Certified Alaska Naturalist

Eagles and Whales and Bears OH MY! 

As a born fisherman and lifelong outdoorsman, I have always been fascinated by wildlife, geology and natural history.  I always want to know the whys and hows and whens that have shaped our planet, especially the state I love, into what we see today.

On a recent tour that JoJo and I escorted to Alaska, I had a group of our folks and some other people who just happened to be out on the bow of the Zaandam for the hour and a half or so before we entered Tracy Arm in Southeast Alaska.  I was pointing out whales, steller sea lions, puffins and eagles.  More times than not, the Holland America onboard naturalist would come on the sound system and repeat what I had just said.

After a while it became a joke among us that I should be the onboard naturalist, as I knew as much as he did.  While I knew that was not true, I decided right then and there that if there was such a "Certification", I wanted it.  There is; and I enrolled and finished it in March of 2008. 

The Certified Alaska Naturalist Program is a certificate program administered by the University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka Campus.

This intense six week course provides a general overview of the many topics encompassed by the study of the natural history and natural resources of Alaska.

It is designed to give accurate, interesting information, enhance the Certificate holders' ability to offer this information and give visitors a chance to learn about and experience Alaska's rich environment.

I am proud to be able to fill in some of the blanks as we travel along on our land and sea portions of the trip with what I hope is interesting information about the glaciers, fjords, wildlife and plant life that we pass.