We're going on an expedition, what the heck are we going to be eating? Good question! Expedition eating is basically broken down in breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a constant supply of snacks. Every day 3-4 students are on Cook Crew. They spend the day (the whole day) cooking hot meals for everyone in camp. Breakfast and dinner are the big meals- just about everyone (~50 people) is in camp, and everyone eats together. Most students are out in the field most days, and after breakfast everyone with field work will pack their own trail lunch and snacks.

There is no shortage of food at JIRP, but the variety is limited by the constraints of working in the backcountry. Helicopters deliver food roughly every week, but fresh fruits and vegetable ("freshies") are limited and we often run out of specific items between grocery deliveries. 

Breakfast is often oatmeal or pancakes, with add-your-own toppings: brown sugar, fruit jam, peanut butter, raisins, and honey.

Trail lunch is usually an apple or an orange with make-your-own sandwiches or wraps: summer sausage, cheddar cheese, hummus, lettuce, tomato, mustard/mayo, peanut butter, and fruit jam. Trail lunch also includes gorp (peanuts, raisins, cashews, M&Ms mixed together) and a variety of granola bars. 

Dinner is up to the cooks, and we encourage the cooks to be creative! They have a pantry full of ingredients to choose from: Beans, rice, baking ingredients, canned and fresh vegetables, canned chicken/roast beef/tuna/SPAM, spices, pastas, tomato sauces, potatoes, and a variety of other things. 

Snacks are always available to everyone in the form of Pilot Bread (a dry cracker popular in Alaska) and peanut butter and jelly. We recognize that this isn't the most exciting choice, but we promise you will never go hungry.

Dietary Restrictions

We can accommodate the following dietary restrictions: Vegetarians, vegans, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, and specific mild allergies (ex: onions, soy sauce, nuts, etc.). We promise participants with these restrictions that we will work with them to make sure they have a balanced, nutritious diet; we cannot promise, unfortunately, that it will be an exciting diet. Because of the limitations of the food at JIRP, many participants choose to relax voluntary dietary restrictions for the course of the summer. Please contact our staff (office@juneauicefield.org), with specific questions or concerns. 

Note: We may not safely be able to accommodate severe allergies. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us (office@juneauicefield.org).