INUVIK - Students of Sir Alexander Mackenzie school were treated to a fishing trip on the land earlier this month.

Vice-principal Jason Dayman said Grade 5 students were broken into groups, with five trips in total.

Teacher Colin Murphy and Luke Terry were happy with their results from a fishing trip earlier this month. The school trips were made possible with assistance from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. - photo courtesy of Jason Dayman

The dates were June 9, 10, 12, 13, and 16.

Dayman said the trips were to give a chance for all the Grade 5 students to get out on the river and try out some fishing.

"All in all, we had 50 students take the trip," he said.

He added that the trips would not have been possible if not for the assistance of the Inuvik District Education Authority and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Dayman said the focus of the trip was to expose the youth to fishing and to explain to them the practice of conservation.

"We talked about catch and release, using non-barbed hooks and other practices in the Territories," said Dayman.

He added that the trip had a second use that will help the school in the fall season.

"We took the kids by the SAMS Nunami camp, which was the first time for some of them," he said.

"We sat around, had a good lunch and prepared for more fishing."

The students helped out by hauling wood and piling it at the Nunami camp.

"It will help with next year," said Dayman.

He said the trip was also good for teaching the students about navigation.

"We took two different ways to get to the camps," said Dayman.

"One time we went down the East Branch to Bombardier channel."

The other time we went up river through Big Lake and Semmler Lake."

During the trip, Dayman reported the biggest fish caught was 19 pounds.

"The kids had a good time talking with each other about the scenery and what was going on," he said.

"Mostly, we'd like to thank Fisheries and Oceans, they did a great job explaining it all to the students and making it a fun time."