STUDENTS ON ICE ARCTIC YOUTH EXPEDITION 2011 August 2011 Students: $9,750 CAD from Ottawa Chaperones: $9,750 CAD from Ottawa Expedition Itinerary: Click Here The Students on Ice Arctic Youth Expedition 2011 is one of the most exciting and important contributions to the International Year of Youth. Building on the legacy of the International Polar Year, it is one of the most comprehensive youth expeditions ever undertaken to the Arctic! It will serve as a powerful and unique international platform to create change, inspire, educate, give cause for hope, and raise awareness around the world about the impacts of climate change and other environmental issues facing the Arctic. The ship-based journey will explore southern and eastern Baffin Island, Nunavut and the northern reaches of Nunavik. It will involve 75 international students, aged 14-18. The students will travel on this transformative adventure together with a team of 35 world-renowned scientists, historians, artists, explorers, educators, leaders, innovators and polar experts. Students on this summer's expedition will develop knowledge, skills, perspectives and practices that will help them to be Arctic ambassadors and environmentally responsible citizens. Students will explore: The Arctic and its relationship with the global ecosystem The interconnection of natural and human created systems and how they interact with each other Fundamental connections humans have to each other and the planet through our relationships to the land and other species, and our interaction with all living things Human and scientific dimensions of environmental issues The importance of environmental factors to human well-being International Year of Youth and International Polar Year priorities and legacy projects While on the expedition, participants will encounter wildlife, including whales, seals, polar bears, walrus, and seabirds; visit northern communities; learn about the effects of climate change on Arctic ecosystems; consider scientific and traditional knowledge system perspectives; and participate in 'hands-on' educational and research activities. Every day of the expedition will be inspiring and different from the last. Activities include shore landings, hikes, community visits, Zodiac cruises, and ship-based exploration. The education program will involve presentations, workshops, seminars, small group discussions and much, much more! Youth participants will build circumpolar and international connections, work with and learn from local Inuit to consider how the Arctic shapes Canadian identity, and develop their voices by expressing themselves. The main themes of the expedition include: * * * We are at a critical point in the Earth’s history. Together, we will develop the knowledge, skills, perspectives and practices needed to be polar ambassadors and environmentally responsible citizens. * * * Youth have a key role to play in shaping the world of today and the world of tomorrow. Youth make a difference! * * * We are part of Nature. Our future is tightly linked to biodiversity, the huge variety of other animals and plants, the places they live and their environments, all over the world. * * * Future decisions regarding Arctic sovereignty, governance and development will affect Arctic environments, societies, and international relations. * * * Inuit continue to maintain their unique culture within their distinct homeland. Despite modern influences and conveniences, Inuit have retained their language, core knowledge and beliefs. Inuit knowledge contributes to the advancement of a sustainable Arctic and a sustainable planet. To retrace the Students on Ice Arctic Youth Expedition 2010, click here... The Students on Ice Arctic Youth Expedition 2011 will inspire young leaders to make a difference at home and around the world! How to participate on the Students on Ice Arctic Youth Expedition 2011: Interested students and 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. Niki Trudeau, Participant Coordinator Students on Ice Natural Heritage Building 1740 chemin Pink Gatineau, Quebec, Canada J9J 3N7 Toll free: 1-866-336-6423 Tel: 819-827-3300 Fax: 819-827-9951 Email: apply@studentsonice.com