Regenerative Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s a Choice Alaska Has to Make

From food systems to community-led tourism, our first session grounded the work—and pointed us toward what’s next: infrastructure.

Volunteers clearn debris and restore a washed out bridge on the Shoup Trail in Valdez.

Yesterday’s Foundations & Definitions session didn’t try to wrap regenerative tourism in a neat package.

It did something better—it made it real.

With regenerative tourism champion Mary Goddard from Sitka, and Cathy Renfeldt, from the Cordova Chamber of Commerce kicking us off, the conversation quickly moved past theory and into lived practice: what it actually looks like to shape tourism in a way that strengthens communities, culture, and place.

A few things stood out right away.

A few takeaways:

Regenerative starts with residents—not visitors

Regenerative is not a slogan, it’s operational shift. Cordova didn’t start with marketing. They started with community values, leadership teams, and local alignment—before shaping the visitor experience.

If it doesn’t change behavior, it’s not regenerative

Not awareness. Not branding. A shift in behavior and attitude.

Regenerative work is built, not written

Cathy didn’t describe a plan. She described:

• a living strategy

• ongoing input

• constant iteration

• real friction (funding, alignment, time)

Tourism will fill the vacuum if you don’t lead it

If communities don’t shape tourism early, they inherit it later. That idea came up again and again. If we don’t proactively define what we want, we have to live with someone else's ideas for us.

So where does infrastructure come in?

If yesterday helped us define what regenerative means, next week we tackle where it shows up physically on the ground: Trails. Facilities. Access points. Systems.

The places where people actually experience Alaska.

Next Tuesday, on April 21 from Noon–1:30 AKT we’ll hear from Haley Johnston from Alaska Trails and Chris Mertl of Corvus Designs —two people deeply involved in shaping outdoor infrastructure across the state.

We’ll dig into questions like:

• What does regenerative infrastructure actually look like?

• Who needs to be in the room when it’s planned?

• How do we design systems that reflect community values—not just user demand?

• And how do we avoid repeating extractive patterns in the very places meant to connect people to land?

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Same format. Same energy.

Short opening perspectives, then the conversation belongs to everyone in the room.

If you care about or are affected by how Alaska builds—and rebuilds—its outdoor spaces, this session is for you.

Join us Tuesday. Bring your perspective.

Here's the link to register.