Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Fort McPherson (July 16/01) - Getting to Europe from Fort McPherson isn't hard. You just have to fly halfway across the world and raise funds for almost an entire school year.

Actually, nothing is quite that simple, as 13 students from Chief Julius school found out. They and their community raised $67,000 to send the 13 kids -- aged 11 to 19 -- to Italy, France and Spain.

The students recently returned home, covered with "fine Dempster dust" after their whirlwind 12-day tour of the old country. With overnight stops in Rome, Florence, Cote d'Azur, Provence, Costa Brava and Barcelona, the students brought home lessons running the gamut from currency conversion to culinary heritage.

James Ross, a parent and trip chaperon, said the kids were "great ambassadors for Canada and for the Gwich'in Nation."

He added that the bus driver who took them to Whitehorse told Ross the students were, "the best group of students he'd ever had."

The local cuisines and architecture proved to be eye openers for the students and their three chaperons.

Student Ryan Wilson said the bread in Europe took some getting used to.

"It was hard," said Wilson, referring to its crusty exterior. Wilson said the bread made the roof of his mouth sore. Once he got used to it, however, he admitted that "It was good."

The seafood antipasto in Italy was another matter. Kira Epstein, a teacher at Chief Julius and a chaperon during the trip, said that when the dish arrived, everyone had to contend, "with the octopus," in it.

"It wasn't like calamari rings," said Epstein, "there were whole pieces," of the rubbery critter, tentacles and all, in the dish.

Franc raising

Students raised money for the trips with bake sales, raffles, auctions, and by working bingos.

Government and the corporate sector also kicked in money, with the Beaufort Delta Education Council donating over $4,000 from the Stallworthy Fund. Oil and gas companies that have a presence in the Delta also gave more than $10,000 to help see the kids off.

After a few initial fundraising glitches, the students hit their strides. Wilson and Charles Van Eltsi, another student on the trip, said fundraising became tough slogging.

After the community had been shaken-down several times by the students, Wilson said residents tried to beg off buying any more baked goods or raffle tickets.

"They'd make excuses after a while," said Wilson. "Stuff like, come back later, or I don't have any money."

"I'd just try and convince them," said Van Eltsi.

Ross said some parents in the community were concerned about sending their kids out into the great metropolitan unknown.

"Everyone sees so much on the television, all of the headline stories are about these horrible things that happen. Some of the parents were worried about sending their kids out into that," said Ross.

"When these kids came back, all coated with fine Dempster dust, I think a lot of those fears were dealt with," Ross added.