YOUTH IMPRESSIONS

Students on Ice Arctic Expedition 2005

Once in a lifetime experience.

Mind blowing, breathtaking.

It was enriching for the mind, soul, heart…

I’ll never find the right words to describe it.

The landscapes, wildlife, the people.

I’ll never forget it.

Thanks,

Charlotte

Well, I will try my best to put this into words…

If it wasn’t for good karma (and a little bit of pure coincidence) I would not be here aboard this little red boat floating atop the North Atlantic. I was blessed by family to get me here and have been blessed by the team and new friends to make me want to stay here. Maybe I will just hop onto an iceberg and live off the sea birds. Let’s do a little recap: It seems like yesterday that I was sitting on a train by myself making my way to the capital city. And there waiting for me at the train station was the one and only Diz with her luminous smile. Previous to this was a Diz I knew by her email etiquette. Just like that I had a face to match a personality. From then on was a trip I will never forget. Back to the good karma. After losing my passport, I still managed to make it to Keflavik International. From here we travelled about the Reykjavik area, making our way to such sites as Parliament Plains, Gullfoss, and Geyser. And I was the only person who remained awake the whole time…I heard all the sagas and all stories of entymology. Through the coloured residential areas of Reykjavik we rolled until we caught sight of the ship; already I was feeling for my sea legs. I hope I get this right but Heimaey was a moment to remember, a journey that seems like months ago. The sun soaked mountains jetted their way out of the water into shapes that only clouds can duplicate. Seals, birds, and even elephants graced the glass-like water. From here (after hiking a volcano) we hit up Snaefellsness: a quaint village at the foot of a volcano (much like Heimaey). Here was when I connected and became one with my surroundings. Hiking (running) up a glacier to be the first was purely out of excitement. Just pondering about the masses of living ice mind-boggles one…There is simply too much to summarize. I love this trip. I love these people. I love this life…polar bears, whales, and walruses et. al.

L. Pritchard

PS The Ice Cap was a blast and has opened a new perspective in my life.

This trip has opened my eyes wider than ever before. There is so much to say that I simply can’t put into words; I’ll need a nice car ride home to collect my thoughts. Thanks to the crew, staff, chaperones, and everyone who made this possible.

Hard 2 put it in words when u go back & meet people giving u the weird look & poking fun of “being 2 green” – remember we were 100+ people on the most amazing trip ever! “Feed the right wolf” & wlayz think to look in ur address book to those 100+ people who will ALWAYZ be here 2 give u a helping hand + a big smile & help u thru any challenge! Ur friendly Bulgarian: Neli A. I.

PS Diz – u r my hero! Betz – thank u, thank u, thank u! Much luv 2 all.

This trip ruled!!!

Karma

Bobby Bierk

Why does it seem like every day is a new day with something new every day. We shouldn’t forget this experience. The stories and sketches in our minds will last forever!

Victoria Ransom

We went to the Arctic! The world’s population went to the Arctic!

Sean

A big thank you to the education team.

Margarett

I had a great time, saw amazing things, and met even more amazing people.

Ryan Leach

I have to believe that we as a race, as global citizens, and as a part of this world, we can change for the greater good, or I’d go out of my mind.

Erika Lackey

Freakin’ awesome

I have been impacted profoundly by the education team; they have no idea.

Carrie

Words cannot express…

Kelan Vogel

Meeting everyone from all over the world is one of the things people rarely are able to do. An amazing trip in every aspect. Most importantly, the team of educational members made the trip. It would not have been even close to enjoyable as it was if were not for the adventurous, knowledgeable, and energetic team.

Matt Pierson

An eye opener to environmental issues that I have ignored, and an inspiration to make a change.Ang sarap nang pagkain. Atsaka ang bait nang manga tao.

Ingrid A., NYC

This trip was a real eye opener to issues that are really happening in the world. It made me realize that my lifestyle needs some work.

Matt Roberts

We are explorers; I am an explorer.

- D. M. Brock

CO2 causes global warming; good karma causes good weather and animal sightings. Has no one noticed the odd dichotomy between these groupings of cause and effect?

Ilan

Thank you to the crew of the Explorer, the Explorer itself, Iceland, Greenland, Nunavut, the chaperones, the educators, the sponsors, the people I’ve met and the animals we saw…

Clark

It was a unique experience. I’ll never forget the incredible landscapes and exciting animal sightings! Thank you!!! SOI is awesome!!!

Zoe

Xoxo

I hope each and every one of us realize how much we have learned over the course of this expedition—whether it be from the land, sky, animals, educators or our fellow students. I know for me, I will try and really absorb the experiences we have encountered and use that as a driving force behind my determination to continue learning and growing – mind, body and spirit.

I hope we all reflect on what we have learned and transform this education into making small or large differences in our world. If everyone contributes to helping our environment future generations (humans, plants, animals, etc.) will prosper, flourish, and benefit from it. Students on Ice was an amazing experience and has opened up my eyes to climate change. I would like to thank the SOI team and all of the students for a most memorable program.

Bruce Bentley

Melting streams are the tears of dying glaciers.

Fritz

This was a trip of a lifetime to experience.

Chad Larocque

Thanks, this journey opened my eyes and left footprints in my heart…[Written in Chinese characters and translated into English]

Julia

I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to everyone. Here we’re walking away from this trip with something so powerful…knowledge. THE knowledge to make a difference. The knowledge to take a stand and the knowledge to find ourselves to find our purposes. Thanks. I love you all and you are to me the best of friends.

Love, Drew Cemer

This 2 weeks rocked!

Jono

Getting to know 107 people on this trip has been totally awesome, fun, exciting, and just an experience of a lifetime. Learning from Fritz, Richard, David, David, and absolutely everyone else was just so much better than sitting in a classroom inside. SOI gave me the chance to get out and experience so much more. Once I get home, the knowledge I’ve learned here will be spread. The connections made will become stronger. We are the leaders, we are the solution. You guys were just so much fun. There is nothing that can every top the experience of this trip. Thank you so much for absolutely everything.

Lotsa love,

Megan

I entered this trip without a care for the environment. After all, I don’t see its effects. So why should I care? That’s why I came. To answer that. This trip opened my eyes. I realized I was wrong the entire time.

Ankur Gupta

I’ve never felt so inspired as I do now. I’ve never been with so many people I want to be like. I’ve never come face to face with this many amazing creatures. I’ve never left a place with this much intent to change and do things just like I’ve actually been tonight. Thanks for the dreams, ambitions, and intent to change the world!

Mary Ann Thornton

There are no words to describe this trip. It was amazing, wonderful, incredible…great experiences!

Adele

This trip has opened a new world to me and I have now started my journey to find my passion.

Christina

At this point, I have laughed, cried, shared stories. I just want to say thanks to everyone.

Thanks.

Margarett

I will never forget all the new friends that I made. They are all amazing people. Nakurmiik.

Moe

This group of people has seen, heard, dreamed, and experienced more in these 2 weeks than most people dream of doing in a lifetime.

Mary Ann

Thank you Students On Ice for letting me go on this trip.

Princess

We have experienced so much as a team, learned even more as a group and felt the power of each and everyone of us – student, chaperone, or educator.

Ashley

This fantastic group of people inspired me to be the person that I want to be and they showed me not to be afraid to be goofy.

Margarett

These two weeks have been an inspiration.

Nick T.

Thank you to everyone for the gift of this expedition, and to Geoff and Diz for carrying out your vision and letting us all live your dream.

Alysia

Today’s a good day; tomorrow will be a good day…

Over the last 2 weeks has been amazing…from the polar bears to sleeping. One thing that I won’t forget is my belly flop.

Moe

This has been the best 2 weeks of my life! I’ll never forget this.

Princess

I don’t think that I have ever been touched so many times in such a little time before. By the people I have met, the stories I have heard, the cultures I have seen, the nature surrounding me, and the many animals I have been so close to. So many impressions, so much to learn, so much to share, and so much out there for us to accomplish…world, the Arctic!  It’s nature, it’s people, it’s culture! It makes me want to fight for keeping it alive.

Anne-Katrine (Nuuk, GL)

Blue whales, polar bears, walrus, volcanoes, etc., etc. What can I say? So many people from all over the world at the same place for 2 weeks. WOW!! There is a lot to do out there in the world, but remember to be critical and see everything from both sides! Be the change!!!

Mads

I’ve never been so inspired by so many amazing people in such a short amount of time…it is such a unique feeling to have and I wouldn’t change anything.

Alex Sempel

What has this experience done for me? I cannot put into words. What have I contributed? Not enough. My only hope now is that my actions express for me what I cannot put in words. So few have done in a lifetime what we have done in 2 short weeks, this makes the friendships we have made all that more unique and forever important.

E. Lackey Ruwald

Thank you for providing the time for us to obtain our dreams. I have long wished to see this isolated region of the world. I didn’t see it. I experienced it. The last two weeks have been a pivotal point in my life and I am walking away with an experience I could never dream of. This is more than just an experience of a lifetime. Thank you so much Diz and Geoff.

Hannah Munro

Skid is my best friend

Alex Sempel

How do I even begin to communicate the empowerment, inspiration, happiness, and the drive that I have felt in the past two weeks?  That’s just it…I have so much reflection to do before I can even begin to understand what this expedition has done for me. Being here without my urban home life, for the past couple of weeks has made me the happiest girl on the planet! My first experience in the Arctic with SOI last June really opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking and I absolutely “fell in love with this part of the world.” At this exact moment, I couldn’t agree more with that statement and I have come to realize that the Arctic is indeed my home away from home. I feel a huge connection here. You are all my best friends and you’ve changed my life…again! Thank you so much for all of your inspiration,

Kelsi Prince

Xoxo

PS Thanks for finding my pictures and recovering them after I accidentally deleted them, Trevor! I would have had the memories, but I love having the pictures to go along with them! Thank you so much!

Two weeks in the most inspiring places on earth, with the most inspiring people, and not to forget inspiring animals.

This was a trip of a lifetime to be on and it’s all thanks to Diz, Geoff, and Amy for me to be on.

Chad Larocque

This is truly one of the best classrooms in the world. The open-mindness and flexibility surely gives way to imaginative dreaming.

David J.

PS Incredible people to meet of course and sharing stories of where you’re coming from is definitely memorable.

Some of the greatest friendships have been formed over the most inspiring times. Thanks.

Jess

This experience has opened me up into a whole different world.

Lisa

I think that all these people on this trip are amazing.

Margarett

I’ve put a lot of memories in my back pocket. Thank you.

Christina G.

I will never forget this amazing journey.

Princess

To be happy is to surround yourself with happy people.

Raina

This experience has been one of the most amazing two weeks of my life. It opened up my heart & mind, to give me a new look at the world in this critical point in my life.

Carrie

The journey we have made is too astounding to put into words. The people, animals, and even hikes have been incredible. This trip holds a tangle of memories that I will hold in my heart and mind for my entire life.

Alison Gegios

You vote with your dollar!

I love Students on Ice!!!

Princess

I’ve been a lot of places, but experiencing this only one word comes to mind WOW! And I hope everybody else shares this enthusiasm!!

Christina G.

Instead of going on a “cruise” I went on an excellent, life changing experience. I will never be the same again. The Arctic has changed me – and I hope to change the Arctic. I’ve met new people, learned new ideas, expressed my own ideas, and found my place with people that genuinely care about the place I feel I have been missing throughout my entire life. I’m here through fate and destiny – and I hope to spread the word about this (almost) untouched area – so I can make a difference, and preserve this place of almost heart-breaking beauty. It will be difficult, but I must put how I feel into words, and not be deterred by the bumps of everyday life. I WILL TAKE THE ARCTIC WITH ME!      

Rebecca Cameron

PS This time tomorrow I will be saying goodbye to all of the wonderful, inspiring people I have ever met. Chances are, we will never meet face-to-face ever again. But, I will keep in contact with everyone as much as I possibly can, and carry the memory of these amazing 2 ½ weeks with me everywhere that I go.

“Be the change that you want to see in the world.” (Ghandi)

There is nothing like SOI. Experience it and it’ll change your image of the world.

David J.

Thank you, SOI, for the opportunity to experience and learn on this most “magnificent” of trips…words just can’t describe all that I saw or experienced. Awesome…

Cheryl Horton

I have waited for this trip to the Arctic for over ten years. It has been thrilling to me to follow the path of the Vikings and of Roald Amundsen’s Northwest Passage. Also to get the students involved in the story of Erik the Red and Greenland. It has been great to see so much, high points being the polar bears and walruses of past two days. Thanks SOI for my third trip as chaperone.

Carol Francis

This trip inspired so many people and friendships have been formed that could last a lifetime even if you live across the country or world! Thanks.

Adele

In the past two weeks I have done what I though I could never do, so go out and try something new.

Princess

I’ve been uninspired for such a long time now like I knew I wanted to do something. But I couldn’t figure it out. I finally found the inspiration I’ve been searching for.

Alex Sempel

Great minds…greater hearts…greatest difference.

I am speechless. There are no words. Thanks.

Julia

During the past 2 weeks we have shared stories, laughed, cried, and loved. Thanks.

Jessica

The world is not whole without the polar regions and they play a silent yet integral part in the world we share, live, and call home.

Hannah Munro

Thank you 4 an amazing trip!!

Christina G.

During the past two weeks I have learned and taken in so much. I am so happy I cam on this trip. It has changed my life. I have grown as a person. I have become wiser and nobler. I’ve listened to people talk about their life stories. I would not trade this trip for anything. I will never forget my journey.

Princess Walker

Two weeks of this experience can only be summed up in this…Holy crap this rocked!

Thank you!

Clark

I have come a long way. I have experienced, I have grown.

Wow there were just so many things I will take from this trip that I want to share with everyone I know and everyone I don’t (like Skid getting pooped on!!)!.

Christina G.

Watching people experiencing something for the first time in their lives such as seeing their first nanuq (polar bears).

Moe

Finding beautiful friendships in a beautiful world

Seeing friendships that will hopefully last a long time.

Seeing chaperones and teachers share their inspirations.

Seeing the greatest animals of the Arctic. Seeing the first experiences happen in front of my eyes.

Seeing a different look on the world.

Seeing our group trying to make a change in the world.

Victoria Ransom

Skid and Fritz rox my sox!!

No words give justice to this life altering experience that we all shared in.

Hannah Munro

With open eyes and open hearts, let’s change the world.