Brodie Thomas
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 16, 2008
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Wanted: One tough high school student to travel by icebreaker into the Eastern Arctic.
That is the call going out from organizers with the International Polar Year. Last minute funding has freed a trip on the Arctic ship Lyubov Orlova for one aboriginal high school student in the Northwest Territories.
The expedition will be organized by a group called Students on Ice. It is designed to give high school students chance to work with scientists on a real scientific expedition.
Tamara Hansen with the Aurora Research Institute is helping to find the candidate.
"The trip is Aug. 2 to 17. Your flight to and from Ottawa is paid, said Hansen. The trip to the Arctic is paid. The only charge to the student would be a $50 health care charge. It's worth about $7,500 but it's free,"
Any high school student in the Northwest Territories between the ages of 14 and 18 who has some aboriginal background is eligible.
The journey will begin with a visit to Ottawa for orientation. Students would then fly to Iqaluit to board the ship and begin the journey though Eastern Arctic waters.
"Every day aboard the ship will be completely different," said Chris Ralph, special projects manager with Students on Ice.
"We've got a Baffin Island expedition planned. We'll be visiting a few communities on the expedition. During the expedition we do formal lectures with scientists and we have informal workshops as well. Of course on landings we'll have a botanist with us," said Ralph.
Once the trip is over, there is still work to be done. The student must sign a pledge to carry out 10 tasks. The tasks vary from organizing a school cleanup to writing an article about the trip.
Although it sounds like a challenge, Hansen said the rewards will be well worth it.
The deadline is fast approaching. Interested students have until Friday, June 20th to apply. Hansen said for more information about the trip, applicants can visit www.studentsonice.com. For application forms, contact Alena Mero at the Aurora Research Institute in Inuvik.
