I find it remarkable that the birch leaves are already changing color. It’s only mid-August, and the ferns are drying up; subtle hints of yellow are appearing among the birch leaves, and it actually gets dark at night now. That’s just how it is in Alaska. On the brighter side: There seems to be a decrease in moose numbers this year, at least around here, but grouse season is now open. I enjoy hunting grouse. I can shoot one, stow it in my game bag, and move on to find another. Moose? That’s a different story. If only I knew someone who could fly a moose out, but I don’t, which would mean all that labor falls entirely on my aging back.

Speaking of which: Alaska has aviation summer camps for kids. Well, honestly, if any place was going to have this, it would be Alaska.

Alaska and aviation go hand in hand, and inspiring the next generation of aviators is part of keeping the last frontier moving forward.

Prior to the start of school, a summer aviation camp for middle schoolers visited Fort Wainwright to explore aviation opportunities available in Alaska.

“The goal of the camp is to introduce students to various careers in aviation and provide some insight into Alaska’s aviation history,” said Lauren Crowe, a training specialist with the National Park Service.

Throughout the camp, the students gained insights into the aviation industry in Alaska by visiting different sites around Fairbanks and connecting with professionals from various sectors.

One of the highlights was their visit to Fairbanks International Airport, where the kids had the “opportunity to tour the air traffic control tower and the flight service station,” according to Crowe. They also engaged with representatives from the National Weather Service, Civil Air Patrol, and National Air Guard.

As I often mention, Alaska is deeply tied to aviation. The state wouldn’t be what it is without aviation, from the large cargo planes delivering goods to Anchorage and Fairbanks, to the old DC-3s transporting supplies to remote villages and work sites, to the bush planes that carry hunters and fishermen deep into the wild expanses that constitute much of Alaska. They also offer sightseeing tours for tourists and sometimes deliver crucial medications to isolated areas.

It’s great to see that we’re exposing kids to this at a young age. We’ll need more pilots.

Alaska Man score: 5 moose nuggets. Well done.

This week’s dumb cook must be a Democrat. Why would I say that? Well, read:

On 08/15/2025 at approximately 23:31 Troopers were dispatched to Badger Gas on reports of a female throwing rocks at vehicles and screaming.   Brittany Blue, age 36 of North Pole was located in a nearby playground, and arrested for disorderly contact after she continued to scream in a public place.  She was remanded to FCC with no further incident.

Screaming sure seems like Democrat behavior to me. The recent visit by President Trump to the Great Land sure brought out Anchorage’s unhinged left, and plenty of screaming went on. Maybe this Brittany Blue is suffering from Stage 4 Trump Derangement Syndrome – or maybe she’s just a nut.

Alaska Man score: Nil. She’s crazy either way and rates no recognition.

Now, let me show you something in the way of matched sets.