KEEP UPDATED

Daily dispatches of our voyage can be found at the Schools on Board Webiste:
http://www.arcticnet.ulaval.ca/sb/index.php

I will also update this blog as time allows.

I’M ON A BOAT

CCGS Amundsen (http://www.amundsen.ulaval.ca/images/home/big_picture.jpg)

It is with great excitment that I announce my selection to the 2011 Schools on Board Field Program.  It has always been a dream of mine to go to the Arctic and explore both the terrain and the way of life up there.  I’m also very interested and passionate about our environment and our place within it.  This program is chance to do both.  I will be on board from September 21 to October 7 along with 8 students and one other teacher from all across Canada.  We will be working with the scientists on board and helping them run their experiments, collect and analyze data, attend lectures, learn about Inuit culture and life, and have a first hand look at the impact climate change is having on the environment up there.

WHAT IS SCHOOL ON BOARD?

Schools on Board is an outreach program of ArcticNet, based out of The Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources at the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Canada). It was developed to bridge Arctic research with science education in high schools across Canada; to increase awareness of issues related to climate change in Canada, and to educate young Canadians about the challenges and career opportunities of Arctic research. The main thrust of the program is the Field Program “on board” the CCGS Amundsen. Schools are given the unique opportunity to send students and teachers to the Arctic, on board the CCGS Amundsen to participate in an educational experience completely integrated into the research activities of the ArcticNet science team.

(Source: Schools on Board: An ArcticNet Outreach Program. Accessed September 12, 2011.  http://www.arcticnet.ulaval.ca/sb/)

WHERE WILL WE BE GOING?

Initially we will fly to Quebec City and then on to Kugluktuk, NU where we helicopter onto the CCGS Amundsen.  We remain on board from September 22 to October 4.  At that point we head back to Kugluktuk to spend a day in the community and then fly to Yellowknife, NT to overnight and then head home on October 7th.  Below is a map of some of our travels.  I will update it as infomation comes available (and I become more tech saavy with Google Maps)!

View Schools on Board Voyage 2011 in a larger map

TRACK THE CCGS AMUNDSEN

You can follow the voyage of the CCGS Amundsen at anytime using the website www.sailwx.info.  This is a website where ships radio in their location, and they are placed on a map.  To track the CCGS AMundsen, click on the link below:

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=CGDT

You can also view a map of all ship traffic world wide.  It is quite a sight to see how many ships are out on our oceans at any one time.  Click here to see the map.

MANY THANKS!!!

There are several individuals and institutions I have to thank for providing me with this opportunity to participate on Schools on Board.

• Thanks to Mrs. M. Watts, Mrs. L. Barber, ArcticNet and the University of Manitoba for providing an opportunity like this to the schools across our country.
• Thanks to Mr. G. Beaumont, Principal of DMCI and the Winnipeg School Division for supporting my application and selection to the Schools on Board Program.
• Thanks to Mr. M. Babb of Elmwood High School who first introduced me to the program and encouraged me to apply.
• Thanks to Kuna Electrical Service for a generous donation of financial support.
• Thanks to all the staff and students at DMCI who will help out with coaching and class work while I’m away.
• Thank to my wife and kids who are going to miss me (I hope) for the 2.5 weeks that I am away.