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🪶 Attention all bird lovers and nature enthusiasts! The brand new Anchorage Birding Trail is officially open, giving you the ultimate guide to the absolute best bird-watching spots in the area! 🗺️ Audubon Alaska just celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a guided bird walk around the Westchester Lagoon to kick off this amazing new community resource. 🌅
🦆 Did you know that 285 different bird species have been recorded right here in the Anchorage area? 🦅 To help you spot them, the new trail features 35 hand-picked sites across the region. The dedicated team at Audubon Alaska spent the last two years visiting every single location to check for active nests, confirm driving directions, note parking details, and verify accessibility like ADA amenities and restrooms so your next adventure is seamless. 🪵
👇 Want to plan your next birding weekend adventure? Check out the full article and get the link to the official site maps and detailed guides by clicking the link below! 📖

New birdwatching trail takes flight in Anchorage The Anchorage Birding Trail is officially opening on Wednesday, according to Audubon Alaska, giving birdwatchers a detailed guide to the area’s best birding spots.

🌲 Exciting news for Alaska adventurers and history buffs! Nuka Island is now officially 100% public land! 🗺️ The Conservation Fund just purchased and donated Herring Pete’s Cove, a beautiful 24-acre parcel on Nuka Island, adding it directly into the massive Kachemak Bay State Park. This final piece of the puzzle means the entire 15,300-acre island is fully preserved for everyone to enjoy. 🦅
🦊 Beyond the breathtaking scenery, salmon, and marine wildlife, this spot has a wild history. A century ago, it was a fox farm run by the legendary Kenai Peninsula icons Herring Pete Sather and his adventurous wife Josephine. 🪵 Pete was a notoriously eccentric Norwegian mariner whose sweater was reportedly held together by wire, while Josephine was a fiercely capable outdoorswoman who married Pete just to keep her beloved island farm running. 🌊
👇 Dive into the fascinating history of Herring Pete's Cove and see how this incredible conservation win protects a prime wildlife destination for boaters and hikers by clicking the link below! 📖

Land named for colorful character ‘Herring Pete’ added to Alaska’s Kachemak Bay State Park - Peninsula Clarion 24-acre Kenai Peninsula island parcel added to 400,000-acre Kachemak Bay State Park

🐾 Big news for Paws for Purple Hearts Alaska! They just welcomed their newest furry team member, Brando, thanks to an incredible donation from Hilcorp! 🐶 Earlier this month, Hilcorp handed over a check for more than $106,000, raised entirely through their seat-upgrade fundraiser. Every single penny is going directly to support this amazing mission! 💙
🌟 This is a massive milestone for the organization, as training just one of these life-changing service dogs takes about two years and costs around $40,000 to $45,000. This generous funding will fully cover Brando’s specialized training as he prepares to become a loyal companion for a veteran. 🫡 From learning how to grab items from the fridge to offering unconditional, judgment-free love and comfort, these dogs truly change lives. ✨
👇 Read the full story, meet adorable Brando, and see how this partnership is making a huge impact for Alaska veterans by clicking the link below! 📖

Paws for Purple Hearts Alaska receives over $106K Hilcorp donation Funds will support service dog training for veterans.

What an incredible start to Homer’s summer tourist season! 🦅 Around 1,100 birdwatchers from across Alaska, the Lower 48, and countries like France, Spain, South Africa, and Benin gathered for the 34th annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival last week. 🌍 Together, they spotted a whopping 131 different bird species, including thousands of migrating sandpipers, godwits, and plovers. 🏖️ But the ultimate highlight came at the very end of the festival when an ultra-rare juvenile ivory gull was spotted right on the Homer Spit! 😮 Word spread like wildfire through the Alaska birding community, and eager birders packed the Fish Dock Road area with binoculars and cameras to catch a glimpse of the almost pure white gull. 📸 This marks the first time an ivory gull has been seen in Homer since 1963, making it a once-in-a-lifetime moment for many! 🤍 Check out the full story, the list of species spotted, and incredible photos from the historic weekend here:

Shorebirds, birders and a rare bird visit Homer By Michael Armstrong Homer Independent Press In what has become a soft opening for Homer’s summer tourist season, about 1,100 birders attended the 34th annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival last w…

Looking for something fun to do? Check out our latest Community Corner update featuring awesome local events happening right here in our community!

🐛 Bug Scavenger Hunt at Kenai Community Library: Search for escaped creepy-crawlies during library hours from Monday, June 8 through Saturday, June 13. Pick up a clue list at the front desk to find hidden bugs and solve their riddle. 📚

🌲 Storywalk Storytime at Daubenspeck Family Park: Join the Kenai Community Library for a guided lakeside walk with family songs and stories on Monday, June 8, from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM. Meet near the south covered picnic tables. 🦆

🧶 DIY Macrame Leaf Craft at Kenai Community Library: Participate in a beginner-friendly craft session for teens and adults to create a leaf wall hanging on Tuesday, June 9, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Registration is highly encouraged. 🍃

🗺️ Summer Reading Program at Anchor Point Library: Celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary with passports, stamps, and activities for all ages from June 1 through August 5. Programs are available for kids, teens, and adults. 📖

💼 Joint Kenai and Soldotna Chamber Luncheon at Soldotna Regional Sports Complex: Enjoy a Kenai Watershed Forum update from Trent Dodson on Wednesday, June 10, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Lunch is eighteen dollars, and RSVPs are due by June 9. 🌊

💻 Coding Club at Kenai Community Library: Learn to create websites and video games at this self-paced program for ages eight to eighteen meeting Wednesdays, June 10, 17, and 24, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Registration required only to use a library computer. 🎮

🎬 The Gold Rush Screening at The Porcupine Theater: Experience Charlie Chaplin's comedic silent film masterwork featuring live piano accompaniment by Johnny B on Wednesday, June 10, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Tickets cost fifteen dollars. 🍿

🌸 Wildflower Seed Paper Making at Kenai Community Library: Learn how to create plantable paper filled with Alaskan wildflower seeds on Thursday, June 11, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Designed for ages six to twelve; registration is recommended. 🌱

🎨 Bad Art Session at Kenai Community Library: Unleash your creativity without expectations during this open paint session on Thursday, June 11, from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM. Paints, brushes, and tiny canvases are provided, so sign up now. 🖌️

🌱 Seed Saving with JD Sneed at Kenai Community Library: Discover the craft of seed saving with an expert grower on Friday, June 12, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Learn techniques to foster independence, self-sufficiency, and food security. 🌾

🌿 Guided Garden Tours at Pratt Museum Botanical Gardens: Explore local ecosystems, homestead crops, and scenic forest trails during free, expert-led walks running Thursdays and Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM through August 30. 🪵

🪨 Kenai Chronicles: Beyond the Exhibit at Kenai Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center: Attend a free public lecture by geologist Dick Reger discussing glacial concretions found in the Kenai Peninsula on Friday, June 12, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. 🗺️

🍋 Lemonade Day across Kenai and Soldotna: Support young entrepreneurs as youth set up and operate their very own lemonade stands on Saturday, June 13. Grab a refreshing drink to show your community support. 🥤

🌈 Pride March & Celebration at Soldotna Creek Park & The Goods: Celebrate community and inclusion on Saturday, June 13. The march begins at 11:00 AM at Soldotna Creek Park, with festivities continuing through 5:00 PM at the Saturday Market at The Goods. ✨

Coming soon to a water bottle near you!

Congratulations to the Kachemak Bay Campus class of 2026! 🎓 Nearly 60 incredible students celebrated their graduation at the commencement ceremony held right here on campus in Homer. 🏛️ The evening was filled with cheers, family, and inspiring words, kicking off with a warm address from University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Cheryl Siemers, who urged the graduates to dream big and give back to their tight-knit community. 🏔️ Keynote speaker Dr. Beth Graber shared her three keys to success, emphasizing the power of self-talk, letting go of fear, and cultivating kindness. ❤️ Valedictorian Hannah Klima also moved the crowd by sharing how stepping out of her comfort zone taught her a lifelong lesson, challenging her peers with the phrase, "you must do the thing you cannot do." ⛷️ From High School Equivalency diplomas to specialized certificates in Marine Mammal Biology and advanced Masters Degrees, these students have worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone. ✨ Turn your tassels and celebrate the full story and photo gallery here:

KBC celebrates graduates By Poppy Smith The Kenai Peninsula Campus, Kachemak Bay Campus class of 2026 attended their commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 6, celebrating the graduation of nearly 60 students in different …

The Jesse Lee Home Cemetery in Seward is being restored after being abandoned and reclaimed by nature for over 60 years! 🌳 Originally opened in 1926 as an orphanage and boarding school for Alaska Native children, the site was closed after the 1964 earthquake and the remaining buildings were demolished in 2020. 🏚️ During the demolition, the Qutekcak Native Tribe realized a forgotten cemetery existed on the property. 😮 Because the original grave markers were removed and lost decades ago, volunteers initially had no idea how many children and workers were buried there, except for a single standing nurse's headstone. 🪦 Now, thanks to the incredible teamwork of volunteers using metal detectors and LiDAR technology, about 40 grave sites have been successfully identified and marked with flags. 🗺️ While they may never be able to put a name to every single grave, work will continue this summer to scan the rest of the area. 🌲 The Seward City Council has officially started the process of transferring the land to the Qutekcak Native Tribe, who plan to build a beautiful totem arch entrance, paths, and benches to create a peaceful space for reflection and healing. ❤️‍🩹 Read the full historic update here: AlaskaNativeHistory

Looking for the lost children of the Jesse Lee Home Cemetery The Qutekcak Native Tribe has been working for six years to make sure the lost children of Seward's Jesse Lee Home are not forgotten.

The brand-new Matson Ocean Education Center is officially open to the public! 🌊 Located at the scenic edge of the Turnagain Arm where the Placer and Portage Rivers meet the sea, this incredible center offers stunning mountain views and a front-row seat to one of the world's largest tidal variations. 🏔️ Visitors might even spot iconic white beluga whales surfacing in the wild! 🐋 Inside, you will find models, interactive educational materials, and a full beluga skeleton hanging from the ceiling. 🦴 Head veterinarian Dr. Michelle Oakley shared that this center matters because helping kids understand and connect with wildlife like sea otters and bison inspires them to protect these amazing creatures. 🦦 The center is open daily with naturalist-led programs focused on protecting the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. 🎓 Check out the full story and plan your visit here:

Matson Ocean Education Center officially opens, aims to educate next generation of Alaskans on marine preservation Officials with the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Matson, and invited guests officially opened the brand-new Matson Ocean Education Center to the public Saturday.

Alaska is one step closer to having an official state vegetable: the giant cabbage! 🥬 The bill passed the House unanimously with a 38-0 vote, bringing this local favorite into the spotlight. 🌟 House Minority Leader DeLena Johnson noted the bill is a great way to market Alaska's unique agriculture, while Rep. Nellie Jimmie shared that cabbage even goes great with seal oil! 🍽️ Now that it has cleared the House, the bill heads over to the Senate with just seven days left in the legislative session. 🏛️ Will the giant cabbage become official? Read the full story here:

Giant cabbage could be the state’s official vegetable, awaits Senate approval Alaska is one step closer to having an official state vegetable: the giant cabbage.