Roughly 2,000 seasonal workers descend on Skagway at the start of each cruise ship season. A week of events and classes get new workers acclimated to the town’s unique life. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson tells us about this Skagway tradition.
Skagway’s year-round population is 900 souls, according to the town’s Visitor Department. That number triples in April and May when seasonal employees arrive. For the past three years, the community has provided a full week of introduction activities. Known as boot camp for newbies, the events help seasonal workers cope with life in a rural Alaska borough.
“I came here in 2014,” said Jacob Watson, program manager for Skagway Development Corporation. “And it was a culture shock for me coming from the East Coast, as I think it is with a lot of people.”
Watson pieced together this year’s workforce orientation.
“I think it’s great that we have these events that kind of let people know what the community of Skagway is all about,” Watson said.
This year’s boot camp was held April 22-28. Dahl Memorial Clinic provided free Sexually Transmitted Infection testing. The National Park Service gave a presentation on bear safety and historian Jeff Brady spoke about Skagway’s history. The following night, Red Onion Head Madame Wilma Loveall gave the racy version that celebrated women, and in particular, Skagway’s historic sex workers. Skagway Brewing held a business mixer that finished with a tour of their indoor aeroponic farm. In aeroponics, plants don’t grow in soil or water and are fed via a nutrient rich mist.
Skagway’s year-round residents want seasonal workers to be informed, happy and healthy. The town relies on the workers who spend about six months helping to manage the more than 1.2 million cruise ship passengers. Unlike other communities, Skagway doesn’t have a diversified economy. Once the cruise ships leave, a majority of the businesses on Broadway will close for the winter.
Happy Endings Saloon was full of fresh faces for the Leisure Sports presentation on April 22.
Owner Beth Smith urged seasonal employees to be active outside of work.
“My advice is just to get involved with some of this stuff, because you’ll start to meet people in the community rather than just the tourists and it’s just a great way to really get the most out of Skagway,” Smith said.
There are many opportunities for sports with cornhole every Wednesday and co-ed softball on Mondays, along with the upcoming Duffs Marathon and the Klondike Relay.
Long-time resident John Tronrud spoke about hiking. He reminded the crowd that Skagway is still the wilderness. Hikers should let someone know where they’re going.
“You know, years ago, there was a guy, we ended up waiting one night for him to come back on a cruise ship, an experienced hiker,” Tronrud said. “And he’s never been found.”
While the attendees took note of the bear story, they remained excited. Many commented on the beauty of the town, and just how nice everyone is.
Kris Swiggum is from California. She finds Skagway enchanting.
“…when we were walking around earlier and it was like, so quiet. It was like a movie set,” Swiggum said. “I just loved it.”
Ellis Collier has been living in Maine and New York. He says so far, he’s appreciating his Skagway experience.
“I think it feels alive to me in a way other places don’t,” Collier said. “Like, I feel like every other place I’m in, I slowly feel like I’m closing parts of myself. And I feel like getting here, I immediately feel like I want to and feel the ability to start opening those parts of myself back.”
