Gold Fever is a great way to kick off your school year. Often at the beginning of the year, teachers are setting up their classrooms and getting students comfortable in their new community. Well that is exactly what this program is all about! How to set-up a community so everyone gets along and works together to accomplish a goal.

Gold Fever sets students in the time period of the Yukon/ Klondike Goldrush, in which people from all over the world traveled to Alaska to find their fortune in Gold. As a result, diverse communities began to form and they had to have some way to work out disagreements. Thus arise the Miner's Meeting. Miner's Meetings were usually called by a miner that had a disagreement or issue with another person in the community. During the meeting both miners were given a chance to make statements and the rest of the persons in the meeting were able to ask questions and then pass a judgement. 

During Gold Fever, students will travel with a miner and his pack dogs to a mining camp in order to  simulate a Miner's Meeting to determine if the miner has legally jumped a claim or illegally jumped a claim based on facts provided.

Students will use basic logic and algebra skills to examine the gold claim and provide a judging, only after they have worked together with other classes to agree on "rules" or a "code" to judge by. Following the program, students and teachers are encouraged to create their own classroom community codes and share them in our online Social network, as well as processes for resolving conflicts in the classroom.

Students will get a nice math refresher, as well as a fun way to help set-up their classroom community. 

 December and January are some of the darkest months of the year in Alaska, but don't despair!

All that means is we get more of an opportunity to see Northern Lights in the endless night skies!

So this month, Kigluait brings to you a special event about Northern Lights: Dark Night's, Northern Lights.

We will explore what causes northern lights by examining the literature and art that has been inspired by them- not to mention the science!

The program itself will feature an honored and respected Talkeetna artist, whom will show us how to paint the Northern Lights, while learning about their scientific origin.

This months special event will only have 12 slots available, and will not be offered of any other time! So register early!

Special Event: Sled Dogs with Santa!

As December approaches, with all the associated festivities, there is one subject that is always a bit touchy around the kennel... Reindeer!

“Reindeer,” you say. “What about reindeer?  We love' em!”

Well sure you do!  Everybody does, after all they are Santa's favorite.  But do you know why?  Do you know the ancient story of how sled dogs and reindeer once vied for Santa's attention?  Have you ever heard of the great mythological debate they waged against one another? Each championing their respective abilities for the honor of pulling Santa's sleigh?