Fisheries and Aquaculture
January 10, 2013

Students on Ice Expedition Provides a Unique Learning Experience for Youth

The Provincial Government is providing $12,000 in financial support which will allow for the participation of a student from Newfoundland and Labrador in the 2013 Students on Ice Expedition later this year. The Students on Ice program is a unique, life-changing learning experience for students that takes place in the Arctic region. The educational expedition focuses on learning about the environment and explores the unique landscape of the northernmost area of the globe.

“The Students on Ice program offers a valuable opportunity for young students to experience first-hand Canada’s unique Arctic ecosystem,” said the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “Our government is very supportive of such initiatives, which encourage youth to become involved in activities that promote science and education, and provide a greater understanding of our marine environment and conservation issues.”

Expeditions equip youth with vital tools and knowledge that allow them to link local realities to global issues while empowering them to bring about positive change. The expedition connects youth to the natural world and fosters a new understanding and respect for the planet. It provides for in-depth learning about the Arctic environment and northern Indigenous cultures, while participants explore solutions to pressing global challenges. Most importantly, Students on Ice inspires participants to make a difference in their own communities.

The 2013 excursion will explore the eastern Canadian Arctic and western Greenland between July 14 and 28. It will involve 70 international high school students, 14 to 18 years old, a team of 35 world-class scientists, historians, artists, explorers, educators, innovators and polar experts, and 30 public and private sector leaders. Students on this summer's expedition will develop the knowledge, skills, perspectives and practices that will help them to be Arctic ambassadors and environmentally responsible citizens.

“Participants on Students on Ice expeditions become exceptional polar ambassadors who work to raise awareness in their home communities about the importance of many polar and global issues,” said Geoff Green, Founder and Executive Director of Students on Ice. “We are delighted that once again this year, thanks to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, a student from Newfoundland and Labrador will get the opportunity to visit the Canadian Arctic, one of the world’s most unique places, and then bring back the knowledge they have gained to their friends, family, schools and communities. On behalf of Students on Ice and our many partners, I sincerely thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for contributing to the Students on Ice Arctic expedition and providing young people with a meaningful, positive and profound experience in their lives.”

While on the expedition, students participate in lectures, workshops, hands-on activities and small group seminars. They have extraordinary wildlife encounters, educational day excursions, visits to remote Arctic communities and archeological sites, and opportunities to acquire first-hand knowledge and insight into the dynamics of climate change. Participants often encounter whales, seals, polar bears, caribou, seabirds, walruses and other wildlife. The participants gain valuable and a unique perspective on this extraordinary region and on some of the planet’s most pressing challenges. The journey has been described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience by many.

This year marks the sixth Newfoundland and Labrador student sponsored to participate in the Students on Ice Arctic Expedition under the Department's Coastal and Oceans Strategy program. Approximately $59,800 in funding has been provided since 2010.

More information on the Students on Ice program can be found by visiting www.studentsonice.com/.

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2013 01 10                           11:10 a.m.