Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 17, 2007

INUVIK - Summer vacations usually mean a return from the great outdoors.

While some kids might go fishing or camping in the off-season, September marks the time for a return to pencils, textbooks, computers and the indoor classroom.

Students Chris Church and Darrin Hurst hold a pike caught during a recent school trip. Inuvik teachers say it's important to bring kids outdoors now and then, to teach self-confidence and outdoor skills. Call it "living biology 101." - photo courtesy of SAMS school

But, not necessarily. Like many schools across the NWT, Sir Alexander Mackenzie primary school has its own campsite.

The Inuvik school is starting its second year of bringing students to its Nunami camp, at a permanent location near Semmler's Lake.

A few times a year, grade 4 to 6 students travel by boat or snowmobile to the site, which has tents and an outhouse.

They visit for overnight stays to learn skills such as fishing, survival, fire safety and animal trapping.

SAMS vice-principal Jason Dayman said there's no doubt the adventures are fun.

However, he stressed they are not meant as a "break" from class.

In fact, he said the trips are seen as equal to courses and fully educational.

"We try to fit it into the curriculum as much as possible. It's a cultural component," he said.

One example would be the "take a kid trapping" program, which happened last summer.

With the help of local guides and the department of Environment and Natural Resources, Dayman said 50 children learned to trap muskrat, lynx, martin and other animals.

It was a segment which might help them better understand their ancestors, or lessons on the Canadian fur trade.

"We feel culture is something that's very important," Dayman said."There are still people who trap for a living and it's important for our students to realize the hard work that goes into that."

Fellow teacher Ruby St-Amand mentioned a program called "wood for elders," which saw kids provide heating wood for people in the community.

The lesson is the importance of volunteering, and the value of hard work, the teachers said.