The Juneau Community Charter School (JCCS) Community Winter Camp by Principal Caron Smith

Our Alaskan Schools blog

The Juneau Community Charter School (JCCS) is a small, community driven, charter school in the heart of Juneau. Recently, 87 of its students, K-8, attended two incredible days of the biennial Charter School Community Winter Camp off the grid, out in the forests north of Juneau. Weather in southeast Alaska is notoriously fickle, but the camp lucked out with 2 days of sunny skies and lots of new snow to play in.

JCCS students sitting around the outdoor camp fire
JCCS students sitting around the outdoor camp fire

Drawing on the successes and known challenges from past JCCS winter camps, staff provided the leadership, logistical planning and a uniquely designed curriculum appropriate to the conditions and grade levels involved.  As with everything at JCCS, parents also played a critical role in the success of the camp. 30 parents attended either all or part of the camp, supporting students and presenters alike.  Some parents even stayed the night in the winter cabins to help supervise the older students.

JCCS students feeding camp chickens
JCCS students feeding camp chickens

Activity sessions were taught by many local agencies, including Discovery Southeast, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Wild Apothecary, SEADogs of Alaska. Activities at the camp ranged from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, to winter plant gathering, to knot tying, to snow science and snow art.

JCCS students and parents working art projects
JCCS students and parents working art projects

Events like this are a huge investment of time and energy. The sense of community that JCCS builds all year long is the reason why we can come together to create unique learning opportunities like this camp for our students.  Its was a great event and we are already looking forward to Winter Camp 2021!


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