**Registration for Family Ocean Challenge 2026 is CLOSED** Interested in hearing about next year’s program? Sign up here!
Family Ocean Challenge 2026
A multi-generational week of faith, family, and adventure in Kodiak, Alaska
Family Ocean Challenge is a one-week immersive experience inviting families and elders to reconnect with God, creation, and one another through the wild beauty of Kodiak. Stay together at North Garden, True Parents’ historic home, gather daily for meaningful spiritual programs, and spend your days fishing ocean and rivers, hiking coastal trails, berry picking, paddle boarding and kayaking, and sharing meals and stories together. Rooted in the spirit of Ocean Challenge, this program welcomes all ages into a shared rhythm of faith, nature, and family life.
📍 Kodiak, Alaska (North Garden)
📅 Two offerings: August 1–7 & August 8–14, 2026
👨👩👧👦 4 families per week | All ages welcome
🐟 Fishing, paddling, hiking, beach bonfires
💲 $1000 per person (ages 12+) | $500 (ages 11 and under) + optional fishing costs
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Our pilot 2026 Family Ocean Challenge is a one-week immersive experience inviting parents and children to step away from the noise of everyday life and reconnect—with each other, with creation, and with God’s love—through the wild beauty of Kodiak, Alaska. Families will stay together at North Garden, True Parents’ historic home in Kodiak, and take part in meaningful spiritual programming alongside unforgettable outdoor adventures. From ocean fishing on historic Good Go boats—targeting salmon, halibut, ling cod, and rockfish—to river fishing, paddle boarding and kayaking, hiking, berry picking, and beach exploration, each day offers hands-on experiences that deepen gratitude, faith, and family bonds. Rooted in the spirit of Ocean Challenge, this program blends nature, devotion, and shared adventure into a rhythm that nourishes both heart and spirit.
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Family Ocean Challenge is designed to welcome all generations and many different family shapes and seasons of life.
This program is especially meaningful for:
Young families with children who want to experience faith, nature, and adventure together
Families who want to travel with friends or relatives, or who are open to meeting and bonding with new families
Parents, grandparents, and elders who desire a slower-paced, relational way to engage with Ocean Challenge and Kodiak, maybe even connecting to your history with Ocean Challenge!
Multi-generational groups—where faith, wisdom, and joy are shared across generations
There is no age limit for participation. Children, parents, and elders are all an essential part of the community we hope to create. Activities are designed to be flexible, with space for rest, choice, and different energy levels.
Whether you come with people you already know or arrive ready to form new connections, Family Ocean Challenge is an invitation into shared life rooted in faith, nature, and time together.
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We are offering two separate one-week sessions:
Session 1: Arrive Saturday, August 1 · Depart Friday, August 7
Session 2: Arrive Saturday, August 8 · Depart Friday, August 14
Each week is limited to 4 families (8-24 total participants) to preserve an intimate, community-oriented experience.
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Families will stay together at North Garden in Kodiak—True Parents’ historic home and a deeply meaningful site for Ocean Challenge.
Large shared living and dining spaces
4 guest rooms, each with a private bathroom
Sleeping arrangements:
1 room with 1 queen bed
3 rooms with 4–6 twin beds each
Total of 15 beds
The home provides both togetherness and quiet spaces for rest, reflection, and family rhythms.
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Meals are thoughtfully planned to nourish both body and spirit. Meals are prepared and enjoyed at the adjacent Angel Garden, the local church building.
Breakfast & dinner prepared by local cooks at set times
Lunch materials provided at breakfast for families to pack and take with them
Meals will include fresh fish caught during Ocean Challenge
We do our best to accommodate dietary needs with advance notice.
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Airport pickup and drop-off included
Group transportation provided via a public van for all scheduled activities
A shared secondary vehicle may be available for short errands or early returns (nap time, etc.)
Families are also welcome to rent a personal vehicle if preferred
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Item descriptionThe Family Ocean Challenge follows a gentle, intentional rhythm inspired by our summer Ocean Challenge program.
Mornings
Morning Program (short service and HDH reading)
Breakfast & pack lunches
Outdoor adventure
Afternoons
Lunch on the go
Continued outdoor activities
Return home for rest, clean-up, and downtime
Evenings
Dinner together
Evening program or free family time
Closing reflections
Outdoor Activities May Include
Ocean or river fishing
Hiking Kodiak’s coastal and forest trails
Berry picking
Paddle boarding or kayaking
Beach bonfires and beach combing
Exploring tide pools and local nature
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Each family receives a daily HDH booklet with short, accessible themes such as:
Connecting to God’s Love Through Nature
Joy in a Life of Faith
The Alaskan Spirit
Morning readings and discussions are followed by a short service to frame the day’s experiences and offer some food for thought.
Some evenings include planned group activities, local testimonies, and bonding experiences, while others are left intentionally open to honor each family’s needs and rhythms.
✨ One evening of childcare will be offered so parents can enjoy a night out together.
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Kodiak is home to some of the most abundant and diverse fishing grounds in the world. Families are strongly encouraged to spend at least one day on the water during their stay.
Species you may catch include:
Salmon (king, silver, pink)
Halibut
Cod & lingcod
Rockfish
All ocean-caught fish can be professionally processed and packaged for you to take home as checked luggage.
Fishing Options
Good Go Boats
28’ boats
Fits 5–6 people
Small onboard toilet
Volunteer local captain
Suggested donation: $600 per boat (≈ $100/person)
Local Member Charter Boats
43’ professional charter boats with cabins, bathrooms, and walk-around decks
Local family run businesses (Chris & Jainan Fiala - Kodiak Island Charters; Lukas & Fritz Bercy - Kodiak Marine Charters)
Up to ~12 people
Market rate: ~$495 per person
River Fishing
Casting rods provided
No additional cost
Additional fishing expenses:
Fish processing: ~$3.50/lb. Fish is packaged and can be taken home as a checked box.
Alaska fishing license: $15/day
Nonresident 1 Day Sport Fishing License $15.00 + King Salmon Stamp $15.00 + Halibut Stamp $20/day (charter boat only)
Nonresident 3 Day Sport Fishing License $30.00 + King Salmon Stamp $30.00 + Halibut Stamp $20/day (charter boat only)
Nonresident 7 Day Sport Fishing License $45.00 + King Salmon Stamp $45.00 + Halibut Stamp $20/day (charter boat only)
*No halibut may be kept on a charter boat on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They can be caught on Good Gos
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Program Cost:$1000 for adults and children 12+. $500 for children 11 and under.
This includes:
Lodging at North Garden
Group transportation
Meals
Fishing gear and supplies
Educational and program materials
Staffing and coordination
Fishing costs are additional and vary based on the option(s) you choose and the number of days your family fishes.
Cost of flights to and from Kodiak are not included. We encourage you to look into the Alaska Airlines credit card as they offer a companion fare (buy one, get one free + fees).
Meet the Team
The Family Ocean Challenge is led by a small, dedicated team who deeply love Kodiak, Ocean Challenge, and creating meaningful experiences for families.
Tasnah & Lukas Bercy
Program Directors
Tasnah and Lukas Bercy serve as directors for the Family Ocean Challenge, Kodiak Ocean Tribe, and Ocean Challenge. Lukas has called Kodiak home since 2015, and Tasnah since 2019. Together, they are raising their two young children on the island and feel deeply grateful for the rhythms, beauty, and values Kodiak has shaped in their family life. They own and operate Kodiak Marine Charters.
They are passionate about creating experiences where families can slow down, encounter God through nature, and build lasting memories together. Sharing this island—its waters, trails, traditions, and spirit—with other families is something they feel genuinely excited and honored to do.
Tamae Seto
On-Site Coordinator
Tamae Seto is a Kodiak local who brings both professional skill and heartfelt care to the program. She studied hospitality in Hawaiʻi and just completed an internship at Glory House in the Netherlands. She’s excited to weave her experience into creating a welcoming, well-supported environment for families during their stay.
Kodiak is the island Tamae calls home, and she delights in helping others feel at ease here—whether through thoughtful logistics, warm hospitality, or simply sharing her love for this special place.
Minoru Kageyama
Good Go Captain
Minoru Kageyama is a long-time Kodiak resident and a beloved part of the Ocean Challenge community. He served for many years as True Parents’ boat captain, stewarding time on the water with deep care, experience, and heart. Today, he continues to volunteer with Ocean Challenge, generously sharing his knowledge of Kodiak’s fishing grounds, his love of the ocean, and the many stories gathered over a lifetime on the water.
Families who fish on the historic Good Go boats will be guided not only by Kageyamasan’s skill and safety-minded leadership, but also by his joy in helping others experience the beauty, abundance, and spirit of Kodiak’s seas.
Ready to Join?
Registration Process
To keep the Family Ocean Challenge intentional, relational, and well-supported, registration happens in a few simple steps:
Step 1: Pre-Registration
Families begin by completing a pre-registration form, sharing basic family information and selecting their preferred session dates.
The first 4 families per week will be offered spots
Additional families will be placed on a waitlist in the order received
Submitting a pre-registration form does not yet secure a spot, but it holds your place in line.
Step 2: Informational Call
Families invited to move forward will be asked to join a group informational call. During this call, we’ll:
Walk through the program in more detail
Review logistics, expectations, and daily rhythm
Answer questions and help families discern if this experience is a good fit
Step 3: Deposit & Confirmation
After the informational call, families will have 5 days to confirm their participation by submitting a 50% non-refundable deposit.
Once the deposit is received, your family’s spot for the selected week is officially confirmed.
Step 4: Waitlist Openings
If spaces remain after deposits are collected, we will invite families from the waitlist to join in the order pre-registrations were received.
Questions Before You Register?
We’re happy to help you discern if this program is a good fit for your family.
📧 Email: director@kodiakoceantribe.org
If cost is a concern, please reach out—limited financial support or flexible payment options may be available.
Photo Gallery
North Garden (HDH/living room, dining room, living room)
A small taste of Ocean Challenge spirit from our summer 2025 program!