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Youth Area Watch Chugach School District 9312 Vanguard Drive, Suite 100 Anchorage, AK 99507 Phone: 907-522-7400 Fax: 907-522-3399 Send Email

	Overview - What is YAW? Youth Area Watch (YAW) is a program run by the Chugach School District and funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council. The program is designed to involve students in working with scientists while making a meaningful contribution to research and long-term monitoring projects in oil spill affected Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet communities. The program goals include: • Giving students "hands on" experiences with scientists. • Enabling students to make meaningful contributions to community-based research occurring in Exxon Valdez oil spill affected areas. • Helping increase communication between scientists and the communities affected by the oil spill. • Undertaking long-term monitoring projects within oil spill affected communities. • Increasing awareness about a variety of ecosystems. Youth from 8th to 12th grades conduct research identified and delegated by principal investigators who have indicated an interest in working with students. Project participants are involved in the gathering and monitoring of inter-tidal, oceanographic and meteorological data over time. Students also develop a local long-term monitoring project, which provides them the skills to participate in community-based science. Youth Area Watch participants foster long-term commitment to the goals set out in the EVOS GEM (Gulf Environmental Monitoring) plan and offer a positive community investment in that process. Participating communities include Chenega Bay, Cordova, Port Graham, Nanwalek, Seward, Tatitlek, Valdez and Whittier. Click here to watch the Youth Area Watch overview video