Media

New round of grants announced

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Southeast Alaska Trail System (SEAtrails Inc.) today invited grant applications for trail and trail-related projects in Southeast Alaska.

"We plan to address on-the-ground trail projects and signage with our second round of trail grants," says Ryan McFarland, SEAtrails board chair. "We will award grants based on how closely the project aligns with the SEAtrails Trails and Transportation Master Plan, the SEAtrails Capital Improvement Plan and other criteria." PDFs of both plans and the criteria list are posted on the SEAtrails website, www.seatrails.org. Grant recipients will operate under a reimbursable agreement in partnership with the Organized Village of Kasaan.

The application deadline is December 1st 2008.

Application forms are available online at www.seatrails.org in the grants area or by contacting Jesse Donner, SEAtrails coordinator, at vista@seatrails.org, 907.747.4237.

SEAtrails collaborates with organizations, groups and agencies to attract independent travelers, ecotourists and other visitors to Southeast Alaska. SEAtrails works with Alaska’s Marine Highway System and the Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) to promote this dependable and enjoyable mode of travel between communities throughout the region.

The 19 SEAtrails member communities include Angoon, Coffman Cove, Craig, Gustavus, Haines, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Juneau, Kake, Ketchikan, Naukati, Pelican, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway, Thorne Bay, Whale Pass, Wrangell and Yakutat. SEAtrails is a 501(c)3 non-profit run by a nine-member volunteer board spread throughout Southeast Alaska.

Labels: grants

SEAtrails Welcomes New AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

DOUGLAS, AK -- August 18, 2008 -- Southeast Alaska Trail System
(SEAtrails Inc.) announced today that Jesse Donner has been selected as
the new AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer serving as the SEAtrails Coordinator.

"I am a native of the Pacific Northwest and spend my time between urban
and outdoor activities including road biking, tennis, golf, backpacking
and my family's farm in Kalama, Washington," says Donner. "It is my hope
to combine my personal and professional backgrounds over the next year to
the benefit of the SEAtrails mission and the betterment of the Southeast
Alaskan region and its communities." Donner is relocating to Sitka from
Kalama, Washington and arrives August 25.

"Jesse is an avid backpacker and brings a strong background in economic
development to our organization," says Ryan "Zieak" McFarland, SEAtrails
board chair. "He will be working on ongoing organizational development for
SEAtrails and is the primary point of contact for our second round of
trail grants we will be awarding this year."

SEAtrails collaborates with organizations, groups and agencies including
the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Southeast Conference, Alaska's Marine Highway System and the Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) to attract independent travelers, ecotourists and
other visitors to Southeast Alaska.

In addition, SEAtrails works with 19 member communities including Angoon,
Coffman Cove, Craig, Gustavus, Haines, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Juneau, Kake,
Ketchikan, Naukati, Pelican, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway, Thorne Bay, Whale
Pass, Wrangell and Yakutat. SEAtrails is a 501(c)3 non-profit run by a
nine-member volunteer board spread throughout Southeast Alaska.
For more information, visit the SEAtrails web site at www.seatrails.org.

Business and Marketing Plan complete

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

SEAtrails worked with the McDowell Group to create a Business and Marketing Plan for SEAtrails Part 1 [and Part 2]. This plan outlines future actions for SEAtrails to use to become a sustainable organization poised to meet the mission statement.

Jesse Donner becomes SEAtrails Vista

Jesse Donner has been selected as the new AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer serving as the SEAtrails Coordinator.

"I am a native of the Pacific Northwest and spend my time between urban and outdoor activities including road biking, tennis, golf, backpacking and my family's farm in Kalama, Washington," says Donner. "It is my hope to combine my personal and professional backgrounds over the next year to the benefit of the SEAtrails mission and the betterment of the Southeast Alaskan region and its communities." Donner is relocating to Sitka from Kalama, Washington and arrives the week of August 25.

"Jesse is an avid backpacker and brings a strong background in economic development to our organization," says Ryan "Zieak" McFarland, SEAtrails board chair. "He will be working on ongoing organizational development for SEAtrails and is the primary point of contact for our second round of trail grants we will be awarding this year."

SEAtrails is hiring

Friday, June 27, 2008

SEAtrails is seeking a Vista volunteer. Benefits include a living allowance, yearly stipend or educational award and free housing. Find out more about the position.

SEAtrails annual meeting

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Labels: board

Scenic Trails Workshop

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Preliminarily planned for September or October, 2008. The planning committee for this workshop has not chosen a date or location for it, yet. However, based upon the Scenic Trails Caucus during the recent 11th Trails Conference in Duluth, they plan to focus the workshop on Communications,
Outreach, and Volunteer Recruitment and Retention. Watch for notification of an on-line survey that you can use to help shape the details of this workshop.

Labels: conference, training

Historic Trails Workshop

This interactive workshop will focus on developing and implementing a "Preservation Strategy for National Historic Trails" both for individual trails and for the system of trails. The Historic Trails Workshop will be May 8 - 11, 2008 and held at the Bureau of Land Management's Training Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Labels: conference, training

National Trails Symposium

The American Trails biennial trails symposium will focus on the theme: "Innovative Trails: Transforming the American Way of Life" and will also celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the National Trails System. The National Trails Symposium will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas November 15 - 18th and the Trail of Tears Association will be helping to host it.

Labels: conference, training

SEAtrails Business and Marketing Plan Draft Available Online

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Southeast Alaska Trail System (SEAtrails Inc.) announces the release of a Draft Business and Marketing Plan. The Plan will help guide SEAtrails in their efforts to establish and promote a region-wide trail system that stimulates economic development, enhances quality of life, and improves transportation.

"This plan is what SEAtrails needs to move forward to the next level," said Ron Crenshaw, SEAtrails board chair. "It provides strategies to help our organization establish and strengthen partnerships, achieve sustainability, and ultimately fulfill the SEAtrails mission." Further information on SEAtrails can be found on the website: http://www.seatrails.org/.

The State of Alaska contracted with the McDowell Group to develop the plan on behalf of SEAtrails. Funding came largely from a 2004 appropriation from Senator Ted Stevens for planning and on-the-ground trail improvements. "The plan includes supporting research on Southeast visitors, similar long-distance trail systems, and website marketing," said Odin Brudie, a tourism planner with the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. "This research will be useful for any travel marketer in SEAtrails communities, particularly those focused on the independent market."

The public is invited to provide comments on the draft plan through December 21, 2007. The document is available online at www.commerce.state.ak.us/oed/.

Comments or questions can be directed to Odin Brudie, Office of Economic Development: (907) 465-5466; odin.brudie@alaska.gov; P.O. Box 110804, Juneau, AK 99811-0804.

Download the PDF.