Youth Programs
2026 Youth Essay Contest
Do you want a conservation-based, outdoor career? Enter to win a three-day stay at Ultima Thule Lodge.
Deadline
October 31, 2026
Open To
Alaskan Youth 12–16
Format
5 Paragraphs, 400+ Words
Winners Notified
November 30, 2026
The Assignment
Write about the outdoor career you want
Your essay should be about why you want to have an outdoor career, and should describe and incorporate your passion for wilderness and wildlife in Alaska.
Contestants must use a traditional five-paragraph essay format. Essays of fewer than 400 words, or not in exactly five paragraphs, will be disqualified.
Send your essay to admin@alaskaprohunter.org by October 31, 2026. Winners will be notified by November 30, 2026.
Scoring
How essays are judged
Knowledge of Wildlife
What you know about Alaska’s wildlife, and how well that understanding comes through in your writing.
Why Wildlife Conservation Is Important
Your grasp of why conservation matters, and what is at stake without it.
What Good Stewardship Means to You
What being a good steward of the wilderness environment means in your own words.
Creativity
How well you tell the story, not just what you know.
Prizes
What the winners receive
First Place
A three-day stay at Ultima Thule Lodge, KUIU gear, and recognition in APHA Magazine.
Second Place
KUIU gear and recognition in APHA Magazine.
Third Place
KUIU gear and recognition in APHA Magazine.
The Trip
About the stay at Ultima Thule
Winners and one guardian will be guests of the Claus family at Ultima Thule Lodge for a conservation-based introduction to life in the wilderness, tailored to their experience and interests. Specific dates are determined by the lodge, and arrangements are made between parents and the Claus family. An APHA chaperone will accompany the trip.
If the first-place winner is unavailable to attend, the opportunity is offered to second place, then third. Prior winners are not eligible to enter. APHA is not responsible for any liability arising from the winning trip.