The Matanuska Outdoor Institute strives to inspire personal growth, a deeper connection with the outdoors, and authentic experiences. MOI Alaska commits to exceptional support and high quality individually focused learning.
Things to know about our program
Who we are
In addition to our team of professional educators, MOI is backed, trained and operated under the guidance of the outdoor professionals of MICA Guides. For over 20 years, MICA Guides has helped thousands of visitors explore and challenge themselves with zero major injuries or incidents.
Where we are
Our off-grid campus and surroundings above the Matanuska River provide us with an ideal setting for Place Based Education. Our location provides a classroom filled with challenges and opportunities for teens to put aside modern devices and tools, participate in building camp, navigate the backcountry, cross rivers and glaciers, climb rock and ice, cook for a group, prepare meals for their new community, assess outdoor problems on their own and make decisions with their team.
Our standard pick-up and drop off location is in Palmer, Alaska approximately 45 miles from Anchorage. But we understand students may be flying into Anchorage or it may be difficult or inconvenient to bring your teen to Palmer from Anchorage. If this is the case you may select an Anchorage pick up for a small additional fee when you’re booking the course online. In the FAQ (link below), please pay particular attention to requirements for flying to Anchorage to meet us.
Learn about flying to Anchorage in our FAQ
What we do
How we teach
Our instructors value the power of the group and leverage restorative practices during our classes and meetings to create a strong community where everyone feels valued and can take risks in a supportive environment.
How we live
Building and cooking with fire, hauling water, setting up shelters and planning meals together are key elements of the day to day learning opportunities.
About Risk
Our goal is for a student to leave our program feeling more confident and capable.
More about Risk.
Costs
What's not included
Tuition does not include
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- Any transport costs to Palmer, Alaska.
- Any expenses you may incur for extra snack or specialty foods, laundry, showers, souvenirs etc.
- Emergency evacuation or medical care beyond that administered by the staff of MOI.
- Accommodation and meal expense before or after trip dates as outlined in the booking.
- Required personal equipment in accordance with the provided gear list.
- Replacing a student’s lost or broken gear.
- Additional costs associated with a student’s interrupted, delayed, rebooked, or cancelled transportation on opening or closing days or if a student leaves a trip early.
What's included
Tuition includes:
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- Transportation to and from Palmer at the start and end of the course.
- All instruction, permits, entry fees and local transportation that is planned as part of the program.
- “Group Gear” such as kitchen equipment, technical gear, tents and shelters, emergency equipment, climbing equipment.
- All meals and snacks from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on the last day of the Course.
Cancellations and Refunds
We strive to be reasonable people. Requests for refunds based on legitimate life issues such as sickness, illness, death, major life challenges will be considered for 100% refunds up until 14 days prior to the start date. We will ask for and verify proof of such a crisis prior to issuing any refunds.
Cancellations for other reasons can be made with 100% refund prior to 30 days before the start date of the course. After that refunds will be considered and prorated on a case-by-case basis.
No refunds for any reason within 14 days of the start date of the course.
Once a trip starts, no refund will be granted to a student who withdraws voluntarily or who is sent home because of unacceptable behavior or disciplinary reasons; poor physical condition; illness or injury; mental health concerns; prolonged homesickness; or pre-existing medical or physical condition or injury that prevents them from completing the trip or activities on the trip and/or that was not disclosed to MOI during the admissions process. All additional travel, lodging, supervisory, or any other expenses incurred by MOI are the responsibility of the family.
Pay it Forward
We work hard to make our courses possible for a wide range of students by working with various programs to secure tuition funding. One way that you can help is through our “Pay it Forward” program. When booking online, at check-out you’ll see an option to add a donation amount to the tuition you’re paying for your teen. 100% of these donations will go towards tuition assistance through our partner organizations.
The Matanuska Outdoor Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and your donation may be tax deductible.
Scholarships Available
We want our courses to be accessible to everyone.
Generous donations from our community make this program possible. Thanks to our partners, we are able to offer discounts for a limited number of students. They can’t last forever, so take advantage of them while supplies last! Sponsors and scholarship amounts will change each month. Booking earlier will save you more.
This month’s sponsor is MICA Guides. Book online and use the code MICAGUIDES to save 50% on your tuition.
