Tatoosh School

THE TATOOSH SCHOOL IS A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT UNIVERSITY-LEVEL FIELD SCHOOL FOUNDED IN 2011 WHOSE MISSION IS TO FOSTER FIRST-HAND LEARNING ABOUT THE ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY OF SOUTHERN SOUTHEAST ALASKA. THE TATOOSH SCHOOL HAS A FORMAL TRAINING AND RESEARCH PROGRAM FOCUSED ON AQUATIC AND FOREST HABITATSAND A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC CURRICULUM THAT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT. THE CENTER FOR INTEGRATED RESEARCH AT THE TATOOSH SCHOOL IS IN THE HEART OF THE PACIFIC COASTAL ECOREGION. THIS BASECAMP PROVIDES A LOGISTICAL HUB FOR STUDENTS, PRIMARY INVESTIGATORS AND THEIR TEAMS TO ENGAGE IN TIMELY AND ROBUST RESEARCH IN BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PUBLIC LANDS POLICY. THE CENTER SUPPORTS INTERDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROJECTS, WITH AN INTEREST IN PRODUCING SOUND SCIENCE TO SERVE AS A FOUNDATION FOR DECISION-MAKERS AT LOCAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCALES. THE TATOOSH SCHOOL HAS WORKED WITH A DIVERSE GROUP OF PARTNERS(NONPROFIT, GOVERNMENT, AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES) TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF INTEREST AND NEED AND TO DIRECT DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS TO ANSWER TARGETED RESEARCH QUESTIONS. QUALIFIED UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS SEEKING TO GAIN VALUABLE FIELD RESEARCH SKILLS THROUGH HANDS-ON TRAINING BY EXPERT FACULTY ARE ENGAGED THROUGH COURSEWORK AND DIRECTED RESEARCH AND THESE EXCITING PROJECTS PROVIDE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY THEIR UNDERSTANDINGS OF SOUTHEAST'S DYNAMIC TERRESTRIAL, RIPARIAN, AND NEARSHORE MARINE ECOSYSTEMS WHILECONTRIBUTING TO A VALUABLE BODY OF SCIENTIFIC DATA. IN ADDITION TO OUR CORE CURRICULUM, STUDENTS AND FACULTY BENEFIT FROM GUEST LECTURERS WHO DONATE MANY HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO TEACH AND LEARN. INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS DONATE TIME AND EXPERTISE ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS AS WE TOUR PRIORITY WATERSHEDS, SPEND TIME POURING OVER MAPS, HAVE IN-DEPTH POLICY DISCUSSIONS, TOUR LOCAL MILLS, AND VISIT WITH ELDERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CONSERVATIONISTS, FISHERMEN, SCIENTISTS, POLITICIANS, BUSINESS OWNERS, TEACHERS AND MANY MORE.IN 2022 THE TATOOSH SCHOOL OFFERED A SUMMER SEMESTER PROGRAM. STUDENTS FROM SIX COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WERE ENROLLED. VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS HELPED TO MAINTAIN ORGANIZATION FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AND CONTINUED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ONGOING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS.