Young Scientists Explore Canada's Arctic on Polar Expedition

August 7, 2009

Twelve young scientists from 9 provinces and 3 territories selected by Youth Science Canada are participating in Arctic Expedition 2009 with Students on Ice from July 29 to August 13 as part of our International Polar Year (IPY) Polar Innovation Week Program. A thirteenth student - Bonita Le Blanc of Nova Scotia, will join the crew of the Research Vessel Amundsen for several weeks this fall as part of the Schools on Board program.

Here are selected photos and journal entries from Youth Science Canada participants in the Expedition. All photos are by Lee Narraway, courtesy of Students on Ice:

Laurissa Christie - Ontario
WOW! What an experience. This is the fourth day of the expedition, and the first full day at sea! We all have gotten to know each other so well. This morning, I looked out my window and the first thing I saw was a huge iceberg - the view of the iceberg followed by the pounding of cold crashing waves at 40 knots. This morning before breakfast we went to the upper decks and the bridge. If you are not awake before getting to the top deck, it does not take very long! We were afraid that we were going to blow away.

Yesterday when we arrived in Nunavik we were welcomed with open arms. Many participants are starting to feel the effects of being on a ship on the Hudson Strait, but thankfully I am feeling great thanks to sea bands! My goal for this trip is to keep a positive attitude even when things get rough. It is so cold on the ship. The Arctic air is freezing from the icy waters that are below us. Our days are very busy, and cold. So far, the scenery has taken my breath away.

The key to this trip is flexibility. We changed our plans for this afternoon because it is too rough and foggy for the zodiacs. We have seen four polar bears, many birds, a whale, and a seal so far. This afternoon I also saw my first iceberg close up, which was incredible.

Éveline Arpin - Québec
(en route vers Cumberland Sound)

Si seulement il existait des mots permettant d’exprimer avec exactitude toute la splendeur de cette aventure. Les journées à bord du navire sont ponctuées d’activités de toutes sortes variant au gré des événements et de l’humeur de Mère Nature. La gratitude de cette dernière a été telle qu’aujourd’hui l’épais brouillard qui pesait depuis quelques jours s’est dissipé l’instant de nous laisser contempler l’horizon et le majestueux iceberg qui se dressait fièrement à quelques mètres de nous. Tout en poursuivant de plus belle notre route vers le Nord, nous eurent le privilège d’être initié à de véritables jeux Inuits favorisant la fraternisation et les rapprochements amicaux. Le souvenir le plus marquant de cette journée demeure cependant la mise à l’eau de bouteilles scellées contenant un message qui sera découvert, enfin nous l’espérons, par un riverin d’une des côtes bordant l’océan Arctique. Je ne saurais vous décrire la beauté de ce que nous offre la nature à cette extrémité du monde qu’est le pôle Nord, mais je peux vous assurer qu’un sourire est perceptible sur chacun des visages en regard au privilège que nous avons de nous trouver où nous sommes aujourd’hui.

Forson Chan - British Columbia
Cumberland Sound

Onboard the Lyubov Orlova, a ship made in former Yugoslavia and crewed by a happy-go-lucky company of Russians, life is truly an adventure. Waking up in the mornings at 7 for a refreshing round of morning yoga is followed by a continental breakfast every day. As Zuneza, a newly discovered friend from the Yukon, once remarked, “The pancakes here are really the best I’ve ever had. I wonder what the Russians’ secret ingredient is that they use to make it taste so good?”

Life aboard this mighty vessel is certainly anything but routine. Just yesterday, we attended lectures about Arctic plants and whales, learned how to play various competitive Inuit Arctic Winter Games, wrote poetry about our experiences thus far, sang a hip-hop song about harsh Arctic environment, and sailed by an iceberg larger than our ship. The day ended epically, when we watched the sun setting on a clear, straight, cloudless horizon.

Coming from Vancouver, I have dreamed of being able to see polar bears, seals, whales, and giant icebergs for my entire life. Ever since I read about Captain Nemo’s adventures Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea and Shackleton’s journey to the Antarctic in Endurance, I have been excited about seeing the poles for myself. Thus far, the journey has been a dream come true. Having spent only 3 days on ship, with more than a week to go, we have already spotted polar bears on the distant horizon, seen a whale peek out from under the deep blue depths, sipped pristine glacial water flowing from a waterfall while on board a small zodiac boat, and thrown 3 bottled messages into the waters off Baffin Island.

I came aboard this expedition with two goals in mind:

1) To bathe in the splendor of the Arctic and learn about Arctic research;
2) To meet amazing people from all around the world.

The people I have met here are incredible. They come from all over the world and have so many stories to tell. In return, I serenade.

Today, I learned during breakfast that “how are you” in Inuktitut is pronounced something like Anup (Ah-nou-ehh-peh). Then, we boarded a zodiac, landed on an island in Cumberland Sound, and hiked around looking at Arctic flora crawling along the ground. A hundred year old tree is a twig in the Arctic.

Katherine Sittichinli - Northwest Territories
Today felt like I was home.

Complete strangers have now developed a place in my heart. I will never forget the people I have met, the things I have seen and the tons of life lessons I have learned! Laughter and smiles are incalculable. The once in a blue moon midnight tears are now tears of happiness.

The feeling of change. The things I have encountered blow my mind. As if time stands still, as if nothing else matters. Not the past. Not even the future. Just the present. The ocean so blue. The sun so bright like nothing I have seen before. The stories of knowledge you hear become stories of knowledge to tell. A sight to see, a sound to hear, a scent to smell. Wonders of the planet. So simply solved. I have found a part of me that I never knew was there. Like a dream, everything seems so unreal. Yet this is reality.

Travis Payne - New Brunswick
Cumberland Sound

Well it’s bright and early and we are finally on our way to our first landing! Today we plan to explore Kekerten Island, a small whaling station in Cumberland Sound and later to Pangnirtung, a local town in which a few of our fellow “expeditioners” reside.

Yesterday was a day at sea due to a detour we needed to make around some ice on the coast. (Flexibility is the key!) Nonetheless, it was a great opportunity to learn and see the land we’re in and come together as a group. We spotted a massive iceberg which we circumnavigated and most of all provided a Kodak moment for all. This was one of the only times all day in which the skies were clear and the air was warm (for Arctic standards) and it allowed us to take in the majestic seas and ice together as a group out on the deck. (Good Karma!)

The afternoon brought our choice of workshops ranging from bird surveying, to art, to photography and my personal choice, traditional Inuit games. (A choice my neck and back are paying for this morning!) It was a fun opportunity to learn several of the games that have been played for many generations in this land and to be taught by Arctic Games medalist Johnny Awesome. I never fared too well with the high kick events; however, I enjoyed playing the “no need for coordination” musk-ox fighting, arm pull and leg wrestling events. It was a great opportunity to learn from many of the students who compete in these games and interact as a group in this fun and lighthearted competition setting.

The day finished off with another choice in workshop, for which I chose “Skins and Bones” with David Grey. We got to guess and touch different pelts, skulls and bones of various Arctic animals and learn about their characteristics. Finally, after the workshop, as a group we watched the Arctic sunset and once again snapped pictures and simply soaked in our surroundings. After a daily recap and briefing for today, Geoff proclaimed the day as “The best sea day SOI has ever had,” and I don’t think anyone on board could disagree.

Collin Fair - Alberta
Cumberland Sound

The trip, even just being a week into it, has been dramatically more than what I was expecting, and it’ll be hard to give justice to it in a reasonably small entry, but I’ll try. Just today, 50 or so staff and students went on a 27+ kilometer hike in Auyuittuq National Park, eventually making it to the Arctic Circle, and just the place itself was worth the hike, not even considering the fun everyone had otherwise. Once at the marker for the Arctic Circle, nearly everyone (even Niki, the participant coordinator) jumped into the bitterly cold river running down the valley for a quick swim to cool off, after which we all gathered around the marker (an inuksuk) and talked about the relevance of that place and that moment. That was just today! Yesterday we made it to Kekerten Island to visit a historic whaling station, and in the afternoon we had an amazing visit to the town of Pangnirtung itself, where we had a guided tour to a large variety of very engaging places around town. The day was finished off amazingly by a community celebration featuring elders from that area answering questions, throat singers (even a few SOI participants tried), and a selection of delicious country foods. In between these events, while we’re on the ship, there are always things to do, whether it be talk with the other amazing participants from all over the world (from places like Monaco, NYC, and Rhode Island, in addition to 20 people from the Canadian Arctic), attend a variety of interesting workshops, or just chat with the over forty highly knowledgeable and engaging staff on board. Overall it’s been a great experience, and I’m sure I am not the only one on the trip that will remember this for the rest of my life.

Philippa Gosine - Newfoundland & Labrador
Kingnait Fjord

Ai!

Once I finally managed to pull myself out of bed after our amazing and absolutely incredible 27 km hike to the Arctic Circle yesterday, we headed off to breakfast not knowing exactly what to expect today, but being flexible as always. The unexpected is almost becoming the norm on board, from climbing huge sand dunes to crossing rivers flowing from glaciers on our hike yesterday, to changing our course (many times exploring uncharted waters), and it’s what makes this trip so incredible and unique. Today we got another taste of adventure when we discovered pods of bowhead whales and seals in Kingnait fjord. I saw at least 4 whale tails and watched the seals play about in the water, bobbing up and down. We ventured further into the fjord in the zodiacs and stopped in the harbor. We struggled to loosen up our stiff muscles in order to climb to the waterfalls. Once arriving we all took some time to reflect, write, draw or sleep. Lying next to these unbelievably powerful and impressive waterfalls really allowed you to connect back to nature and let us reflect on how we fit in the big picture. Today has not only been about seeing amazing sites but also expressing what we have seen and learned. This morning I started my first ever oil painting, which Linda is helping me with. Although I’m not expecting too much from my painting, it’s looking better than I expected, which definitely has something to do with Linda’s help, and I’m so excited to give it a try. That’s all for now

Agatha Kang - Prince Edward Island
Flexibility is the key! Since we were not able to make our way up north to Clyde River, we decided to stay in Cumberland Sound for a bit. This allowed us to land on Kingnait Harbor and we had a fantastic hike there. I was mesmerized by the beautiful scenery! Also, I felt like I was at a very special place because Fred told us that the place is sacred and that it is a site for an IPY station. Furthermore, looking at sea ice today was amazing. All my worries and regrets flew away when I stood beside nature. I felt spiritually connected to nature and especially the arctic ecosystem. The unfortunate truth that I learned today is that the arctic ecosystem is very vulnerable. If the sea ice keeps disappearing rapidly, Earth will heat up faster and cause the glaciers to melt at a faster rate. This can easily destroy the arctic ecosystem and increase the sea level. The arctic is the first indicator of the impacts of climate change and global warming. From a realistic point of view, it is too late to stop the effects of climate change, but we can definitely slow it down. There must be ways to slow it down because we cannot let nature to be destroyed.

Nature means a lot to me now. It is home to me, a friend that I cannot live without. I believe that human beings cannot exist without nature. Many of us take nature for granted, but it is a gift to us and we must cherish it. We need to protect and preserve nature for as long as Earth exists. Nature is something we all need to appreciate and pay close attention to because we never know when we might lose it. Also, even though wisdom and knowledge can be shared, nature is something that you have to experience yourself. You have to feel it with your heart. Once you feel the close connection to nature, you will realize the importance of keeping it alive. I love the silence of nature and it would be incredible for everyone to feel the same way. If our planet Earth was so small that we could hold it in our hands, we would value it more!

Jesse Arnaqaq - Nunavut
Today we woke up at 7:00am and at 7:30 we had a breakfast.  We loaded zodiacs after that and saw a lot of birds at Hantzsch Island.  On August 4th, we went hiking to the Arctic Circle and it took about 9 hours. The best part was crossing the rivers, helping my group.

Lauren Gamble - Saskatchewan
Although it is not yet noon, today has been something else! I woke up around 4:30 this morning to see the sunrise and being out on deck alone watching the sun was unexplainable. I could not even sleep afterwards, so hearing ‘Good morning Students on Ice!’ did not even bother me (for once)!  Right after another great breakfast (mmm, chocolate chip pancakes) we were off to another fjord where we had more focused discussion groups followed by… THE SWIM!  It was so cold I could not breathe when I hit the water.  My whole body felt like ice and I tasted the salt on my lips like I have never tasted. Even Fred Roots, at 86, took the dip! It was incredible. There are no words for how crazy that was.

Breathing again,

Lauren Gamble

Susan Nanthasit - Manitoba
First journal entry and I just don’t know where to start. It’s only the fifth day but we’ve been so active. So I guess I’ll just start from the beginning.

Arriving in Ottawa had its rough patches. A thunderstorm delayed the landing and many of the other students and staff had delayed or canceled flights. Apart from the humidity and jet lag, it was fun to meet everyone at Carleton University.

The next day we had a chance to really explore Ottawa and got a behind the scenes tour of the National Heritage Building in Gatineau.

On the third day we finally left for Kuujjuaq. Even though we had to wake up at five in the morning, I was still very excited, but probably not showing it in those hours. We were welcomed into Kuujjuaq by the mayor and even received a town tour, where I purchased some souvenirs.

Around four in the afternoon we started boarding the zodiacs for the first time to board the ship. A fairly bumpy ride but what else would you expect.

The first night on the ship was probably the best sleep I ever had, which was rudely interrupted with a slight feeling of motion sickness in the morning. But I was still able to stumble my way on deck and take some pictures when we reached Resolution Island. Before we anchored, we got to choose one of five workshops to participate in. I chose stencil art which was being taught by Jolly. The colors bring a touch of life to your sketches. Although I’m not finished, I’ll be sure to try and post it up when I’m done. I’m no artist but I’m drawing an iceberg.

Now, the exciting part of yesterday, wildlife spottings! Birds flew around our ship, but they were so fast. But when we were anchored and looking on and around Resolution Island a Minke whale and polar bears were seen! The whale only popped up a little bit and seemed sort of shy. Although I didn’t see the polar bears with my own eyes, I was told of them. There was a momma bear with her two cubs, and a male bear following.

Yesterday was also the first time we went on a zodiac excursion. The waters were so clear and the land looked positively peaceful. There was a cliff full of arctic birds, but the names of the different species escape me. For the last part of our zodiac exploration, we went right up close and personal with an iceberg. As we were approaching the slightly blue mass, a seal heard us and slid into the water.  We touched the iceberg and I took plenty of pictures. I distinctively remember that as we were going back towards the ship, the seal kept popping its head out to watch us. Probably to make sure he could go back to his original spot without us there.

When we returned to the ship, the seasickness that everyone had been feeling was lifted. Everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves more. We had an IPY presentation from Jenny; I think everyone should really check out Ice Ice Baby whenever they can.

The people are great, the ship is rolling side to side, the scenery is amazing and the wildlife is fascinating. With a combination like this, I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

Chelsea Duncan - Yukon
This experience has been amazing so far and it’s only beginning. Being on the ship has had its ups and downs, but mostly ups. The only down part would be the horrible sea sickness most people experienced on the first day. By the second day everyone was feeling much better. There have been many highlights so far on this trip. One of the highlights would be seeing the first whale and polar bear of the trip only moments after stepping outside Saturday afternoon. Another highlight would be seeing big icebergs for the first time of my life. Sunday morning, we travelled by a huge iceberg. The sky was clear and sunny; it was truly an amazing sight. Another amazing sight was Sunday evening, watching the sunset. After a mostly cloudy day, the sky cleared up just in time to watch the sunset. I think I took about one hundred pictures of it. I sat on the bow of the ship with my feet hanging over the edge of the boat just taking it all in. They have us super busy on the ship with plenty to do. We have definitely learned that flexibility is key.

I have met many interesting people on this trip. They all are very nice and have interesting stories to tell. I have already made many friends and hope to make many more. I am learning so much and there is so much more to learn. I love the energy on the ship it is so positive. Looking out into the ocean gives you a calming feeling. It’s surreal. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the trip. This is a life changing experience and I’m so glad I get to be a part of it!

For the complete record of the expedition, visit the Students on Ice Arctic Expedition 2009 web site.