This piece by Preston Busby took the form of a “vox pop” or a series of clips from different people responding to the same questions. His focus was on global climate change, what it means to individuals and how it affects them, and whether or not they think our leaders are doing enough for the issue.This piece gave insight into how an issue like climate change is percieved by teens and how they see it on both an individual and poltical basis.

Download QuickTime (4:01min, 4MB)

This piece by Jacob Israel takes the issue of permafrost melt and explores it in depth. Jacob describes the different types of permafrost and how global warming can cause these deposits to melt. Jacob explores an area of permafrost within Anchorage and illustrates how the melting of permafrost can be very detrimental to the infrastructure built upon it.

Download QuickTime (4:33min, 6MB)

In her piece, Daria Isaac took her experience with erosion on her home of St. Paul Island and further explored the issue, utlizing the scientific community in Anchorage to explain why erosion happens, how climate change is making it worse, and what is being done to combat the problem. She expanded the issue to incorporate not just how this problem is affecting her community, but how it is also tied to the global issue of climate change.

Download MP3 (2:28min, 3MB)

In her piece, Steph Thompson took a more personal approach and created an “I” piece, a personal reflection on global warming and climate change. Steph compared her journey to adulthood and her discovery of the issue of climate change to the new challenges faced by society in combating this environmental problem – as she is changing, society is too. This piece, along with being reflective, incorporates voices and opinions from others who are affected and concerned about the future of our environment.

Download MP3 (4:26min, 5MB)

After lunch and community mapping the campers split up into their separate family groups to find their tracks.

Two family groups met up with Audio track instructors Paul Flahive, Sara Perman, and Shana Sheehy. The track lesson began with an explanation of what audio consists of, and why it is so cool. First the students learned about the different types of peices- ranging from Vox Pops (short for Vox Populi, Voice of the People) to full length packages. The instructors played pieces for the students so they could get a feel for the difference. After talking about what they did and didn’t like the kids were given the chance to use the recording kits.

Paul, Sara, and Shana taught the students how to operate the kits, how to get good sounds and how to recieve good interviews. After testing the kits out on each other, the track students headed outside to get interviews with campers from another camp, EFY, happening on campus at the same time. All
of the track students met and chatted with the EFY campers and were able to learn some valuable interviewing skills.

At the end of the day the group returned inside and began to discuss story ideas for their greater project. The students and instructors brainstormed different ideas ranging from melting permafrost all the way to societies role in global warming.

Tomorrow the campers will have come up with solid story ideas and begin the working process with interviewing.

Hundreds of youth from across Alaska are at the University of Alaska Anchorage this week attending Especially For Youth, or EFY. As one camper said, this Latter Day Saints event helps Mormon teens connect with their faith.

“We get together every four years, I think. I’m here from Fairbanks and this week I get to see my friends from all over and deepen my spirituality.”

Audio Track students from the Summer Institute talked with a handful of EFY participants this afternoon. EFY kids got to tell us what’s going on while SI students got hands-on time with audio equipment. In addition to talking with our youth, EFY participants collected in the UAA quad to play games on the grass, break out in spontaneous song and generally have a good time.

Download MP3 (3:38min, 3MB)