Valdez Adventure Alliance

VALDEZ ADVENTURE ALLIANCE SEEKS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OUTDOOR RECREATION RESOURCES EDUCATION AND EVENTS. WE PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES AND EVENTS THAT IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. WE DEVELOP IMPROVE MAINTAIN AND MANAGE OUTDOOR RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURE. WE IMPLEMENT EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP SKILLS AND SAFETY. WE ADVOCATE FOR INCREASING ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION IN OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR EVERYONE INCLUDING UNDER-REPRESENTED POPULATIONS.

EVENTS PROGRAM: ICE CLIMBING FESTIVAL THIS EVENT ENCOURAGES LEARNING AND IMPROVING THE OUTDOOR RECREATION OF ICE CLIMBING. IN ADDITION TO CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS WE HAVE SPECIAL CLASSES FOR YOUTH WOMEN AND ADAPTIVE. FREE GEAR USE FOR YOUTH AND LOW INCOME. FEE WAIVERS FOR YOUTH AND LOW INCOME. DISTRIBUTE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. 2022 INCLUDED A PRESENTATION ABOUT DEALING WITH GRIEF. THIS EVENT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT BOOST TO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES. SERVED 286 PEOPLE FATBIKE BASH THIS EVENT HAS SEVERAL ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE FAMILY BUILDING INCLUDING A FREE FRIDAY EVENING RIDE AND A 5 MILE NON-COMPETITION RIDE WITH FEE WAIVED ON SATURDAY. HALF-PRICE FOR YOUTH UNDER 18. WE DISTRIBUTE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND SAFETY MATERIALS AND GEAR. SERVED 81 PEOPLE.

PARKS PROGRAM: WE MANAGE THREE PARKS SO THAT THE STATE WON'T CLOSE THEM BECAUSE THEY LOSE A LOT OF MONEY WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM GRANTS TO KEEP THEM OPEN. "LEFT OVER" REVENUE IN THE PARKS FUND IS FROM GRANTS IN 2022 THAT IS OBLIGATED TO BE USED TO REPLACE PIPES IN ONE OF THE CABINS AND ADDRESS SEVERAL OTHER MAINTENANCE ITEMS IN THE PARKS IN 2023. MANAGED AND MAINTAINED WORTHINGTON GLACIER EDUCATIONAL PARK WITH MULTIPLE INTERPRETIVE PANELS ABOUT THE GOLD RUSH GEOLOGY GLACIERS ICE WORMS ETC MODEL VISITOR CENTER ADA BATHROOMS TRASH SERVICE VIEWING SCOPES INCLUDING AN ADA VIEWING SCOPE AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE PAVED TRAIL. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY STOP ON THE 2.5 HOUR DRIVE FROM GLENNALLEN TO VALDEZ. ADDITIONALLY IT IS AN IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR LOCAL FAMILIES AND VISITORS. IT IS ALSO AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO VALDEZ AS IT IS A TOURIST DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE DRIVING ON BUS TOURS OR COMING OFF OF CRUISE SHIPS. WE SERVED APPROXIMATELY 3,888 AT THIS SITE. SALES OF SERVICE RELATED ITEMS $8,212 IS INCLUDED IN REVENUE ABOVE. COST OF GOOD SOLD $3,853 IS INCLUDED IN EXPENSES ABOVE. AT WORTHINGTON GLACIER WE MAINTAIN A VISITOR CENTER WHERE WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARK AND SURROUNDING AREAS AS WELL AS VISITOR GUIDES AND INFORMATION ABOUT ADDITIONAL THINGS TO EXPLORE IN THE AREA. WE SELL ITEMS THAT CAN MAKE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE MORE ENJOYABLE. MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THE CONDITIONS WHICH CAN RANGE FROM HOT AND BUGGY TO COLD WINDY AND RAINING. WE SELL DRINKS AND SNACKS BUG SPRAY SUNSCREEN SUNGLASSES GLOVES CAPS HOODIES SOCKS WIND BREAKERS RAIN PONCHOS UMBRELLAS AS WELL AS DOG LEASHES AND TRAVEL WATER BOWLS. WE SELL EDUCATIONAL ITEMS INCLUDING BOOKS FOR ALL AGES MINERALS FOSSIL KITS ALASKA ANIMALS ETC. MANAGED AND MAINTAINED BLUEBERRY LAKE CAMPGROUNDS. THIS IS 22 CAMPSITES 2 VAULT TOILETS 4 PAVILIONS. THIS SITE IS PROVIDED AS AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE RECREATION SITE FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS. IT DOES NOT CHARGE FOR DISABLED VETS. CAMPING FEES ARE ONLY $25 NIGHT IN CONTRAST TO THE NEXT LEAST EXPENSIVE STARTING AT $65 NIGHT. THE SITES ARE SET IN TREES IN CONTRAST TO OTHERS THAT ARE SIMPLY GRAVEL PARKING LOTS. BLUEBERRY LAKE PROVIDES FISHING OPPORTUNITIES WITHOUT PAYING FOR A CHARTER. IN 2022 WE CUT A TRAIL FROM THE CAMPSITES TO THOMPSON LAKE CREATING ACCESS TO ANOTHER FISHING OPTION AS WELL AS ACCESS TO TWO BOULDERING AND CLIMBING LOCATIONS. SERVED APPROXIMATELY 2,269 PEOPLE OVERNIGHT AND 438 DAY USE AT THIS SITE. WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE THIS SITE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND ASSISTANCE FOR FREE FOR CLASSES BY VALDEZ ADVENTURE ALLIANCE PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND COLLEGE OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM VALDEZ SENIOR CENTER VALDEZ MUSEUM HOMESCHOOLERS LOCAL CHURCH AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. MANAGED AND MAINTAINED SHOUP BAY CABINS. SERVED APPROXIMATELY 806 PEOPLE AT THIS SITE. THESE ARE PROVIDED FREE FOR ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE AND PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED AT EACH CABIN.

TRAILS PROGRAM: REVENUE FOR TRAILS IS MOSTLY FROM GRANTS. OUR TRAIL WORK IS USED TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE PARTNER WITH SEVERAL NATIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE A TRAIL FIELD GUIDE FOCUSED ON TRADITIONAL NATIVE USES OF THE PLANTS AND THE MUSEUM TO ADD HISTORICAL INFORMATION. THESE GUIDES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TRAILHEAD AND ARE ADDED TO OR IMPROVED EACH YEAR. WE PARTNER WITH THE OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM TO TEACH PROPER TRAIL MAINTENANCE INCLUDING TEACHING SAFE USE OF TOOLS CONSIDERING ISSUES SUCH AS EROSION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS FOR WATER FISH AND BIRDS AS WELL AS USER ISSUES SUCH BEAR SAFETY. WE ARE A MEMBER OF LEAVE NO TRACE AND DISTRIBUTE THAT AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS RELATED TO TRAIL USE. WE PARTNERED WITH PROVIDENCE EXTENDED CARE TO PROVIDE AN ART PROJECT FOR THE TRAILHEAD. IT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY RAINY IN 2022 SO WE COULD NOT COMPLETE ALL THE TRAIL WORK WE WANTED TO. THIS "LEFT-OVER" REVENUE IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUE SPECIFIC TRAIL WORK IN 2023.