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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - There is no better way to learn about something than to get real, hands-on experience.

That is what 24 students from Weledeh Catholic school and their twins from Mont-Laurier, Quebec have been given the chance to do, thanks to a two-week exchange program new to the school this year.

Annriza Enerio, 13, gave a demonstration Thursday on how to use the protective masks at Giant Mine. - Katherine Roth/NNSL photo /div>

Now that the program is complete, the students are able to say they have done things that not many Canadian students get the chance to do, like touring Giant Mine's underground chambers.

Weledeh teachers Tamara Statchook and Trent Hamm are two of the people involved with co-ordinating the exchange, and Statchook said it has been great.

"This whole thing has been so excellent, and so well-organized," she said. "I really hope we get to do it again next year."

As everyone was getting geared up and ready to go 750 feet down into Giant Mine, Yellowknife student Patrick Doody announced that the whole trip has been something he'll never forget.

"All the things we have gotten to do have been so fun," he said. "Even (going into the mine) is something I wouldn't usually do, and I am from Yellowknife."

The mine tour was just one of several activities the students participated in over the two one-week exchanges. During their time in Quebec, the group went to Ottawa to tour the Parliament buildings and to Montreal to the Olympic stadium, the Biodome and spent some time in Old Montreal.

"I am having a blast," said Yellowknife student Roza Balasanyan. "The highlight for me was definitely shopping in Ottawa."

While learning about different cultures in Canada, students were also given the chance to travel across the country, which is something not many kids are able to do.

"I don't get to travel much, so it was a chance for me to go somewhere cool," said Bridie Kennedy, a Grade 7 student at Weledeh.

Transportation for the students was paid for by the exchange program, and they raised nearly $9,000 to help them with the rest of the cost. Each family only had to pay around $100 for their child in the end, making the trip very affordable, said Statchook.

While in Yellowknife, the students toured downtown, inside the Legislative buildings, visited Behchoko, Cameron Falls, Buffalo Airways and finally Giant Mine.

Virginie Houle from Mont-Laurier said the best part of coming to the NWT was getting to see how different this part of the world is from her home in Quebec.

"Visiting another city is a whole different culture," she said. "I also like that I can practise my English here."

Statchook said she hopes this is the first of many years that the school participates in this exchange after seeing how much fun the students had while building lifelong friendships.

"When the students first met after being in contact through e-mail, there wasn't much talking," she said. "But by the end of the first week they had become great friends already and they were sad to leave, but excited to meet again for the week in Yellowknife. I am sure they will want to keep in contact after this."