How Emma Shrack Found Her Place in Seward, Alaska with Pursuit’s Kenai Fjord Tours

Emma Shrack grew up in rural Kansas, but she has always loved the ocean and the animals that call it home.

Being landlocked meant her family vacationed in the Colorado mountains, where she spent her time hiking and mountain biking. This affinity for alpine exploration meant Shrack quickly fell in love with Seward, Alaska when she visited a friend who was working in the town.

“It’s a combination of both things I love, scenery-wise — mountains and the ocean,” says Shrack, who joined the Kenai Fjord Tours team in 2016 and now works as an education coordinator, marine science educator and boat captain.

Welcome to Seward

During Shrack’s initial visit, she experienced a boat tour most only dream of. Marine life was on full display, including humpback whales, orcas and calving glaciers.

“I remember looking at the crew working the boat and thinking their job was way cooler than mine,” says Shrack, who studied biology in college and dreamed of working in the marine field. “I quickly fell in love with Seward and decided to move there the next summer.”

Shrack split her time between Alaska and Hawaii for many years that followed, working for KFT in the summer and for a local Hawaiian family during the winter season. Shrack decided to make Seward her full-time home in 2023 and even the coldest winter days haven’t shaken her adoration for the beautiful little town.

“I think Alaska is a dream for so many people to visit because of its vastness. Many places have mountains and ocean, but of all the places I’ve travelled, nowhere is quite as extreme as Alaska,” Shrack says. “True wilderness still exists here and I believe it’s something that people crave. It takes us back to our roots. It grounds us to be humbled by something bigger than ourselves.”

Creating community connection

The wild beauty of Alaska drew her to Seward, but Shrack has enjoyed connecting with the community too. A group fitness class is Shrack’s favorite way to start the day before heading to work, and these classes have helped her meet people in Seward.

“I also use the gym to learn about community events,” she adds. “I feel like I’ve met someone from each corner of Seward, so no matter who’s hosting the community event it seems like I know someone there.”

Shrack particularly enjoys the monthly art nights in Seward. It’s an opportunity to meet local artists and connect with people in the community she sees less frequently during the busy summer season.

“The tight-knit community is one of my favorite things about living here,” she notes.

Sharing the wonders of Alaska

At work, Shrack creates connection through education. As marine science coordinator, she gathers instructors each season to educate children about the marine ecosystem in their own backyard. Despite living so close to the ocean, many children in Alaska have little hands-on experience in a marine setting, and Shrack notes there is always something new to learn about the ocean and the life within it.

“I think the more we know about something the more we want to protect it,” says Shrack, who feels the ocean is the closest we come to magic on earth. “If we can get more kids connected to the ocean and wanting to protect the ocean and keep it healthy, the future of the ocean is in good hands.”

Shrack transitions to her Captain role when the marine science season ends, which she finds equally fulfilling. Every day she introduces guests to Alaska and some have waited their whole lives to experience it.

“I get to show them not only the beauty of the state but of the Kenai Fjords National Park,” she says. “I get to give them their first look at humpback whales or a pod of killer whales that they’ve gone on tour after tour trying to see. There’s something special about getting to be the one to help fulfill a dream.”