Expedition Itinerary

The 2017 Arctic Expedition begins in Canada’s capital city, Ottawa. After several days of pre-expedition activities, we fly to Resolute Bay Nunavut and set sail through the Canadian high Arctic to explore the diverse communities and coastlines. The ship will then cross the Davis Strait to discover the western coast of Greenland. Our expedition will end in Kangerlussuaq, where we will board our charter flight back to Ottawa.

Each day will be filled with exploration, discovery, presentations, workshops, hands-on research, hikes, and lots of adventure! Activities will include wildlife encounters, visits to Arctic communities, as well as the opportunity to acquire first-hand knowledge and insight into the dynamics of climate change, traditional knowledge, scientific research, policy and other important Arctic and global topics.

Click here to view the interactive map!

 

August 8
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Our 15-day Arctic expedition begins this year in Canada’s capital region, Ottawa. Our team of students, chaperones, educators and expedition staff will arrive from around the world. We officially launch the expedition with a presentation by our Expedition Leader in the evening.

August 9
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Expeditioners will embark on the second day of orientation! We will see the sights in Ottawa, including the Canadian Museum of Nature, Gatineau Park, the Parliament Buildings and more! We will also engage in team-building activities and educational presentations on the University of Ottawa campus sponsored by the Faculty of Education.

August 10
Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada

This morning we board our charter flight and fly to Resolute Bay to board our floating home, a specially designed ice-class expedition vessel. You will be assigned your cabin and we will set sail east towards Beechey Island!

August 11
Beechey Island and Prince Leopold Island, Nunavut, Canada

Our expedition team will embark on a morning landing to the Historic Franklin Site and later enjoy Zodiac cruises around a Canadian ‘Important Bird Area’, a federally listed migratory bird sanctuary, and a ‘Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat’ site.

August 12
Dundas Harbour and Croker Bay, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada

We will explore sites on Devon Island, claimed to be the largest uninhabited island on Earth. We will enjoy more shore landings, hikes, Zodiac cruises, and workshops.

August 13
Tay Bay, Bylot Island, Canada

After crossing Lancaster Sound we will explore Bylot Island and other small islands located in Navy Board Inlet, part of Sirmilik National Park. We will enjoy Zodiac cruises around the rocky shores and coastal cliffs as we explore, hike, and learn about this Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

August 14
Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada

A day filled with land-based workshops, and cultural activities as part of our visit to the community of Pond Inlet, considered one of Canada’s “jewels of the North”. Expeditioners will engage with local community members on the land and will also connect with the Canada C3 ship, a SOI signature project for Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation in 2017.

August 15
Sirmilik National Park, Nunavut, Canada

While Sirmilik may be an Inuktitut word meaning “place of glaciers” it is one of the most diverse areas in the Arctic. Our expedition team will be joined by Inuit elders and youth from the community, along with Parks Canada staff, to share their adventures and connect visitors to their homeland.

August 16
Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada

Today we will explore Baffin Island, known for its glaciers and granite cliffs. The Expedition Team will embark on zodiac cruises and awe-inspiring hikes.

August 17
Davis Strait Crossing – Sea Day

We spend a day at sea and cross the Davis Strait from Baffin Island to western Greenland. Educational opportunities such as lectures, time for reflection, hands-on science, art and songwriting workshops, as well as special presentations abound!

August 18
Uummannaq, Greenland

Uummannaq, which means “heart-shaped” in Greenlandic, is a picturesque community nested at the foot of a heart-shaped mountain. We spend the day visiting the community and ago on a hike outside of the town.

August 19
Ilulissat, Greenland

We sail amongst a gallery of icebergs as we approach this picturesque coastal town to the nearby Jakobshavn Icefjord. The community and neighbouring glacier are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for producing the most icebergs of all glaciers in Greenland.

August 20
Itilleq Village and Fjord, Greenland

We visit this small fishing village, meet local community members and enjoy a hike and land-based workshops in the fjord. The island has no freshwater, and for this reason Itilleq makes use of a facility that forms freshwater from seawater.

August 21
Evighedsfjord, Greenland

The Expedition Team will explore this stunning fjord by zodiac along the bird cliffs and glacier foot. Landings in the afternoon will offer the opportunity for workshops and hikes on the land.

August 22
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

The ship-based portion of our expedition will end in Kangerlussuaq. We disembark our ship and spend the morning on a trip to the Greenland Ice Cap before boarding our charter flight back to Ottawa in the afternoon.

August 23
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Students on Ice and the Canadian Museum of Nature host a public Welcome Back event in the morning for our expedition team. Families and friends are invited to join us. We bid farewell to our Expedition Team and begin to travel home in the afternoon!