Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Tenakee Springs?
Tenakee Springs is on Chichagoff Island with no road access. To get to Tenakee you must travel by Alaska Marine Highway or book a regularly scheduled flight from Juneau on Alaska Seaplanes or charter a flight on Alaska Seaplanes or Ward Air. You can also travel to Tenakee via private boat or charter boat.
What is the largest international airport closest to Tenakee Springs?
Juneau is the regional transportation hub. Alaska Airlines provides service to and from Juneau.
Where can I find a doctor or a dentist?
Juneau or Sitka are the closest locations that offer doctors and dentists. You can locate them through the Juneau or Sitka yellow pages.
Where can I buy groceries and other goods?
Tenakee Springs has one local grocery store that carries an amazing amount of variety from eggs to hardware. Snyder Mercantile has been a mainstay in Tenakee springs for over 100 years. Most people in Tenakee also live a subsistence lifestyle and hunt, fish and gather to supplement buying groceries. Tenakee Springs receives barge services four times per year which allows you to ship in supplies. You can also take a trip into Juneau to stock up on items not available in Tenakee.
What type of housing is available in Tenakee Springs?
Housing is tight in Tenakee and is usually found via personal knowledge. The Advisory School Board is working on obtaining a list of rentals as well as working on renovating the old school into a rental unit.
Recreation? What’s available?
Most recreation is self generated and outdoor oriented. There are some indoor group activities such as contra dancing, and weekly volleyball games, surprisingly enough there is an amazing variety of opportunities for such a small town.
What if there is an emergency?
All local emergency response is by volunteer good Samaritans. They are trained and can provide first aid and basic life support. Tenakee is equipped with a helipad so if an emergency did happen you would be transported by helicopter or plane to a Juneau or Sitka emergency room.
What about employment? What jobs are available?
Local employers include the US Postal services, Chatham School District, City of Tenakee Springs, Snyder Mercantile, Party Time Bakery, Fishing Bear Charters, Tenakee Fuel, Tenakee Electric, Tenakee Library, the boat harbor, All Season Construction, as well as some fishing opportunities.
What is available at the school?
· pre-school: We do not currently have a preschool program. We have however, in the past (paid for with grants), and have a room full of quality pre-school materials. Parentshave worked with their pre-school children and otherpreschoolers here at the school, using our materials, but without pay.
· special ed.: Our District supports and offers a traveling special-ed Teacher to help implement educational plans, and monitor the students progress. Chatham also offers related services such as Physical and Occupational therapists. Please contact the District Office for additional questions and services offered.
· grading system: grades K-6 receive a narrative report card, with the higher grades using the following grade scale: A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79, D 60-69, F anything below 60.
· curriculum:The District is currently working on a district wide curriculum. Each site within our District will continue to offer flexibility with focus on the student’s needs and desires.
· multi-grade: Tenakee offers multi-grade education. In addition to our No Child Left Behind highly qualified staff, computer based programs are used to offer additional instruction based on the students needs and desires. Our goal is to always offer our students the best education available. We have a 100% graduation rate and historically our students have continued to score within the state’s top 10 percentile in Standard Based Assessment testing. Many of our students have also passed their High School Qualifying Exam during sophomore year.
· sports-while we can't play intramural with so few kids we have a 3/4 size indoor basketball court which the kids love. Also, Friday nights all winter long is volleyball night. Adults and kids play together. The physical Ed class has a lot of equipment for the kids; Archery, roller skating, field hockey to name a few. Poison ball is a big favorite, also foose ball and base ball is available.
Our students get a lot of one-one attention and thrive in this environment. They love new comers, they are a happy healthy group. This type of environment is not for everyone, but those who choose to be here usually excel.