Welcome to the Alaska Raptor Center! Alaska Raptor Center History

Welcome to the Alaska Raptor Center!
We are delighted that you are interested in helping in our efforts to help Alaska’s wildlife.
There are many ways you can help: from hands-on medical work and bird training, to office
work, cleaning and maintenance of the facility.
A volunteer is defined as anyone who performs a service for the Alaska Raptor Center
without pay. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses does not constitute payment.
Volunteers within the Center are not intended to replace existing staff, but to augment
them.
Alaska Raptor Center History
The story of the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, Alaska began in 1980 when two Sitkans
found an injured bald eagle and took it into their home to rehabilitate it. After two years
operating out of volunteers’ homes, the Center moved to a small shed on the campus of
Sheldon Jackson College in 1983. Word spread about the rehabilitation work being done by
the volunteers, and visitors began to add the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center to the list
of must-see Sitka attractions. In 1991, the Center moved to its present location, a 17-acre
rehabilitation campus bordering the Indian River.
Mission
The Alaska Raptor Center has a threefold mission:
• to provide medical treatment for injured bald eagles and other birds,
• to teach people about Alaska’s wild birds and enviromental conservation, and
• to conduct bald eagle research.
Each year we treat approximately 100-200 injured bald eagles, hawks, falcons and other
wild birds. Their injuries range from gunshot wounds to collisions, electrocutions and
poisonings, emaciation and wounds received from fighting with other birds – things that will
mean death if not treated at a hospital. We are able to release many of our patients back
into the wild, while others, too injured to survive outside of captivity are placed in zoos and
other captive breeding programs across the nation. A select few become our “Raptors-inResidence” – we train, house and display various resident birds to help educate visitors and
schoolchildren about raptors and the habitats in which they live.
 The Center provides 40,000 annual visitors with once-in-a-lifetime wildlife watching
opportunities and important education about raptors. Visitors learn that 85 percent of
the patients that we treat have wounds caused by contact with humans. As a result,
they leave the Center with a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, raptors
and the need to care or and protect all animals.
 Each year we educate about 15,000 schoolchildren through both in-class visits by a
live raptor and with multidisciplinary curriculum package for grades 4-6. Our visits to
classrooms have a profound impact, giving many children their first experience with
true wildlife. It may also be the first step of a lifelong love and care for the planet’s
precious species. Similarly, the Center’s “Adopt-a-Raptor” program captures the
enthusiasm of today’s youth, providing instruction and “minds-on” learning activities
that explore flight adaptations, feeding habits, physiology and nesting behaviors.
Why does the Alaska Raptor Center need volunteers?
The Alaska Raptor Center is committed to providing the most efficient use of manpower on
matching a volunteer’s talents and skills to appropriate services to be rendered. To realize
this goal, the Alaska Raptor Center shall make every effort to enlist the cooperation of all
available resources. The Center is dedicated to the development of a partnership, which
utilizes volunteerism in the development and delivery of services directed by the staff.
In addition to the above, the Alaska Raptor Center must develop and maintain a responsible
program of volunteer participation because of the following:
 As a non-profit, the Alaska Raptor Center does not have sufficient resources to meet
all financial and service needs.
 It has been repeatedly demonstrated that volunteers significantly enhance, expand
and upgrade service. With effective recruitment, screening, training and supervision,
volunteers perform nearly any task effectively and responsibly.
 The Alaska Raptor Center feels it is essential to involve the community in
volunteerism. This not only serves to educate the public about relevant issues, but
will create a more enlightned and active volunteer base.
It is our job to help you realize any goals you have at the Center and utilize your talents to
best serve the Center’s mission of caring for Alaska’s wildlife.
We take volunteers at all times of the year!
Email [email protected] with your dates and
we’ll make sure you have a great time!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Whether a summer getaway, a work sabbatical, a family vacation, or just a unique
adventure, volunteering at the Alaska Raptor Center is an exciting and fulfilling way to
experience Alaska — and help rehabilitate injured bald eagles and other wild birds.
Growing from a backyard, volunteer-run operation, the Alaska Raptor Center has become
Alaska’s foremost bald eagle hospital and educational center, as well as one of the state’s
premier visitor attractions. Our mission is threefold: to provide medical treatment for
injured bald eagles and other birds, to teach people about Alaska’s birds and environmental
conservation, and to conduct bald eagle research.
Each year, the Alaska Raptor Center provides medical treatment to approximately 200
injured bald eagles and other birds. Our goal is to release our patients back into the wild;
some, however, have been injured so severely they could not survive in the wild even after
rehabilitation. Those birds may join our “Raptors-in-Residence,” providing excitement and
education for our more than 40,000 annual visitors and for the 15,000 schoolchildren we
reach through the “Adopt-A-Raptor” program and classroom presentations around the
country.
The Alaska Raptor Center is committed to providing an interesting and unique experience
for volunteers to contribute their time to a dynamic organization that helps heal injured
bald eagles. We work to use time effectively, matching a volunteer’s talents and skills
appropriate to our needs. Your dedication is essential for this success. Last year 54
volunteers contributed 2,500 hours of their time toward our mission of rehabilitation,
education and research.
I’m a volunteer at the Alaska Raptor Center, what can I expect???
Whether a summer getaway, a work sabbatical, a family vacation or just a unique adventure,
volunteering at the Alaska Raptor Center is an exciting and fulfilling way to experience
Alaska – and help rehabilitate injured bald eagles and other wild birds.
If you are coming for a week or less, you will not have an opportunity to work directly
with the birds. You may, however, begin training while you are here if you are planning to
return on a regular basis. We ask that you commit to thirty hours a week. This gives you
the time to experience all facets of the center and gain a better appreciation for the work
that goes on here. Your work opportunities will be helping to feed birds, cleaning, assisting
in the gift shop, cleaning, helping with outdoor painting or construction, cleaning, helping
in the office and, of course, lots of cleaning. Please bring clothes that you can get dirty.
For the most part, we like to try to give everyone a chance to experience all aspects of the
Alaska Raptor Center. We attempt to schedule volunteers to help feed the birds, assist in
the clinic, clean and lend a hand in the gift shop and office. In addition, you will be given
time for special projects, like painting, constructing and organizing during your stay.
Sometimes people want to share their professional expertise: Sometimes they want to
“get away” from their profession. We will do our best to fulfill your expectations. However,
we still may need your help in areas you might find a little less glamorous. Please be
patient…all of your work helps. Think about what it is you want from your time with us and
we will help you understand what we need from you.
If this is something you are interested in, we would enjoy having you as part of our team.
You are responsible for all of your travel expenses; we are responsible for ensuring you
have a fun, positive experience at the Alaska Raptor Center!
We look forward to working with you and appreciate your support.
SITKA’S ACCOMODATIONS
Alaska Ocean View B&B Inn
www.sitka-alaska-lodging.com
(907) 747-8310
An Otter’s Cove B&B
www.ottercovebandb.com
(907) 747-4529
Ann’s Gavan Hill B&B
www.annsgavanhill.com
(907) 747-8023
Annahootz B&B
www.annahootzbnb.com
(907) 747-6498
Baranof Island B&B
www.baranofislandbandb.com
(907) 747-8306
Cinnamon Bear B&B
www.sitkacinnamonbearbandb.com
(907) 747-3141
Dove Island Lodge
www.doveislandlodge.com
(907) 747-5660
Hannah’s B&B
www.hannahsbandb.com
(907) 747-8309
Indian Village B&B
[email protected]
(907) 747-5845
Inn at Raven’s Peek
www.ravenspeekbandb.com
(907) 738-0140
Jamestown Bay B&B
www.jamestownbay.com
(907) 747-5643
Fly-in Fly Fish
www.flyinfishinn.com
(907) 747-7910
Shee Atika Totem Square Inn
www.totemsquarehotel.com
(907) 747-3693
Super 8 Motel
www.super8.com
(907) 747-8804
Westmark Sitka
www.westmarkhotels.com
(907) 747-6241
Wild Strawberry Lodge
www.wildstrawberrylodge.com
(907) 747-8883
Eagle Bay Inn
www.sitkaseaglebayinn.com
(907) 623-9973
Harbor Heights Penthouse
www.sitkaharborheights.com
(907) 747-1032
Mountain Ash House
www.mountainashhouse.com
(907) 747-3365
Ocean Front Vacation Rentals
www.sitka-ocean-vacation-rentals.com
(907) 747-6533
Welcome Home Vacations
www.sitkatravel.com
(907) 747-4712
CAMPGROUNDS:
Sawmill Creek Campground: Contact the Forest Service at 800-280-CAMP
or the campground manager at (907) 747-4216
Sitka Sportsman’s Association RV Park: Restrooms & showers, no limit…call for reservations
(907)-747-6033
Sitka Youth Hostel
(907) 747-8661
For further information please visit www.sitka.com OR www.sitka.org