Learning through Subsistence, Haines Borough School District

The city of Haines is considered low risk, so students in the Haines Borough School District (HBSD) are currently attending school in-person, with an option for virtual learning. COVID-19 mitigation efforts include a mask requirement in school buildings, grade level pods, designated entrances and exits, daily parent health screenings, and social distancing. The Haines Glacier Bears were excited to be able to return to school in person on August 20! 

The HBSD’s mission is to utilize the abundant resources of the Chilkat Valley, empower students to be contributing members of society and critical thinkers, and to prepare students for individual success. One way that HBSD utilizes the resources in the Haines area is to incorporate subsistence into their curriculum. 

The start of the new school year is also moose season in the Upper Lynn Canal! This season is important to Alaskans who live a subsistence lifestyle. When a sub-legal bull moose is taken, the meat is donated to a local nonprofit or school. This year a bull moose was donated to the Haines Borough School District!

Many of the students at Haines High School live a subsistence lifestyle by hunting and fishing for their family’s food source. These experienced student hunters took part in processing the moose, cutting the meat from the bones, and preparing it to be used by the Haines School Food Service Program.

Students were versed in proper knife and safety skills in the kitchen before beginning the process. In addition to learning culinary skills, life skills, and wildlife anatomy, Haines High School’s English teacher incorporated literature into the process by having students listen to the audiobook The Jungle by Upton Sinclair while they processed the meat. 

The moose meat will be ground and used for school meals like spaghetti, meatloaf, burgers, tacos, and many other delicious and nutritious lunches for Haines students! 

Watch the great video HBSD created documenting the  preparation of the moose. 

Thank you, HBSD, for incorporating the Alaska subsistence lifestyle into your curriculum!