementary
- Activity Level: Moderate
June 2 – 3: At Home in the Wild
Tuesday, June 2: Let’s celebrate the trails that connect us! We’ll hike a recently completed portion of the Iditarod National Historic Trail before enjoying time on the shore of Kenai Lake. This session will focus on observing and celebrating the beauty of early summer through art, songs and storytelling.
- Meeting Points: Seward Elementary, Moose Pass School
- Activity Level: Moderate
Wednesday, June 3: Alongside staff from Kenai Fjords National Park we’ll explore Exit Glacier’s lower trails and outwash plain. Through hands-on activities we’ll learn about the roles various plants and animals play in our local glacial ecosystem.
- Meeting Point: Seward Elementary
- Activity Level: Easy
June 23 – 24: Exploring our Inland Trails
Tuesday, June 23: Back by popular demand! We’ll travel to Cooper Landing where we’ll take a ride on the Russian River Ferry. Together with staff from StreamWatch, we’ll participate in a shoreline clean-up while discussing the importance of caring for our natural places. We’ll hike to the confluence of the Russian and Kenai rivers, learning about salmon habitat and creating art inspired by our time near the river.
- Meeting Points: Seward Elementary, Moose Pass School, Cooper Landing School
- Activity Level: Easy
Wednesday, June 24: In this storytelling themed session we’ll spend our day exploring historic Seward alongside Archeology staff from Kenai Fjords National Park. We’ll hear stories of indigenous people and settlers, past and present, who’ve traveled this area and called it home. Participants will have supported opportunities to create and share their own stories, rooted in their connection to our local heritage area.
- Meeting Point: Seward Elementary
- Activity Level: Easy
June 30 – July 1: Our Trails, Our Stories
Tuesday, June 30: Let’s explore a new section of the Iditarod National Historic Trail! We’ll hike a six mile section of the Turnagain Pass trail from Center Ridge to Ingram Creek, sharing stories about the people past and present who’ve traveled this corridor.
- Meeting Points: Seward Elementary, Moose Pass School
- Activity Level: Hard
Wednesday, July 1: In celebration of Seward’s upcoming Mount Marathon race, we’ll spend our day adventuring on the mountain. Accompanied by members of Seward’s Trail Running Club, we’ll trail run and hike in Two Lakes Park and on the Mt. Marathon Jeep trail. We’ll hear stories from local runners about why they love to run. This session focuses on helping kids begin to see themselves as brave and capable runners.
- Meeting Point: Seward Elementary
- Activity Level: Hard
July 14 – 15: A Day in the Life
Tuesday, July 14: What does it take to build a trail? Together with a trail crew from Alaska Trails we’ll hike to Meridian Lake, learning about the work being done to improve this popular local trail. Kids will have supported opportunities to safely try out hand tools, learn about trail etiquette and hear stories from trail crew members about what its like to spend the summer living and working in the backcountry.
- Meeting Point: Seward Elementary
- Activity Level: Moderate
Wednesday, July 15: What is it like to work as a Wildlife Ecologist? Staff from Kenai Fjords National Park will join us for a day of hands-on science at Exit Glacier. We’ll focus on better understanding the animals that call our coastal ecosystems home.
- Meeting Point: Seward Elementary
- Activity Level: Moderate
July 21 – 22: Living Landscapes
Tuesday, July 21: Together with archeology staff from Kenai Fjords National Park, we’ll explore the question “how do people and landscapes shape each other?” We’ll spend the day hiking a portion of the Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT) where we’ll pick berries and get hands-on practice using atlatls (dart throwers) – one of the oldest hunting technologies used across Alaska, and around the Pacific.
- Meeting Point: Seward Elementary
- Activity Level: Moderate
Wednesday, July 22: Alongside staff from Trout Unlimited and USFS, we’ll venture up Resurrection Creek (Hope) to learn about the area’s gold mining history and efforts to restore salmon habitat in this watershed. From there, we’ll head to historic Hope for an afternoon of exploration, learning and play.
- Meeting Points: Moose Pass School, Hope School
- Activity Level: Easy
August 14: Pathfinders Summer Finale
Friday, August 14: How did Portage get its name? For our final day of summer programming, we’ll hike the Portage Pass trail near Whittier. We’ll catch a peek of Portage Glacier as we explore this unique glacially shaped landscape, and we’ll share stories of how people have used Portage Pass for thousands of years as a travel corridor between Prince William Sound and the Cook Inlet region.
- Meeting Point: Moose Pass School
- Activity Level: Hard