FORT MCPHERSON - When Fort McPherson teacher Jaksun Grice started planning a cultural exchange to Germany earlier this year, he knew the project would be expensive.

While he hoped the community would help pay for the students' airfare, he encouraged them to raise funds however they could.

"We held bingos and bake sales," he said.

While several hundred dollars were raised by the students - a solid achievement in a town of about 900 people - Grice said most of the money came from generous donors.

One man, wealthy Inuvik businessman and philanthropist Vince Sharpe, donated $10,000.

"More than 90 per cent of our funding came from donors," Grice said on May 2, estimating the total budget to be $50 000.

"It's more than we could have hoped for."

Matching Sharpe's donation were the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Union of Northern Workers, who donated $10,000 each.

Other donations were made by the Fort McPherson DEA recreation department, Canadian North and the family of Fort McPherson teacher Kira Epstein, who died in a car accident in February 2004.

"Kira was always setting up trips for the students, we think it's what she would have wanted," said Grice.

Along with Grice and chaperone Gladys Alexie, the nine students were scheduled to leave May 7, and return sometime after May 21.

Once in Germany, they will board with host families and travel to different schools, to speak about environmental issues in the Gwich'in Settlement Region, specifically the "three rivers" region.

"It's to show why the area is important, and why it should be preserved," Grice said.

The students' journey will also be filmed for a documentary, which will air on APTN.

Sharpe said he sponsored the trip because he's travelled a lot in his life, and thought students also deserved that chance.

"I know they are going to enjoy it," he said. "It's a chance to go experience the world."

Shayla Snowshoe, who at 14 is the youngest student to participate, said she's looking forward to the trip.

"The furthest I've ever been from home is Alaska for the Winter Games," she said.

In July of 2008, German students are set to go rafting on the Snake River near McPherson, to complete their part of the exchange.