YELLOWKNIFE - A group of 11 Inuvialuit teenagers from Paulatuk, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok, Sachs Harbour and Aklavik will soon be travelling the Horton River on a two-week journey.

The 320-kilometre trip happens July 11 to 26, as part of a leadership program offered by the Inuvialuit Development Corp.

Peter Trainor, the program's summer coordinator, said teachers recommended all the youth.

"They are nominated by their high-schools," he said adding that the trips teach teamwork, problem solving and outdoor skills.

The Horton River is a good location for the trip because it offers beautiful scenery, and isn't too fast, he said.

"Definitely, you don't need to have any serious paddling experience, though obviously our instructors have all their certifications," he said.

The program has been running for three years in the NWT, it is now expanding to other territories.

Trainor said the Nunasi Corp. from Nunavut and the Arctic Slope Regional Corp. from Alaska are also scheduled to send youth this year, bringing the total amount of travellers to 36.

The groups will be travelling at different times but sharing planes, he added, and all trips will fall under the banner of "Arctic Youth Leadership Expeditions."

This year's Beaufort Delta participants are Caitlin Klengenberg, Jodie Maring and Kyle Ittunga from Inuvik; Melannie Wolki and Tanya Mae Ruben from Paulatuk; Vanessa Anikina from Sachs Harbour; Gloria Omingmak from Ulukhaktok; Ryan Walker, Ryland Anderson and Tamara Lee Elias from Tuktoyaktuk and Autumn Semple from Aklavik.

The group will be escorted by two experienced guides from the Outward Bound adventure tour company, and will earn high-school credit for the excursion.