HoWL’s History

In 2024, HoWL completed the Stewardship Expeditions Project, with HoWLers completing 80 hours of maintenance work on the Kachemak Crack Campsite, Emerald Lake Loop, Glacier Lake, and Sadie Knob Trail.

In 2025, HoWL returned to Skilak Lake to bring back canoeing. HoWL partnered with the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and helped restore a trail in the Lower Skilak Lake Campground. HoWL also collaborated with Fireweed Academy to facilitate a 3-day 6th Grade Field Trip focused on teamwork, survival skills, and water sports.

It has always been the enthusiasm and support of not only the parents and kids, but our entire community, along with business leaders, that has made HoWL a vibrant force through the years. We welcome your continued support!

In 2022, HoWL re-connected to its roots: after-school programming and rock-climbing at the Woz. 53 participants participated in 7 summer expeditions, and HoWL awarded 9 scholarships. HoWL re-instituted our annual DiRtBaG clean-up week to celebrate Earth Day and involve youth in local stewardship. In 2022, 80 HoWLers helped pick up garbage and debris from Homer's roads and trails.

In 2023, HoWL launched a series of Stewardship Expeditions with the help of the Recreational Trails Program. HoWL’s Stewardship Expeditions incorporated trail work and restoration in Kachemak Bay State Park and focused on teaching youth the value of helping maintain and protect outdoor recreational spaces. Over the course of the summer, HoWLers worked on over 6 miles of trail in the State Park, and helped improve and restore the Kachemak Crack Campsite.

In January of 2020, HoWL began talks with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies to work toward a collaborative summer season. Planning began in earnest in February. Due to the Covid-19 situation in March, HoWL made the difficult decision to suspend programming for the rest of the year.

In 2021, HoWL re-established a cooperative relationship with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies to provide an exciting line-up of summer trips for our youth. We paddle-boarded, backpacked, picked berries, discussed leadership, and worked on 10 miles of trail in the Kachemak Bay State Park. Molly Mitchell, one of the first HoWLers in 2009, joined the HoWL team as Programs Coordinator.

A strengthened volunteer board of directors was determined to carry HoWL’s vision forward. The difficult decision was made to suspend regular programming for the 2017 season and focus energy on rebuilding the organization. In December, 2017 Dr. Mike Sturm was hired as the new Executive Director and planning began for a robust and exciting 2018 season!

Under Mike's leadership, the 2018 and 2019 seasons were hugely successful. HoWL expanded to run fall and winter programs, including winter camping, small game hunting, and after school and day trip options. In the fall of 2019, Mike accepted a full-time teaching position and HoWL's board of directors made the decision to take the winter off from programming and re-evaluate HoWL's options.

In 2015, HoWL had our most days in the field ever. We partnered with Colorado College and offered a 24-day expedition called Wilderness and Spirit. We received a grant to purchase the HoWL Van from the Rasmuson Foundation and we had a ton of fun on over 100 days in the field. HoWL’s founder, Libby Bushell, transitioned out of the organization, and a group of dedicated volunteers, with Rick MacBean as the new Executive Director, stepped in to carry on HoWL's mission and vision.

In the spring of 2016, the sudden passing of Rick left the HoWL community in a state of shock and grief. Leah Lamdin stepped in as Programs Director and with support from the board, staff and volunteers she was able to continue programming through the summer. Leah faced this enormous challenge with grace and her leadership saved the summer for many Homer youth.

In 2013, 519 youth participated in our 39 programs, 75 of whom received scholarships for their expeditions. We began our official partnership with the Kachemak Bay State Park by working on trail restoration projects through our State of Alaska Recreational Trails Program grant.

In 2014, HoWL increased our Day Trips in a major way, by including the Wild Sustainable Summer program every week. We also implemented the DiRtBaG Service Corps program and offered four different school field trips.

In 2011, 120 youth participated in our programs. Seven instructors led 13 multi-day expeditions and seven Day Trips. We held our first instructor training trip and developed the DiRtBaG Clean-Up Week into the booming success it’s become. We awarded 13 scholarships to our participants.

In 2012 we had 291 participants in our 30 programs (Day trips and Expeditions). We awarded 57 scholarships and started exploring the upper Kenai Peninsula with our canoes at Swanson River, Swan Lakes and Skilak Lake. We began the Peer Leader program with 5 participants who cleared the Emerald Lake Trail.

HoWL began in 2009. Founder and Executive Director Libby Bushell started with a dream of adventure beyond the End of the Road, purely in wilderness, open to every kid who wanted to go. Libby hired Eivin Kilcher and together they led 52 youth on 6 week-long expeditions in Kachemak Bay.

In 2010, HoWL incorporated as a non-profit corporation. We hosted a Benefit Concert to raise money for our programs and created our first HoWL Movie. Libby, Eivin, and 3 other instructors led 87 youth on 9 trips. We awarded 8 full scholarships through the first annual DiRtBaG Clean-Up Week.