2008 Juneau Summer Project

Craig Johring

During the summer of 2007 I led an 11-week project to Juneau, Alaska for 39 college students. The project was the 4th consecutive summer I've spent in Juneau, Alaska.

During the summer students work a 32 hours a week from Monday-Thursday to make money for college. The jobs students worked in 2007 were kayak guides, lumber yards, hardware stores, stocking at gift shops, and retail. Each evening after work we hold a developmental type of meeting during the week. On weekends we serve in the community and in Native American island communities.

 The staff  each summer are for the most part students who have been with me on  previous summers who return to lead and serve.

The experience for the men and women is foundational for building character, leadership, and life-skills they will carry forth into their lives to impact the world around them.

The following pictures are a some-what random collection of photos from the summer of 2007.

Our staff arrived on May 18 for a week of training and orientation. There was still snow on the ground from the all-time record snow-fall of 200 inches in Juneau over the winter. Many roads will still closed, and many of the 90 trails in the Juneau Borough were covered with snow until mid-June.

 Brent Dunkel, from K-State navigating a trail.

Karen Sharp from Wayne State, Chelsey Gnatowski from Kansas University, and Halie Hughes from Wayne State with bear protection on a trail.

Caleb Unruh from Missouri State and Matt Meschke from the U. of Nebraska with a stringer of Henry Wienhard's Root Beer.

Brent Dunkel

Craig Johring, Regan Griffin

Juneau, Alaska

Brady from Wayne State College

Juneau has a resident population of 30,000 and receives over one million tourists each summer from cruise boats.

Juneau is surrounded by permanent ice fields, and water. There are no roads leading in or out of Juneau.

Juneau Summer Project

We have a partnership with Echo Ranch Bible Camp that has an amazing ministry to kids in southeast Alaska.

Echo Ranch Bible Camp, Juneau, Alaska

Caleb Unruh

Kevin Ellerbee from Hastings College and Rylan Reed from the University of Nebraska.

Matt Hofer

Serving in the community

Josh Chiero, University of Missouri

Ryan Durst, University of Wisconsin

Regan Griffin, University of Missouri

Craig Johring, Echo Ranch Camp

Juneau Summer Project

Tim Day, University of Kansas

Craig Johring, Mendenhall Glacier ice

Ted Wilcox, Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska

Karen Sharp from Wayne State College kayaking Mendenhall Lake

Marshall Maseberg from Thedford, Nebraska inside an glacier ice cave.

We have a contract with the University of Alaska Southeast, and house students in apartments on campus.

On weekends we spend time as with at-risk kids in the community to serve as role-models.

Juneau, Alaska

Echo Ranch Camp

Echo Ranch Camp

Echo Ranch Camp

Echo Ranch Camp

Putting on a skit for kids, Echo Ranch Camp

Regan Griffin, Echo Ranch Camp

Matt Meschke, Karen Sharp, Regan Griffin at Echo Ranch Camp

Chaz Steele, Echo Ranch Camp

2007 Juneau Summer Project, Echo Ranch Camp

Returning from Echo Ranch Camp, Juneau, Alaska

Dolly Varden Trout can be caught with a fly or spinner on a rising tide almost anywhere along the coast all summer.

Andrew Murray with a Dolly Varden Trout

Marshall Maseberg, Echo Cove

Jusin Faber, University of Nebraska fishing in Echo Cove

Issac Landecker, Justin Punch at Echo Cove

Justin Faber, Jake Buck pulling crab rings in Echo Cove.

Jake Buck, pulling crab rings for Dungenous Crab in Echo Cove, Juneau, Alaska.

Our classroom for development and building into the lives of students is the great outdoors.

Caleb Unruh from Missouri State University, our 2007 Juneau Summer Project Director

Regan Griffin, Tae Cho inside an ice cave in the Mendenhall Glacier

Ted Wilcox, Caleb Unruh, Mendenhall Glacier

Inside a glacial cave, Caleb Unruh.

Each Wednesday night we hold college student meeting at Chapel by the Lake, Juneau, Alaska.

Student who worked as kayak guides each day taking tourists kayaking in Fritz Cove.

We fly students out to Native American villages located on remote islands to serve, and spend time being role models for kids.

Southeast Alaska

Mowing the lawn of the Salvation Army Chaplain in the Native American island community of Hoonah.

Justin Burnett, University of Missouri in Hoonah, Alaska.

Serving burgers at a fishing derby for kids in Hoonah, Alaska.

Helping kids on the Native American community of Hoonah, Alaska fish at the Fishing Derby.

Casey Priebe, University of Nebraska in Hoonah, Alaska.

Hoonah, Alaska

Kyle Levitt, North Carolina State University in Hoonah, Alaska

Matt Meschke with a Dungenous Crab

Justin Faber speaking at the Salvation Army Church in Hoonah, Alaska.

A Brown Bear near Hoonah, Alaska.

Andy Fell, Kansas University and Tae Cho, University of Missouri

Marshall Maseberg, manhood development time on Tuesday night.

Juneau Summer Project

Each Tuesday night is an activity centered around the topics of team-work, life-giving, trust, and living for a greater purpose.

Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project

Halie Hughes, Chelsey Gnotowski, Karen Sharp on a trail, Juneau, Alaska

Windfall Lake, Juneau, Alaska

Windfall Lake, Juneau, Alaska

Sockeye Salmon, 2007 Juneau Summer Project

It's Alaska. We catch a massive amount of Salmon.

Juneau Summer Project Sockeye

Hiking along the Salmon Creek trail.

Juneau Summer Project, Salmon Creek Trail

Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project

Weekend camping on a trail.

Juneau Summer Project

Morning devotion time while camping.

The students are housed and spend the summer in an "action group" with 5 or 6 other students.

Debbie Douglas, a professional guide who is a close friend of our Project and consults with us on training and risk management.

Bear are a constant danger.

Mt. McGinnis, the mountain out our back door on the University of Alaska-Southeast campus.

Juneau Summer Project, Mount Juneau trail

Craig Johring with Brady, a student at Wayne State College. Brady was a student on the 2006 Summer Project, and returned in 2007 to on our staff.

What do college students do when they reach the summit of a mountain? They jump.

Andy Fell, University of Kansas

Brady, Wayne State College

Marshall Maseberg, Halie Hughes

Matt Meschke, Brady on the summit of Mt. Juneau.

Albert Duckworth, Craig Johring on the top of Mt. Juneau, Alaska

Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project

Brent Dunkel, Craig Johring at Sawmill Creek, Juneau, Alaska

Brent Dunkel, Craig Johring, Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project, Berner's Bay, Juneau, Alaska

Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project, Berner's Bay

Juneau Summer Project, Berner's Bay, Alaska

Clay Tabor, Jo sh Church from Eastern Kentucky State Unversity

Juneau Summer Project

Brent Dunkel

Matt Hofer, University of Minnesota

Craig Johring, Juneau Summer Project

The 2007 Juneau Summer Project

Juneau Summer Project

Brady, Amalga Harbor, Juneau, Alaska

Andy Fell with  Double-Ugly

Craig Johring, Matt Meschke with Halibut

Brent Dunkel, Craig Johring on Mendenhall Lake, Juneau, Alaska

Reid Brown and family, Craig Johring at Amalga Harbor

Dungenous Crab fishing, Juneau, Alaska

Juneau Summer Project

Fishing for Dungenous Crab in 30' of water in a bay.

Halibut, Juneau, Alaska

Over 250 pounds of Halibut, Juneau, Alaska

Brett Brown, Craig Johring, 128 Pound Halibut, Juneau, Alaska

Service project for to clean up a lot for a lady who lives near campus.

Chapel by the Lake, Juneau, Alaska

Steaming crab, Juneau, Alaska

Lunch during a staff hike to the Herbert Glacier.

Taking a ferry up to Haines to set up a service project in the village of Kluckwan.

Haines, Alaska

Kluckwan, Alaska

Kluckwan, Alaska

Flying along the coast over a glacier.

Tae Cho with an early season Chum Salmon, Juneau, Alaska

Chum Salmon, Amalga Harbor, Juneau, Alaska

Albert and Robin with a harvest of Chum Salmon at Amalga Harbor.

Hiking on a trail in June.

Halie Hughes from Wayne State on a the Mt. Juneau trail.

Eric Williams, Missouri State University with a Chum Salmon

Amalga Harbor, Juneau, Alaska

Ryan Durst with a nice Pink Salmon

I own three skiffs, and have friends with some amazing boats who join us to ferry students to remote locations for camping trips.

Juneau Summer Project

Craig Johring, Juneau Summer Project

Craig Johring with the Andrew Murray, the 2007 Juneau Summer Project student Project Director.

Juneau Summer Project

Kevin Elerbee with a Pink Salmon in Echo Cove.

Kyle Levitt with a Halibut

Halibut, Amalga Harbor, Juneau, Alaska

Halie Hughes, Juneau, Alaska

Matt Damico, University of Minnesota with a Halibut

Juneau Summer Project, Halibut

Clay Tabor, Easter Kentucky State University

Tyler Wallace, University of Missouri

Halie Hughes with a Chum Salmon at Amalga Harbor, Juneau, Alaska

Karen Sharp with Chum Salmon, Juneau, Alaska

Fishing for Chum Salmon

Chelsey caught this fish by herself, but it took about 5 minutes to get her to hold it for this picture.

A  highlight of my guiding this summer.

Issac Landecker and Andrew Murray with a King Salmon caught trolling near Fish Creek.

The eagles are abundant and are always sitting in trees waiting to swoop down while cleaning fish.

Kevin Elerbee

Kevin Elerbee from Hastings with Chum Salmon Fillets.

Xtra-tuf boots are invaluable to wear at all times in Alaska.

Skunk Cabbage in May.

LeAnn Rees shot a nice black bear in May.

Each day during the summer 4-7 cruise boats come into port in Juneau.

David Vidmar with a brown bear taken  by his wife.

Gina Vidmar with an 8 1/2 foot Brown Bear she shot in late May. Her husband David Vidmar (left) is a Brown Bear guide.

Students training to be kayak guides for the summer in Juneau, Alaska.

Our Monday night Juneau Summer Project meeting.

Juneau Summer Project student above the Mendenhall Glacier.

Inside an Mendenhall Glacier ice cave.

Karen Sharp, Chelsey Gnatowski, Halie Hughes.

A Lighthouse near Juneau, Alaska  (This Lighthouse appeared on a U.S. Post Office stamp in 2007)

Juneau, Alaska lighthouse

Chelsey Gnatowski kayaking in Juneau, Alaska

Kayaking on the Mendenhall Lake

Craig Johring at the entrance of a naturally formed  ice cave in the Mendenhall Glacier.

Mendenhall Glacier

Juneau Summer Project students on a trial

Isaac Landecker catching a halibut

Matt Damico and Andrew Murray from Minnesota with a Halibut catch

Juneau Summer Project King Salmon harvest

Isaac Landecker, Kyle Levitt, Andrew Bartlow in Auke Bay, Alaska.

Isaac Landecker with a King Salmon caught in Fish Creek.

Andrew Reiners, Holdredge Nebraska on a trail.

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Craig Johring and Juneau Summer Project students on a whale watching tour near Juneau, Alaska.

Juneau Summer Project staff biking on the Herbert Glacier trail near Juneau, Alaska.

Karen Sharp, Halie Hughes, Chelsey Gnatowski trail riding on the Herbert Glacier trail near Juneau, Alaska.

Juneau Summer Project - Mendenhall Glacier

One of the 90 trails in the Juneau Borough.

Andrew Murray with a Double-Ugly.

Halibut fishing in the Green Topped Boat off the coast of Juneau, Alaska.

Reid Brown, Omaha and Craig Johring with King Salmon

Isaac Landecker with King Salmon

Craig Johring and Matt Meschke with Halibut

The Mendenhall Glacier - 2007 Juneau Summer Project

Ryan Reed with a Pink Salmon at Echo Cove near Juneau, Alaska

Rylan Reed, Craig Johring with Pink Salmon catch. Juneau, Alaska

Black bear feeding on Salmon near Juneau, Alaska.

2007 Juneau Summer Project

2007 Juneau Summer Project

A sunset on the way to Juneau, Alaska.

Sunset from 35,000 feet while flying to Juneau, Alaska.

Matt Damico with a double-ugly

Matt Hofer fishing for Halibut 29 miles off the coast of Juneau, Alaska.

Isaac Landecker with a Double-Ugly

Craig Johring, Andrew Murray, Matt Hofer, Issac Landecker, Matt Damico with Halibut catch, Juneau, Alaska

Matt Hofer with a 40 pound Halibut

Andrew Ortmayer fishing for Halibut on his wedding day.

Mitchell Johring  and Jason Coorts  with a small Halibut.

Sunset at 35,000 feet above Juneau, Alaska.

Andrew Ortmayer from Madison, Wisconsin was a student on the 2006 Juneau Summer Project and returned in 2007 with his family and Sarah to hold his wedding in Juneau.

My nephew Mitchell Johring. This summer was Mitch's 3rd trip to Juneau, Alaska.

LeAnn Rees, Craig Johring, and Mitchell Johring in Auke Bay, Alaska

The 2007 Juneau Summer Project students after an activity on the last night before heading home in August.