WHITEHORSE - A hundred Junior Canadian Rangers from Nunavut joined their comrades from across the North for a 10-day camp in Whitehorse from June 25 to July 2.

Junior Canadian Ranger Etuangat Akeeagok rappels down a wall at summer camp in Whitehorse. - photo courtesy of JTFN Junior Canadian Ranger Program

The sixth annual Enhanced Training Session brought Junior Rangers ages 12-18 from across the territories and Northern British Columbia to the Yukon.

"It was awesome," said Niki Michael, who escorted five Junior Rangers from Kimmirut. "They were having a great time." There were a lot of first-time activities for those Junior Rangers who had never been to the camp before. Zip-lining among the tall Yukon trees was particularly memorable for kids who grew up north of the treeline.

"It was really neat to see the kids do that," said Capt. Sharon Low, officer in charge of Northern region Junior Canadian Rangers. "When they get off the plane, they see all these trees and all they want to touch them."

"They were talking about the zip-lines and stuff as the most fun activity, and the shooting," said Patrick Kilabuk, who accompanied nine Junior Rangers from Pangnirtung.

Activities at the camp included target shooting with several different kinds of guns, canoeing, rock climbing, white-water rafting, horseback riding and trapping.

"There was some local people who taught us about making medicine bags and storytelling," said Grise Fiord's escort Jimmie Qaapik. "These were just part of the things that we did."

The Junior Rangers and their escorts took a day's break during the camp to enjoy the natural hotsprings of Yukon.

The medicine bag-making represented the culture of Yukon's Tlingit people, but the Inuit guests brought some of their own games to the festivities. The last day of the camp was a sports competition, which included taking on Royal Canadian Air Cadets in several sports including Inuit-style high kicks.