Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Coppermine (Nov 14/05) - The best way to learn is by doing, and Grade 6 students from Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik in Kugluktuk did just that.

A group of 19 students managed to raise $30,000 through small fundraisers - which was matched with $25,000 from corporate donations - and travelled to Vancouver.

It wasn't just a pleasure trip. The students were there to learn as they attended the Vancouver Aquarium Aqua School from Oct. 17 until Oct. 21.

To go on the trip, they needed to keep an 80 per cent attendance, do their homework, take part in drum dancing or square dancing, and help out with the fundraising.

"They observed beluga whales, dolphin trainers and we saw the sea otters up close. It was pretty incredible for the kids," said teacher Becky Rousseau.

Rousseau has taught the same group of kids since they were in Grade 2. Now, travelling with Grade 6 students, Rousseau got a kick out of seeing them react to the big city.

"That was a whole story for them. A lot of them had never been any further south than Yellowknife," said Rousseau.

She added that the kids were amazed by the trees and the traffic, and were enthraled by a visit to a wave pool.

The students also had a dinner and bowling outing sponsored by Miramar Mining.

While the kids were amazed by the urban lifestyle in Vancouver, they did share their own culture.

They drum danced at the info centre for the 2010 Olympics in Whistler, and were filmed by a documentary crew for a film about the games.

Other visitors will know they were there, too. The students built an inuksuk at the site, which is now a permanent exhibit.

Rousseau was joined by two teachers - Catherine Minshull and Michelle Buchan - and two parents - Alex Buchan and George Haniliak.

Each chaperon had a small number of charges, and the kids' behaviour made the job easier.

"Any time we left the hostel, we were in a bus, but we didn't know what to expect. We were very pleasantly surprised," said Rousseau.

Eager students prepared for their trip by studying the environment and food chains, and followed it up when they returned.

They made a giant mural - compromised of their own pictures - of sea mammals when they returned.