More Than A Dinner: Alaska Volunteers Embody the Heart of Ducks Unlimited in a Night of Unexpected Heroism

An enduring hallmark of Ducks Unlimited is its outstanding volunteers. That was never more evident than in the quick-thinking of volunteers from Alaska’s Bethel chapter, who leaped to the aid of others while preparing for a DU event. 

Earlier this year, California Regional Vice President Jan Young received a call: the Bethel, Alaska dinner needed more volunteers. Without hesitation, she agreed and soon found herself flying into the remote Alaskan town alongside five dedicated volunteers from Anchorage. 

Upon arrival at Bethel’s small airport, the group met Dave Weber, Alaska’s regional director, and Travis Burks, the local dinner chair. The volunteers piled into two vehicles and set off for a nearby lodge to rest before the event. 

For the Alaskans, the drive wasn’t anything to bat an eye at. The route followed ice roads, frozen rivers that, in this part of Alaska, serve as winter highways. But for the visitors, it was equal parts fascinating and nerve-wracking. 

As the convoy made steady progress across the ice, Burks, noticing the apprehension of his passengers, pointed to large wooden tripods along the road. He explained that these served as markers indicating the stability and depth of the ice. That day, the ice was four feet thick and the tripods stood tall near the river’s edge. 

“When the marker tips or falls through the ice, that’s our signal,” he said. 

Moments later, the situation took a dramatic turn. The vehicle ahead, carrying volunteer Annie Staudenmaier, her daughter, and her four-year-old granddaughter, veered slightly toward the shoreline and broke through the ice. 

The response was immediate. Burks stopped, jumped from the truck, and ran to the sinking vehicle. He pulled the toddler from her car seat in the second row without a drop of water touching her. She was quickly bundled into the second truck for warmth. Volunteers Beth and Sarah Steele helped keep her calm, while Burks and Weber assisted Annie and her daughter out of the waterlogged vehicle. Despite injuring his leg after falling through the ice himself, Burks remained focused on ensuring everyone’s safety and later drove the group back to the lodge. 

By the next morning, Burks, bruised but undeterred, was back to work alongside Weber and the volunteer team. They spent the day preparing for the event, transporting guests, and supporting logistics on every front. That evening, the Bethel Ducks Unlimited dinner exceeded expectations, raising over $60,000, a $20,000 increase from the prior year. 

The following day, when plane malfunctions stranded the volunteers in Bethel for several more days, Burks and his wife, Judith, once again stepped up, opening their home to provide hot meals, warm beds, and a place to regroup until the weather cleared for safe travel home. 

Alaska is no stranger to unpredictability, but the experience in Bethel served as a powerful reminder of the resilience and heart that define Ducks Unlimited’s volunteer community. In the face of icy roads and real danger, these Alaskan volunteers exemplified DU’s mission, not just through the habitat they help conserve, but through the care and commitment they show to the people around them. 

Please visit the new DU Media Toolkit page for essential resources about Ducks Unlimited’s conservation mission. 

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 19 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent capital campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org. 

Media Contact: 
Molly Jarone 
(916) 903-9199 
mjarone@ducks.org