SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Fourteen students from Sir John Franklin High School, along with two guides, two teachers and a cultural adviser, will be going on a 14-day canoe trip from Lac De Gras, down the Coppermine River, to Kugluktuk.

On June 29, the group will be dropped off by a Twin Otter floatplane near the Diavik Diamond Mine at Lac De Gras and then paddle 600 km down the Coppermine River, arriving in Kugluktuk on July 13 in seven 17-foot canoes.

The students are part of the Sir John Franklin Northern Excursion Club and Scott Willoughby, co-ordinator of the club and a social studies teacher at the school, said the trip is long overdue.

"The last summer trip the Excursion Club did was the canoe trip down the Nahanni River in 2007. We have never done this river before. It is our first time," he said.

Willoughby said there will also be a cultural learning component to the trip.

"There will be a cultural adviser on the trip teaching the students traditional knowledge and we will be spending some time in Kugluktuk afterward," said Willoughby.

Some wildlife they may see along the way include muskox, wolves, caribou, and grizzly bears.

"Hopefully we will see the grizzly bears from a distance," said Willoughby with a laugh.

To prepare, the students are learning standard first-aid, survival first-aid and have been in the pool practising for the last few months waiting for the lakes to thaw. They are planning on doing white-water training within the next month.

"Safety is our number one priority," said Cathy Allooloo, instructor and owner of Narwhal Northern Adventures.

"There are quite a few canyons and rapids along the way so it's important the students learn control and have sound biomechanics. It can be pretty technical at first but it becomes natural," said Allooloo about paddling strokes.

Allooloo only had good things to say about the students.

"This is a group of future leaders. They have incredible leadership capabilities and good personalities," said Allooloo.

Diane Marin, 17, hasn't gone on any canoe trips before, but doesn't seem apprehensive about the two-week trek downriver.

"It seems fun. I like the outdoors and it seems like a good combination. I'm learning something new," said Marin.

Although all the students are taking the same journey, they chose to take part for different reasons.

Daniel Stewart is following in his sister's footsteps.

"My sister was on the Nahanni River and she said it was the greatest thing she ever did," said Stewart.

Emily Smith is excited about the upcoming canoe trip.

"I enjoy canoeing. It's a great chance to canoe from a river up to the Arctic Ocean," said Smith.

Zander Affleck is looking for some adventure.

"I'm really excited. I love camping and I'm looking for adventure," said Affleck.

The Excursion Club has received a grant from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and has been fundraising by hosting bingos.

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