ARVIAT - A group of 12 students at John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat put their culinary skills to work this past month to raise funds for their upcoming exchange trip.

The students are travelling to Lloydminster, Alta., this coming May.

The youths prepared meals for a group of soldiers who were in Arviat to take part in Exercise Northern Bison.

A total of 160 people were fed on the first day, and more than 100 the next.

The exchange trip is being organized by school vice-principal Cody Prusky and Sonia Osbourne.

Prusky said the meal preparation was a phenomenal experience for the youths. He said they really came together as a group to make the meals a success.

"They were a really strong, cohesive unit and worked excellently together," said Prusky.

"They also learned basic food preparation and other culinary skills they can apply at home.

"When the military approached us looking for someone to prepare a meal, we saw the opportunity to use it as a major fundraiser for our trip.

"The first meal was scheduled as part of the operation, but the second one came about due to them being weathered in for a few days."

The students were under the direction of elementary school principal Bob Wells, who is a former banquet chef.

Wells set up the menu and the quantity of food needed, and taught the kids proper preparation techniques as they went along.

The group prepared two meals, serving fettuccine alfredo on the first day, along with homemade lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, fresh-tossed salad, Texas garlic toast and apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.

The second meal featured chicken enchiladas, and chili and rice.

Prusky said the students took Wells's instructions and did the lion's share of the work.

He said even though most of them had limited culinary skills going into the fundraiser, they did an incredible job with the meals.

"A few soldiers told us it was better than restaurant food they get in the south.

"The students were asking if they could cook again the following day, when the military remained weathered in.

"They were so thrilled by the experience, and had such a good time, they wanted to keep doing it."