Alaska Wildland Adventures is an adventure travel and tour company leading small groups of travelers on nature-oriented trips throughout Alaska since 1977. The company owns and operates several lodges, both vehicle-accessible and backcountry, in the areas in and around Denali National Park and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
This Green Star supporter recycles despite its remote locations. The company recycles office paper, cardboard, newspaper, magazines, mixed paper, glass, aluminum, steel, toner cartridges, and phone books. AWA makes the effort to transport its recyclables from all of its properties (either by company van or by bush plane) to the Anchorage recycling center.
The company has written into employee job descriptions to maintain the compost bins, plant native flowers, take items to the recycling center, and take trash to the landfill. AWA distributes a two-page statement about the company philosophy to each new employee. This is called AWA’s “Greenwork” Program and it positively introduces the employee to AWA’s environmental ethic and culture and encourages the employee to uphold the philosophy while educating guests.
On backcountry trips, tour guides practice minimum-impact camping techniques, encouraging guests to travel lighter and preserve the wilderness. AWA has successfully eliminated the use of disposable plates and utensils on all river-rafting trips, and harsh cleaning agents and aerosols have been replaced with safer substitutes.
AWA composts at its Cooper Landing Lodge using a three-bin system. Throughout the summer, staff adds three to four gallons of non-meat food waste and grass clippings per day. The Cooper Landing base camp staff and kitchen staff oversee the management and rotation of the compost bins. AWA staff use the compost in their garden every spring. By composting, AWA is able to reduce a small but significant amount of waste headed for the landfills and the small but very healthy garden produces beautiful flowers, vegetables, and herbs.
AWA also is proactive in the area of air quality improvement and energy efficiency. After three years of researching and planning, Alaska Wildland Adventures recently has reduced its dependence on generators at its remote Kenai Backcountry Lodge. The strategic construction of a hydroelectric system utilizes the power of a nearby creek. The water from the creek moves through a series of pipes and through a turbine to eventually charge the lodge's battery bank. Following its natural path, all creek water flows into Skilak Lake. The energy stored in the battery bank operates all lights and heats the water water in the kitchen, main lodge, bathhouse, and laundry facilities. Guests are fascinated by the hydro system and truly appreciate the lack of generator noise that is common to most other backcountry lodges.
Kirk Hoessle, President of AWA, is committed to sustainable tourism in Alaska and to educating others in the tourism industry. He has served as the president of the Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association and is currently serving on the Alaska Travel Industry Association board.
Alaska Wildland Adventures http://www.alaskawildland.com
