Know Before You Go

NEW!—NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL GILA STUDENTS:
 Effective May 7, 2025, due to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements, all GILA students need an updated tribal ID with a current photo or a Real ID issued by the State of Alaska in order to fly to and from school. We urge all parents/guardians of GILA students to ensure your student has the appropriate ID well before they are expected to report to school. This requirement applies to both new and returning GILA students. 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: 
Please make color copies of the following documents and forward them as soon as possible. You may also take pics with your phone and use our upload form by clicking here. It is vital that we have the following information on file for your student: 

• Birth Certificate 
• State ID 
• Tribal/BIA Enrollment Card 
• Social Security Card 
• Denali Kid Care Card and/or medical insurance card of both guardians (if applicable) 
• Updated Immunization Records 

Please note: If you are a returning GILA student, it is not necessary to send the above docs again. We will follow up with families individually if anything isn’t on file from previous years.

ACTIVITIES FEE:  
There is a $150 activities fee per semester, per family which is due at the start of the semester. You can pay the activities fee with a debit/credit card through our secure, online payment portal here. You may also mail payment via check/money order to the following address: PO Box 359, Galena AK 99741. 

Ptarmigan Hall rooms are equipped with the basic furnishings to live comfortably and to study productively. Each student will be designated his or her own twin bed, desk, chair, dresser, nightstand and lamp. Lounges on each floor provide common areas to watch TV and movies. There is also a game room on the first floor to play pool, watch movies and socialize with friends. However, there are other amenities that you will need to bring with you, including: 

Charter flights are arranged from each regional hub across Alaska. Personalized itineraries (including any necessary connecting flights if applicable) will be provided at approximately 1-2 weeks prior to departure for each student.   Please carefully review our travel policies for more detail on how travel arrangements work to and from Galena, as well as your responsibilities as Parent/Guardian . 

NEW for 2023!—luggage allowance is now 40 pounds per student. Please pack and plan accordingly. We recommend using soft-sided, squishable duffles as opposed to huge hard-sided suitcases or giant plastic totes. (Some of our flights are 9-seaters and we want to avoid running into space issues on a full flight.)

If you need to mail items in advance or after your student’s arrival into Galena, you may send any packages to the following address: 

Attn: Student Name 
c/o Galena Interior Learning Academy
P.O. Box 359
Galena, AK 99741

Families may also wish to order online and send to your student directly (Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.) as many stores now offer free shipping—even to Galena (whoop whoop!)

From socializing with your fellow community members to where you can find daily activity schedules, we’ve compiled a list of things every GILA resident should know.