The Events Calendar contains information on future meetings, field trips, and workshops hosted by AKNPS. The public is invited to monthly meetings that are held the first Monday of the month, starting in October and running through May and start at 7:00 pm. Meetings are held virtually, and often are held simultaneously in person (see location details). Specially invited speakers present a topic of their choice at each meeting. AKNPS members also volunteer to provide 5-minute presentations on topics of botanical interest. Each season, we also select a plant family to study, and members present different species within that family at each meeting. Below is a map to the Campbell Creek Science Center.
AKNPS field trips typically begin in May and participants must submit a field trip waiver to the field trip leader.
Events Calendar
- May 23, 2026
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Wildflower Garden Work Party
May 23, 2026 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Campbell Creek Science Center, 5600 Science Center Dr, Anchorage, AK 99507, USAJoin Alaska Native Plant Society volunteers who are maintaining the Campbell Creek Science Center’s wildflower gardens. Join a morning and/or afternoon shift, with lunch and gardening equipment provided. Please RSVP at https://bit.ly/CCSC-Work-Parties.
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Family Hike at Eagle River Nature Center
May 23, 2026 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
A hike especially for families with kids, expect 3-4 hours (3 miles round trip) looking for fairy slipper orchids.
RSVP: It is required to contact trip leader Jeanne Osnas (jldosnas@gmail.com) to reserve a spot.
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- May 24, 2026
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Emerging Spring Plants at Windy Corner
May 24, 2026
Roadside parking at Mile 106.6, Seward Highway*Rescheduled to May 24* Early snowmelt on Turnagain Arm makes it one of the first places to find plant growth near Anchorage. Expect 3-4 hours, 2 miles, on the Turnagain Arm Trail, which is fairly level, but rocky in places. RSVP: It is required to contact trip leaders Dennis & Annie Ronsse (dennis.ronsse@gmail.com to reserve a spot. Non-ANPS members welcome, but due to narrow trail, this trip will be limited to 10 participants with priority given to AKNPS members.
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- May 27, 2026
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Alaska Native Plant Month Walk - Rodak Trail
May 27, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Beth Baker will lead a 2-3 mile hike around the Rodak Trail with a botany focus talking about the boreal forest and plant adaptations while pointing out flowers and trees. The hike is sponsored by the Eagle River Nature Center in celebration of May as Alaska Native Plant Month.
Registration required: $5/person, limited to 20 participants. Register at this link. -
Willow Wander
May 27, 2026 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Moose Creek Bluff parking area, North PoleJoin the Interior Alaska Native Plant Society club for a Wednesday Willow Wander at the Moose Creek groyne, a rich spot for willow species about 25 minutes from Fairbanks. Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QSa9FLg89ni3s1y47. This field trip is led by Cam Webb and you can read more here: https://groups.io/g/InteriorANPS/message/216
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- June 1, 2026
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Lichens of Chugach State Park
June 1, 2026 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Falls Creek Trailhead, Milepost 105.6, Seward HighwayJoin Preston Villumsen for a ~ 5-hour hike to collect lichens for the Flora of Chugach State Park Project. These collections are authorized under a special use permit.
RSVP required to TigerBeetle275@protonmail.com.
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- June 10, 2026
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Silver Fern Trail Stroll
June 10, 2026 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Upper Huffman Trailhead, Sultana Dr, Anchorage, AK 99516, USAJoin Marilyn Barker for a stroll on the Silver Fern Trail thru sub-alpine meadow and hemlock forest. Plan for 2-3 hours. The trail has gradual elevation gains.
RSVP Required: Contact Marilyn Barker (marilynbarker29@gmail.com) to reserve a spot.
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- June 13, 2026
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Family Hike at Turnagain Arm Trail
June 13, 2026 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Rainbow Trailhead parking lot, Mile 108 of the Seward HighwayA hike especially for families with kids, expect 3-4 hours (3 miles round trip) along the Turnagain Arm Trail.
RSVP: It is required to contact trip leader Jeanne Osnas (jldosnas@gmail.com) to reserve a spot. -
Near Point Field Trip
June 13, 2026 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Prospect Heights Trailhead, Chugach State ParkJoin Glenn Brown for a six-plus hour hike. Expect 6+ hours; total distance is about 8 miles with 2,250 feet of ascent. The hike will include some alternate trails on the ascent as well as a short side trip to a bog on the descent, so expect to see a wide variety of ecological niches and plants. Portions of the trail are easy walking but others, including the climb to the summit, are moderately difficult. Also, the trails are quite muddy in places, so expect to have muddy, wet boots by the end. Bring a lunch and warm garments as weather can change quickly above tree line.
RSVP Required: Contact Glenn Brown (gbrown@aknps.org) a few days before to confirm space and get an update about possible changes to the plan.
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- June 14, 2026
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Flora & Pollinators of Arctic Valley & Mt. Gordon Lyon
June 14, 2026 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Arctic Valley Ski Area (Parking $5/day)Expect 5-6 Hrs, 5 miles, with 1,763 feet ascent over Mt. Gordon Lyon in a loop route back to the parking lot. Local amateur expert lepidopterist Brian McGurgen, will co-lead the trip. Open to the public, but priority given to Native Plant Society members. Limit 15 participants.
RSVP Required: Contact Dennis Ronsse (dennis.ronsse@gmail.com) to reserve a space and receive updates on possible changes due to weather.
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Meeting Location
AKNPS currently holds its monthly member meetings via Zoom and in-person. Some meetings may be virtual (Zoom) only to accommodate remote speakers. Please reference meeting information in the calendar below or in member emails. In-person meetings are held at the Campbell Creek Science Center (see map below). Members will receive emails containing information to access the webinars prior to meeting dates. In-person and virtual meetings are also open to the public. If you would like to listen to a virtual meeting, please email the webmaster requesting the meeting information.
