Our Sustainability Spotlight series is aimed at broadening the conversation surrounding sustainable tourism for visitors and businesses by sharing the stories of our Adventure Green Alaska certified businesses. To learn more about Adventure Green Alaska certification please visit our about page.

About the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center

The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center opened in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2008 as a community collaboration to celebrate and share the appreciation Alaskans have of the Interior’s cultures, history, heritage, traditions and lifestyles. Named after Koyukon Athabascan leader Morris Thompson, the center serves as a welcoming hub for visitors and residents alike, offering exhibits, programs, and events that highlight local history, lifestyles, Alaska Native culture and opportunities to explore the Interior.

How long has your business been implementing sustainable practices?

We’ve incorporated sustainable practices since our inception in 2008. From the beginning, sustainability and cultural stewardship have guided our facility’s operations, programming, and community partnerships.

What advice do you have for tourism businesses that are beginning their sustainability journey?

Start small, remain intentional, and consistently engage your staff and community. Sustainability isn’t just about large-scale actions; it’s built on everyday choices that collectively make a significant impact. Sustainability is frequently better for your bottom line in the long run, with reduced operational costs.

We are particularly proud of our cultural sustainability practices, including strong partnerships with Indigenous communities to ensure authentic representation and education. This collaboration directly enriches visitor experiences and supports cultural preservation.

On the facility side, we have converted almost all of our lights to LED fixtures, with a cost savings significant enough that our electric bills now are less than 10 years, even though the effective rate from our electric utility is about 53% higher today. The building’s heat comes from the local hot water feed. MTCVC does not have a boiler using oil or gas, and does not have to maintain storage for heating oil nor have to have a response plan for potential heating oil spills.

The produce that is grown in the garden by the cabin at MTCVC is shared with Breadline, a local non-profit in Fairbanks.

Which pillar of the Adventure Green Alaska program aligns most with your business?

Our strongest alignments are with cultural sustainability. Our exhibits were developed in partnership with Tanana Chiefs Conference and using the expertise of the National Park Service’s interpretive rangers. Activities at MTCVC include storytelling, traditional skill demonstrations and classes, as well as our Alaska Native Gift Shop offerings are from regional artisans, many of whom are elders, who can share their arts and traditions with our guests.

Collaboration with the Adventure Green Alaska Program

Adventure Green Alaska has provided valuable guidance and recognition that reinforces our commitment to sustainability. People like to shop their values, and AGA elevates our profile among environmentally and culturally conscious travelers.

To learn more about the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, visit their Green Business profile and their website.

Our Sustainability Spotlight series is aimed at broadening the conversation surrounding sustainable tourism for visitors and businesses by sharing the stories of our Adventure Green Alaska certified businesses. To learn more about Adventure Green Alaska certification please visit our about page.

About Out to Sea Expedition Company

Founded in 2019 by Ketchikan locals Eric Lunde and Delaney Murphy, Out to Sea Expedition Company is an outdoor adventure business specializing in small group, nature & wildlife eco-tours aboard fully inflatable Zodiacs. The couple was inspired by their mutual love of the pristine wilderness and wildness of Alaska, and a desire to share their beautiful home with visitors from around the world in a way that is both responsible and authentically Alaskan. Eric has worked in the maritime industry in Alaska for over 25 years and Delaney comes from a local commercial fishing family, so they are both at home on the ocean and enjoy sharing the magic of Southeast Alaska with their guests. Out to Sea Expeditions caters to adventurous visitors that want to get off the beaten path and explore Alaska with all of their senses.

How long has your business been implementing sustainable practices?

Out to Sea Expeditions was established with the belief that we can have fun and explore our world, while also being good stewards of our environment and community. We created our company to be environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, and though starting a small tourism business 8 months before a global pandemic was less than ideal, we never wavered from our commitment. In addition to our Adventure Green Alaska certification, Out to Sea is currently the only 1% for the Planet business operating in Ketchikan. We are also members of Whale SENSE and use our required stewardship project to focus on removing marine debris and participating in citizen science.

What advice do you have for tourism businesses that are beginning their sustainability journey?

It’s easier to build sustainability into your business from the beginning, but it’s never too late to implement positive change. Tourism businesses do not exist in a vacuum, and we need to consider the way our activities impact the environment and communities in which we operate. Start with identifying areas where your business can improve/reduce negative impacts, then move to finding ways your operations can benefit the surrounding ecosystem (this includes both the natural environment, local communities, cultures etc.) We’re all learning, and you won’t always get it right, but progress is more important than perfection when it comes to developing a more sustainable tourism industry.

What sustainable practice is your business most proud of?

As a part of our participation in Whale SENSE, we conduct an annual stewardship project within our community. Since 2021 our focus has been on removing marine debris from our beaches and waters. This includes at least one beach cleanup each summer and removing items from the ocean on our daily tours. We often return to the same remote beaches each year, and we are proud to say that we have seen a noticeable difference at one site in just a few years of removing marine debris, but there is still a lot of work to do! In 2024, we also began monitoring for invasive European Green Crab as a part of our effort to incorporate citizen science into our stewardship project. The recent discovery of this invasive species in our area is very concerning due to the potential ecosystem impacts. Monitoring can aid in detection of the invasive species, while also providing scientists with baseline data of existing species. This year we hope to increase our monitoring efforts and include this citizen science project into more of our trips!

Which pillars of the Adventure Green Alaska program aligns most with your business?

The pillars that most align with our business are local economies and communities and the environment. We chose fully inflatable Zodiac Milpro HD vessels as our platform to explore the waters surrounding Ketchikan because they are quiet, fuel efficient, and they get our guests closer to the environment, letting them experience salty splashes, the sound of calling birds and the distant breath of a marine mammal, or even the feeling of rain that nourishes our forests. It is our responsibility to set a good example for our guests, and when we remove marine debris from the ocean or respectfully view magnificent marine mammals, we have an opportunity to provide education and inspire action about the issues affecting the incredible nature and wildlife they experience while visiting Alaska. Beyond being good stewards of our environment, we must also be good stewards of our community. We are business owners, but we are also community members, and we want to see our community thrive. When we support local events, nonprofits, and other small businesses, we are investing in the future of the place we love.

Collaboration with the Adventure Green Alaska program

The Adventure Green Alaska program has benefited our business by allowing us to connect with other Alaskan businesses that share similar values and provide inspiration that helps us to continuously improve our own sustainability practices.

To learn more about Out to Sea Expedition Company, visit their Green Business profile and their website.