Community Engagement Section

The Community Engagement section oversees and manages multiple contracts, programs and partnerships and evolved as a result of the initiatives in the most recent 2023-2027 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and burgeoning vision for Alaska to have an Office of Outdoor Recreation.

The SCORP supports 7 overarching goals:

1. Support the Alaska Outdoor Recreation Way of Life
2. Make Outdoor Recreation a Cornerstone of Alaska’s Economy
3. Grow the Outdoor Recreation Workforce; Use Outdoor Recreation to Attract and Retain Residents and Businesses
4. Empower and Enable Alaskans to Lead Active, Healthy Lives
5. Balance Outdoor Recreation Growth and Stewardship
6. Grow Stable and Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Funding
7. Strengthen Partnerships to Improve Outdoor Recreation Management

The Community Engagement team:
Wendy Joy Sailors, Community Engagement Program Manager
wendy.sailors@alaska.gov
(907) 269-8738

Mario Ayerdis, Community Engagement Program Coordinator
mario.ayerdis@alaska.gov
(907) 269-8708

Alex Ede, Community Engagement Project Assistant
alex.ede@alaska.gov
(907) 269-8889

The Community Engagement Section supports all DPOR sections and regions, and participates and promotes events and activities in the community to propel our mission, vision and our SCORP goals. This includes oversight of the website, social media, media inquiries and press releases.

We manage contracts and partnerships that produce revenue and/ or engage our local communities:

1. The Parks Store: a partnership with Alaska Geographic
2. Fee stations: contract with T2
3. Reservation System: contract with Reserve America
4. Parking, Boat Launch, and Disabled Veteran Camping Pass Decals: a contract with Color Art
5. OuterSpatial App: An app with all of our facilities accessible by phone
6. Artist-in-Residence Program
7. Volunteer Program; recruiting, processing of paperwork and manage volunteer uniform contract
8. Citizen’s Advisory Boards; help refine consistency across the state and assist in recruitment, bylaws, agenda items and public notifications
9. Families to Parks Events
10. Ambassador Program
11. GIS Data Hub – an outdoor recreation data hub of Alaska’s public lands providing easy access to mapping and outdoor recreation resources across the state.

Email our team with questions or comments at:
dnr.pks.community@alaska.gov