Canadian youth explore the Arctic - Unique expedition aims to inspire future leaders and ambassadors for the planet
While school is out for the summer, dozens of Canadian and international youth between the ages of 14 and 17 are planning the "class-trip" of a lifetime.
Starting July 31, 2009, sixty exceptional students from every Canadian province and territory - including twenty northern indigenous students - will travel through the Canadian Arctic on board the Polar Ambassador, a specially designed icebreaker as part of a unique 13-day educational adventure.
The goal is for youth to gain a new perspective on Canada, its wonders, its present and future challenges and to become advocates for polar protection.
The expedition is led by Geoff Green, founder and Executive Director of the award-winning Students on Ice program. Participants will explore southern Baffin Island, Nunavut and the northern reaches of Nunavik. Joining the students on board the ship are thirty polar scientists, educators, musicians and artists.
Having access to a 'lab' provided by Mother Nature herself presents an extraordinary learning opportunity for these students. Getting on the ground training and being surrounded by experts will enable students to witness
first-hand the impacts of climate change on the Arctic region and its people. They will visit remote Inuit villages to participate in cultural exchanges as well.
"This will be an opportunity for some exceptional students to explore a part of the planet that very few ever get to experience - a place that is widely recognized as the planet's early-warning system for climate change", says Geoff Green, a Canadian adventurer, environmentalist and founder of the award-winning organization. "Instilling environmental ethics and making the issues real and personal is a big part of what we hope will inspire and motivate these young leaders."
EXPEDITION DETAILS:
- The expedition ship is fully equipped with the latest technologies
enabling 'on ship' audio and video interviews with students for the
duration of the expedition.
- The students will blog daily about the expedition on a special
expedition website. Photos, video and student journals will be posted
daily at www.studentsonice.com/arctic09 and are available to the
media via a special FTP site.
- A detailed itinerary of the expedition can be viewed at:
www.studentsonice.com/arctic09.
