RANKIN INLET - A total of 55 youth from Rankin Inlet and Owen Sound, Ont., are getting a glimpse into each other's lives through a national exchange program.

Teacher Kate Walsh of Sydenham Community School in Owen Sound, Ont., said taking part in an exchange program with youth in Rankin Inlet is something her students will never forget (April of 2010). - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Rankin hosted 25 students from Sydenham Community School this past week, while Owen Sound welcome the Kivalliq youth this week.

Teacher Kate Walsh was one of the chaperones who accompanied the Ontario teens to Rankin through the Canadian Sports and Friendship Exchange Program.

She said her kids were very excited to learn they were twinned with Rankin.

"We spent seven days in Rankin and now they arrive this week to spend seven days with us," said Walsh.

"We have a lot of activities planned so, hopefully, the Rankin kids will really enjoy themselves."

Sydenham sent 25 of its students to the Kivalliq, while 30 Rankin kids are on their way to Owen Sound.

Walsh said Sydenham is a rural school located in a farming community, which has 60 students in Grades 7 and 8.

"Being able to bring more than one-third of my students was very exciting.

"It was the first time in the Arctic for them, and they enjoyed their stay immensely.

"I think there were some nerves, originally, because they had no idea what to expect in Rankin.

"But, at the same time, they were very grateful to be able to come such a long distance to visit Nunavut."

Walsh said her students got along very well with their Kivalliq counterparts.

She said the matching of the southern and Rankin kids worked out very well.

"The kids seemed to connect well and were quite happy during the visit, so I had very, very few problems with any of them during our stay.

"The ice fishing was a huge hit with our students, especially when we caught more fish than the Rankin kids by a count of six to one.

"I do, however, suspect the Rankin kids may have eased off a bit.

"Our visit to an elder's camp was also a great day for us, especially the qamutiik ride out and back and connecting with different families during our time there."

Walsh said the trip was more than worth the time and effort it took to arrange.

She said a trip like this opens doors for southern kids, and allows them to see a part of their country not many from their area do.

"I'd highly recommend this exchange trip to other southern schools.

"Some of my kids don't have the economic or family resources to travel like this, so the trip was phenomenal in that sense.

"I'm well-travelled as an adult, but it was never on my horizon to come North.

"Now that it's happened, I can foresee my return to share this fabulous experience with my family."

Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik teacher Lisa Kresky is on her fifth exchange trip with Rankin students.

Kresky is a big believer in the benefits the program provides.

She said getting to take part in the trip is a great motivator for students.

"They have to meet school criteria to participate, and that includes passing grades and good attendance," said Kresky.

"Giving students an opportunity to travel is a great benefit because, for some of these kids, it's their first time outside of Nunavut.

"We have a few kids on this trip who have never seen a tree before. It's very important to give them that kind of educational experience outside of the classroom, and in another part of the country."

Kresky said the trip also gives students a chance to share experiences with their friends, without their parents being around.

She said that teaches them about responsibility, in terms of their behaviour, how they interact with others and taking care of their luggage.

"These trips allow many kids to experience things they've never done before.

"We've had at least four students from past exchange trips who have gone to see their buddies again.

"So, these trips can really help form some great connections with different people for the future."

Kresky said it can be a real eye-opener for Northern kids to discover how much they have in common with southern youth their own age.

She said the teachers spend a lot of time trying to match up kids with similar interests on the exchange.

"When you finally bring them together and they start interacting, it's often like they have new best friends within a couple of days.

"They don't leave each other's side and they're up to all hours just chatting.

"It doesn't take long to see - even though they come from different parts of the country - they share many similarities.

"If I didn't truly believe these trips are a tremendous benefit to the students, I wouldn't do them."