March 13-March 16 are the dates for the 2023 Youth Classic Ice Sculpting Competition, open to teens between the ages of 13 and 18.  Alaska artists have developed an ice sculpting curriculum that can be taught in local schools. To encourage the students to continue to use their sculpting skills in competitions, the Ice Alaska Youth Classic is held the week of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Spring Break.  Ice Alaska has ~15 sites and hopes to draw young artists from throughout Alaska and the even the world. There is no fee to register for the Youth Event.
To qualify for the competition team members must be 13 – 18 years of age and have parental permission. Teams are provided one ice block, 3’ x 4’x 30″ The block weighs approximately 1800 lbs. Once the ice block is placed, the youth team may not use motorized tools or equipment to move the block. Experienced artists are on hand to assist with requested chainsaw cuts, and to answer questions, and offer technical assistance allowed within the competition guidelines.  Award of medals and gift certificates are given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

It’s wonderful to watch these kids compete. Their enthusiasm is contagious and the concentration to their art is commendable. Needless to say, their imagination soars!

With things a little quiet until the youth competition begins, I can tell you about the excitement one of the culinary teams experienced one morning while they were here.  While coming into the park one morning with Jack, the driver of the van, the students from the Oregon Culinary school encountered in the park a Mama Moose who had become separated from her baby. After much maneuvering and racing around, Mama and baby were reunited and escorted out of the park. It is a tale worth repeating many times and won’t be quickly forgotten.