IHTA has hired an Executive Director
Betsi Oliver (c) Lauren Roberts 2023
IHTA is pleased to welcome our new Executive Director, Betsi Oliver, who started with us on March 17, 2025. Betsi provided this bio:
Betsi grew up in New England, camping and exploring public lands from infancy. Her parents had worked for Alaska DOT and Alyeska Pipeline before they moved east, so Alaska was always in her sights as the land of adventure, a sort of cultural home. She moved to Alaska in 2009 for a Student Conservation Association internship at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. At the time, she didn’t know the move was permanent! It launched her career in partnering with public lands and connecting people to the Alaskan outdoors. This career has led her to some fascinating roles: creating Chugach National Forest’s youth stewardship programs with Alaska Geographic; leading field trips for BLM at the Campbell Creek Science Center; teaching Wilderness First Aid to outdoor guides as well as village youth; managing grants and volunteers at Anchorage Park Foundation; connecting volunteers with conservation advocacy at Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council. She is excited to bring her experience in non-profit partnership with public lands, youth education, and community engagement to Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance. She especially looks forward to geting to know the northern part of the Iditarod National Historic Trail corridor and the people who live along it!
Betsi grew up in New England, camping and exploring public lands from infancy. Her parents had worked for Alaska DOT and Alyeska Pipeline before they moved east, so Alaska was always in her sights as the land of adventure, a sort of cultural home. She moved to Alaska in 2009 for a Student Conservation Association internship at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. At the time, she didn’t know the move was permanent! It launched her career in partnering with public lands and connecting people to the Alaskan outdoors. This career has led her to some fascinating roles: creating Chugach National Forest’s youth stewardship programs with Alaska Geographic; leading field trips for BLM at the Campbell Creek Science Center; teaching Wilderness First Aid to outdoor guides as well as village youth; managing grants and volunteers at Anchorage Park Foundation; connecting volunteers with conservation advocacy at Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council. She is excited to bring her experience in non-profit partnership with public lands, youth education, and community engagement to Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance. She especially looks forward to geting to know the northern part of the Iditarod National Historic Trail corridor and the people who live along it!
The Trail For All Seasons
The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance promotes public awareness and protection of the Iditarod National Historic Trail and its gold-rush and Alaska Native heritage. How do we do this? By encouraging education programs and historical research to tell the story of the Trail. By assisting in the protection, improvement, maintenance and marking of the trail. And, by developing partnerships that foster stewardship commitments and support from land owners, local communities, organizations and others.
The Trail
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The Story
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Stewardship
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In the News |