Where are the Commander Islands? The Commander Islands are located at the end of the Aleutian Islands, and about 110 miles east of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Funded by the National Park Service’s Shared Beringian Heritage Program, we’ll be working closely with biologists and the school district on the Commander Islands to develop an understanding of the close similarities (and differences) of the wildlife and subsistence practices on both island groups. This will include penpal communication between students on the three islands, shared activities throughout the summer and school year, and a culminating visit in 2017 where students from the Commanders will attend Seabird Camp on St. Paul.
July is here… and Summer Camp on the Commander Islands starts next week! This is a real “camp” where students stay in tents! We’re very excited to see photos, hear stories, and learn what happens during these couple of weeks!
Here’s an introduction about the camp by marine biologist, Olga Belonovich:
The Ethno-ecological tent camp “Aglakh” was first started in 2006. Since then, every year in mid July up to 12 children (from 12 to 18 years old) spend 2 weeks walking across Bering Island (the Commander Islands). With the camp leaders (school teachers, biologists, locals) children learn more about their Island and its’ wildlife. Camp activities usually inclue marine birds count and identification, landscape studies, zoology, botany, culture and history. Every year students also visit Commander Bay (named after Commander Vitus Bering) where they learn the history of the second Kamchatka expedition. Students also visit the scientists at the research station, and learn about the biology of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) and the work being done on cetaceans around the Commander Islands. After the camp, all the students are very excited about what they’ve learned and seen, and many of them participate in a camp for several years.
