Our Story
2023
2022
2022 was a year of an amazing involvement in the community. Not only did the garden flourish but what we were able to give to the community flourished as well. Being able to serve our local senior center by washing their windows, cleaning their driveways, and getting to have some quality time communicating with them and playing card games. We had 2 groups of volunteers 1 from the Hope Youth Core from the family of churches and another from a Christian school in Atlanta. The volunteer groups were able to assist in the previously stated community activities. Both of these groups assisted in a 1-week summer school for the local community member parents, where we had the chance to just show these kids a fun summer as well as an example of Jesus. 2022 was an amazing year of growth for the camp.
2021
Gateway began its COVID-19 recovery by opening back up the community day camp. Our Teen Camp and Volunteer Corp included weekly volunteer opportunities for the campers to participate in. We sought to build stronger relationships with our next-door neighbors and Talkeetna food pantry. Gateway embraced its color as campers painted birdhouses that brought the camp to life and students delighted in attending dance classes--as the dance studio opened up. A reading path and outdoor library were built, along with our first Gateway to the Arctic Welcome Sign which allows drivers to become more aware of our beautiful location. Our social media engagement growth grew by over 100% as we gained followers. With much potential for opportunity and visibility, Gateway began renovations on the Airbnb houses that were built on-site. The summer's end was celebrated with Gateway's first-ever Community Day event; we sold camp merchandise including water bottles, camp-made soaps, chapsticks, candles, bee honey, fireweed honey, tea, and of course, fresh produce and fruits from the garden.
2020
Like every other organization, Gateway to the Arctic was dramatically affected by COVID-19. Most of our spring and summer camps and programs were canceled, driving us to shift our focus to growing the agricultural side of Gateway. We hired an agricultural manager and added to our livestock, including a handful of goats, six pigs for our pork share program, and chickens grown in our incubator. Our focus on agriculture provided participants of our inclusive employment program with additional opportunities to build skills in gardening and animal husbandry, as well and give Gateway the chance to donate more produce to the community.
2019
Gateway to the Arctic began working toward becoming a completely self-sustaining organization. In June, we were able to purchase the land G2A is built on from the Mat-Su Borough. We hired two new staff members, David and Jenn Bozard, who are helping the camp pursue new ways to be financially sustainable.
Gateway became a year-round operation, with a number of full-time residents and programs. One of the major additions this year is a dance program to make the arts accessible to individuals of all abilities and income levels. G2A had two major building projects this year — the barn and a group home. The barn is now used as a storage and workshop space, with our dance studio in the loft.
2018
Gateway continued to take care of hens and added 30 broilers (meat chickens) to the farm! The broilers were butchered in August were sold at the camp’s first chicken auction. Over $3,000 was raised to be put back into the camp. G2A also began beekeeping and had a hive of more than 300 bees. Our interns spent the summer helping the bees build up their honeycomb, and the camp hopes to start harvesting fresh honey soon.
Gateway to the Arctic expanded it’s inclusive employment program and hired on four new employees. These guys worked extremely hard and learned valuable skills in farming, carpentry, and construction.
2017
Gateway to the Arctic added 11 chickens to the farm! The addition of livestock was a hit with the campers, who loved feeding them and collecting eggs for their meals. This was also the camp’s first year tapping birch trees, and volunteers produced more than five gallons of birch syrup.
G2A was proud to introduce its inclusive employment program at this year. As the camp continued to serve those in the special needs community through camps, G2A saw a need for meaningful employment opportunities for these individuals. In response to this, the camp partnered with Nadon Family Home and hired two new employees through the program.
2016
The major construction of the Keystone Lodge was completed. Additions to the lodge included a kitchen, bathrooms, installation of a large wood burning stove, pine paneling on the walls and the ceiling, and the construction of an arctic entry. The addition of the wood burning stove allowed the camp to heat the lodge in the colder months and lengthen the availability of programming to year round. G2A added a sauna, a sap evaporator pavilion (or “Sugar Shack”), raised garden beds, and a new agricultural field as well.
2015
In May of 2015, we built “The Village,” a set of five cabins at the camp. Amazingly, these five cabins were built in four days with the help of so many people. During this retreat, a playground was also completed.
The construction of the Keystone Lodge began, a tribute to Stephany Nadon’s family ranch. In 2015, the concrete footing was set, the posts and beams constructed and set in place, and most of the exterior walls were constructed.
As G2A continued to assess its community’s needs, it saw another underserved segment of our population: the special aiblities community. Thus, G2A began partnering with organizations that served individuals who experience disabilities and provided two specialized, inclusive camps to meet their needs.
2014
Gateway to the Arctic put up a high tunnel greenhouse, planted a garden, and held its first camps in partnership with chapters of the Boys and Girls Club. That summer, “Ted’s Shed” — a shed built by Ted — was also put up. For the next few years, this structure would act as the camp’s main meeting place, outfitted with a small, generator-powered kitchen. Although people no longer had to stay in tents when they came to the camp, there was still no running water or electricity.
2013
Gateway to the Arctic was established in the summer of 2013 in order to meet Alaska’s need for a sustainable organization dedicated to cultivating the lives of underprivileged youth and other underserved populations. Gateway to the Arctic intends to provide those sustainable, high-impact services needed. G2A is the product of the vision and initiative of Ray and Stephany Nadon.
Starting with 101 acres of Alaskan bush, volunteers spent that summer clearing trees with the vision of building a camp that could meet the needs of Alaska’s most in-need populations. In just a few short months, more than eight acres of fields were cleared, and four cabins and a road were built.