$8,900 CAD from Ottawa
$8,900 CAD from Ottawa
Expedition Itinerary: Click here
The Students on Ice - International Polar Year Arctic Expedition is the most comprehensive Arctic expedition for youth ever undertaken. It will serve as a powerful and unique international platform to create change, inspire, educate, give cause for hope, and raise awareness globally about the impacts of climate change and other environmental issues facing the Arctic Regions.
The ship-based journey will explore southern Baffin Island, Nunavut and the northern reaches of Nunavik. It will involve 75 international students, aged 14-19. The students will travel on this transformative adventure together with a team of 30 world-renowned scientists, environmentalists and polar educators.
This summer's expedition has the potential to create change, inspire, educate and give cause for hope. We will:
- Focus on the International Polar Year priorities.
- Discuss development in the North such as drilling in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge), uranium development in Nunavik and the need for a conservation ethic.
- Build 'circumpolar' co-operation amongst northern regions.
- Focus on the role of the Arctic as cornerstone of our planet's ecosystem.
- Work with and learn from local Inuit to explore how the Arctic shapes Canadian identity.
- Let the youth voice be heard...around the world.
- Inspire future leaders and stewards for our planet...
and much, much more.
Never has there been a more critical need to expose the youth of world to what is happening in the Arctic, the "canary in the coal mine" and cornerstone of our global environment, and to inspire them to be future leaders and stewards for our planet. Inspiring our youth, empowering their voice as a vehicle for change, and helping create a needed paradigm shift in our environmental ethos is just part of what we hope to achieve.
Here is a summary of the key Arctic environmental issues:
- Arctic climate is now warming rapidly and much larger changes are projected.
- Arctic warming and its consequences have worldwide implications.
- Arctic vegetation zone are very likely to shift, causing wide-ranging impacts.
- Animal species’ diversity, ranges, and distribution will change.
- Many coastal communities and facilities face increasing exposure to storms.
- Reduced sea ice very likely to increase marine transport and access to resources.
- Thawing ground will disrupt transportation, buildings, and other infrastructure.
- Indigenous communities are facing major economic and cultural impacts.
- Elevated ultraviolet radiation levels will affect people, plants, and animals.
- Multiple influences interact to cause impacts to people and ecosystems.
How to participate:
Interested students and teacher-chaperones should visit our Participate Section and then contact the Students on Ice office to get more information and an application form, or you can download application forms here.
Students on Ice
Natural Heritage Building
1740 chemin Pink
Toll free: 1-866-336-6423