KIMMIRUT/LAKE HARBOUR
Teachers at Qaqqalik School took their classroom outside last week – way outside.
Qaqqalik School student Michael Michael holds up his catch while fishing with other students last week through the ice at Soper Lake. - photo courtesy of Ooloosie Kolola
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Last Monday, 16 students from Grade 8 to 12 who signed up for the yearly lesson travelled about two hours from the hamlet for a four-day, three-night land trip.
With two teachers, two guides, half a dozen snowmobiles and qamutiik loaded with supplies, rifles and tents, the troupe trekked about two hours from town.
"If there's anything to hunt, they will. They'll definitely fish. They'll listen to elders tell stories," said Principal Ron Pate.
With the warmer than average weather, Pate said the rivers are moving and the trip guides determined it would not be safe to travel the full six-hour trip as in years past. He said the temperatures of late are more like that which the community typically experiences at the end of April or beginning of May.
For the younger students at Qaqqalik School staring longingly out the windows, yearning to enjoy the mild, sunny weather, they too had a chance to get outdoors. Unlike Pate who stayed behind to mind the school and continue the necessary administrative duties, students from kindergarten to Grade 8 were out on the land last week fishing at Soper Lake. They took turns trying their luck at jigging for fish with grades 1 and 2 heading to the lake Tuesday, grades 3 and 4 on Wednesday, grades 5 and 6 Thursday and grades 7 and 8 on Friday. Pate, who went out with the students last year, said he didn't catch a thing, but they might reel in 50 to 60 fish as a group.
"I got nothing. It just depends," he said.
Guides travelled out to the lake with augers to cut holes in the ice, set up camp in tents with stoves and prepared soup and snack for the students. The kids weren't hauling in heavy lake char but caught mostly six and seven-inch lake cod.
"They'll be in good shape," said Pate about all the students' outdoor activities this week.
