How does a family that camps together stay together? The Graziano family camps, hunts, paddles and skis year-round with each other and still enjoy exploring Alaska together. Starting when their daughter Fiora was a year old and continuing when their son Nico was born, Gino and Jess included them on many of their trips, including moose hunting, canoeing, backpacking and sea kayaking. Even with Fiora and Nico in their teenage years, they still enjoy their outdoor time together. While on a kayaking trip in Prince William Sound with host Paul Twardock, they shared their story and what they have done to ensure safe and fun family adventures.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Gino Graziano

Jess Graziano

Fiora Graziano

Nico Graziano

LINKS:

Chugach National Forest

Family Campgrounds near Anchorage

Leave No Trace

Prince William Sound State Marine Parks

Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation

Fiora Denali Sings on Instagram

Nico Graziano on Instagram

Ready to get outside as a family and explore everything Alaska has to offer? If you’re new to the state, have very young kids or are trying to get your family outside together for the first time, the idea might be daunting. On this episode of Outdoor Explorer, we learn from families outside expert and author Erin Kirkland, then head up to the Alaska State Parks Families to Parks day at Independence Mine State Historical Park in Hatcher Pass outside Palmer to learn more and talk to a few families who are getting out there.

HOST: Amy Bushatz

GUESTS:

Erin Kirkland

Megan and Ryan Ingram

Wendy Sailors

Amanda and Piper Manville

Megan Militello

LINKS:

Erin Kirkland Instagram

Erin Kirkland: Lonely Planet

Alaska Department of Natural Resources: 2025 Families to the Parks

Independence Mine State Historical Park

Prolific author and longtime Alaskan Debbie Miller writes books that dive into nature and help both children and adult readers explore and understand the outdoors in the state. In this episode we hear about her adventures in writing about, visiting and living near the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, sharing that and many other outdoor experiences with others – including former President Jimmy Carter – ways the refuge has changed over time or stayed the same, and why she believes it's still vitally important to protect today.

HOST: Amy Bushatz

GUEST: Debbie S. Miller, author

LINKS:

Debbie Miller website

Facebook

As the summer speeds by, Alaskans are making the most of the long days playing and working outside. This episode features one young Alaskan family who make their livelihood mostly in the summer operating a flying service and remote cabin: Blue Ice Aviation. Matt Keller and his wife Samantha both grew up in Alaska with parents who were pilots. They started Blue Ice Aviation and recently added a remote cabin that the public can rent.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUEST: Matt Keller, Blue Ice Aviation

It's spring and time to prepare to visit Alaska's lakes, mountains, oceans and rivers to enjoy the outdoors. Many of us head to our state parks and increasing use can lead to impacts on vegetation, water quality and wildlife. However, it doesn't have to. On this episode, we hear about how we can enjoy the parks and take care of them at the same time. Host Paul Twardock interviews Stuart Leidner, Superintendent of the Mat-Su/Copper River Basin Region of Alaska State Parks and Wendy Sailors, Community Engagement Manager for Alaska State Parks, to discuss what challenges come with the increasing use of state parks and what individual users and park management can do to minimize user impacts.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

Stuart Leidner, Superintendent of the Mat-Su/Copper River Basin Region of Alaska State Parks

Wendy Sailors, Community Engagement Manager for Alaska State Parks

LINKS:

Alaska State Parks

Leave No Trace

On this Outdoor Explorer, we hear from Harlow Robinson, the executive director of Healthy Futures and the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. On June 5, the Hall will induct the class of 2025. Harlow tells us about the people and the moments that comprise this year’s class, as well as the annual Director’s Awards and the popular 100 Miles in May.

HOST: Lisa Keller

GUEST: Harlow Robinson

LINKS:

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Healthy Futures 100 Miles in May

Public use cabins are very popular in Alaska, with demand exceeding supply. Various organizations are working on new huts and on this Outdoor Explorer we highlight two: Arctic Valley Ski Area and Alaska Huts.

Arctic Valley has two huts available for the general public and is building more. General Manager John Robinson and architect Allana Blough describe the challenges of building cabins in Artic Valley's alpine environment.

On the second half of the show Alaska Huts' Executive Director Philip Swiny updates us on their new hut at the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop.

HOST: Paul Twardock

GUESTS:

John Robinson, General Manager, Arctic Valley

Allana Blough, architect

Philip Swiny, Executive Director, Alaska Huts

LINKS:

Alaska Huts

Arctic Valley Ski Area Public Use Cabins

Chugach National Forest Public Use Cabins

Since 1976, Jeff Lowenfels has been observing the climate and giving gardening and yardening advice in his weekly Anchorage Daily News column, the longest running gardening column in the United States. Hear about the weird winter, the potential Mount Spurr eruption and the effect this strange year will have on your yard and garden.

We also hear about Lowenfels' past as the happy boy on Happy Boy Margarine packages and other great anecdotes from his and Anchorage's history.

HOST: Lisa Keller

GUEST: Jeff Lownfels, Anchorage Daily News gardening columnist

LINKS:

Jeff Lowenfels’ website

"He Wrote a Gardening Column. He Ended Up Documenting Climate Change" - New York Times Magazine