History and Info

Mission

To promote educational, scientific, cultural and social understanding in our world.

Goals

To create opportunities that:

 

1. Empower and renew participants physically,

mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

 

2.  Provide

   a.  University courses and workshops

   b.  Retreats

   c.  Outings and activities

   d.  Training sessions

   e.  Nature hikes and field trips

   f.   Lectures and discussions

   g.  Health and wellness events

          

3.  Encourage scientific research and exploration

 

4.  Provide opportunities for development and planning

 

3.  Promote cultural and international understanding

 

4.  Host artistic activities

 

5.  Facilitate research and writing

The Setting

           Yukon Island is a haven in wondrous Kachemak Bay, south of Anchorage, Alaska, on the tip of the Kenai Peninsula.  It is the largest island in Kachemak Bay, seven miles across the water from small town Homer.  The Island, a significant archaeological site, has dense woods, heavy vegetation, tidal zones, abundant sea life and wildlife such as salmon, otters and bald eagles.  For more than three thousand years, the island has been inhabited; residents include two periods of Eskimo people, a period of Dena’ina Indians, Russian influence, fox farmers in the early 1900s, and finally the Abbott family in the 1950s, when Gretchen Abbott Bersch’s parents homesteaded there with their children. 

 

The Center

           The Island remains a lovely, remote retreat, with the Abbott family as the only long-term inhabitants.  The idea for the Yukon Island Center for Research and Education began as a dream more than thirty years ago.  In the 1970s, when they cleared land for the Center, they discovered ancient house pits.  Several summers of archaeological digs followed, delaying building.  Construction of the Dream House began in 1994.  The building is over 3000 square feet, and includes meeting room, library, kitchen, bedrooms and dormitory, and sunny dining room.  While there is no regular running water, there is a sauna, a washroom, and modern outhouses.  Heat is from central wood stoves, cooking and auxiliary heat from propane. The alternative energy system provides modest power and lighting, and most of the summer days are quite long.  Since 1991, Gretchen has hosted noted scholars and students in fields of marine biology, archaeology, adult education and other fields.

 

The Yukon Island Center can host day groups of up to 50 to 60 and overnight up to 22 guests.

Educational Courses—Workshops—Scientific Outings—Special Events

Yukon Island Center for Research & Education, LLC

1210 W. 15th Ave      Anchorage, AK 99501

gtb@alaska.net