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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Two hours and 450 spring rolls later students from Grade 6 at Bompas elementary school are a step closer to their class trip.

Every fall fundraising steps into high gear at the Fort Simpson school as Grade 6 students work to make their year-end trip a reality.

Grade 6 students from Bompas elementary school including, from left, Angela Lu, Julian Porter, Michael Gast, Melissa Pascua-Matte, Lauren Lafferty and Tiffany Larter learn how to make spring rolls as part of their fundraising efforts for a class trip. - photo courtesy of Lynn Larter

Last weekend the students supplemented their normal fundraising activities with something a little different.

On Dec. 5, Lynn Larter taught seven students from the class how to assemble spring rolls.

"The kids learned fast," she said.

Larter, who has a daughter in Grade 6, pre-made the filling and showed the students how to roll it tightly into the spring roll wrappers.

At first the students were discouraged because they had trouble rolling them, but they quickly improved, said Larter.

"They were excited too and said it was a lot of fun," she said.

After using all 450 wrappers the students were still eager to do more, said Larter.

The finished products were sold at the Bompas Christmas Bazaar on Saturday with the profits going towards the class trip.

Making and selling spring rolls was a great fundraising idea according to one student.

"They're delicious," said Michael Gast.

Gast, who had never made a spring roll before, said he now has the rolling technique down pat.

All the fundraising work is worth it because of the trip, he said.

"It's going to be the best one ever," said Gast.

In June, the students will be spending approximately 11 days travelling and learning.

From Fort Simpson, the students will go to Jasper, Alta. and then catch the train to Vancouver. While in Vancouver the students will visit sites such as Stanley Park, the Vancouver Science Center and the Vancouver Aquarium.

Next it's off on a B.C. Ferries' bus to Victoria to go whale watching and visit a Haida band to try their war canoes. The students will also be visiting a number of other attractions.

"There's so many things to do," said Berni Leader, the trip co-ordinator.

To make this trip possible for as many as 17 students approximately $40,000 has to be raised.

Students are an integral part of the fundraising process.

"It's 99 per cent student- raised," said Leader.

By raising the money and planning the trip the students gain a greater appreciation for the process and learn a lot, Leader said.

The mainstays of the fundraising effort include running the concession stand at the recreation centre, hotdog lunches and movie and popcorn nights at the school, bingos, candle sales and a lot of catering.

While one group of students was making spring rolls on Friday others were peeling 30 pounds of potatoes for a catering job.

So far this year the class has catered approximately 23 events ranging in size from 15 to 60 people.

The students don't seem to mind all of the volunteer hours and preparation work that's involved in the fundraising.

"They're really into it," said Leader.