SOI-IPY Arctic Youth Expedition 2008: Video Summary

OTTAWA – Today (Friday, August 22, 2008) the Government of Canada announced land and marine conservation measures in Nunavut. Students on Ice wishes to congratulate the Government of Canada for taking these important steps! Among the areas that the Government will protect is Isabella Bay / Niginganiq, one of three places in Nunavut to receive new protected “National Wildlife Area” status today.

On the heels of his most recent Arctic educational expedition, Students on Ice Executive Director & Founder Geoff Green notes, “Earlier this month we were reminded first-hand of the importance to protect Isabella Bay / Niginganiq, when we had the privilege of visiting its waters and spending several hours with over fifty Bowhead whales. It was awe-inspiring to share space and time with these gentle giants.”

The Isabella Bay / Niginganiq conservation announcement is the culmination of over 20 years of effort by many groups and individuals, including Dr. Fred Roots (Students on Ice Staff Alumni), WWF Canada, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Canadian Wildlife Service, the people of Clyde River, Nunavut, and many others. Students on Ice and its alumni commends these organizations for their work.

Students on Ice is very proud of the efforts made by its students Bali Symenuk and Jenna Dickson for their commitment to protecting Isabella Bay / Niginganiq. “In the last year Bali and Jenna have led their peers in organizing a pan-Canada petition that was tabled in Parliament and a letter writing campaign to the Prime Minister of Canada and various Cabinet Ministers for the protection of Isabella Bay / Niginganiq. Bali and Jenna’s efforts have not gone unnoticed and have made a difference!” says Green.

Eighteen year old Jenna Dickson says, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Canadian government for making this decision. Although this process has taken a number of years, this gives hope to fellow Canadians who have a dream to make a difference. Many hands across the country have been involved with this step. From a young Canadian who has been truly touched by the beauty and the greatness of our Canadian Arctic, I have never been so proud to live in a country where the voice of our people can be heard.”

Isabella Bay is located on the east coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut and is home to over 100 Bowhead Whales each summer. This is the most important concentration of Bowhead Whales in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. These long-living whales are recovering very slowly from heavy commercial whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries. Currently, the Eastern Arctic Bowhead Whales are listed as “threatened,” by the World Conservation Union and the Government of Canada.

Fritz, you were greatly missed. It’s not the same without you. ~Anonymous

When will the fate of humankind end
Into the depths of our own creations meant to help but bring destruction. Insidious toys meant for contamination
Death brought upon us all
We struggle to save our lives or stop to keep our desires Dreaming to be gods not knowing knowledge is a sin.

Turn off your T.V. before bedtime
Save power ~Anonymous

Uber amazing! Eye opening! Numinous! Awe inspiring! Life changing!

My new family

Leadership

Beautiful people

Protect the environment! ~Shanice

With peace, love, forward thinking, and a petition, we can change the world.

Be the change you want to see in the world!

Ich hab eich mein Herz geschlassen

“Life is not measured by the breaths that you take, but by the moments that take your breath away” ~Lauren Law

Sprawling to the horizon
Hills clamour to fill the space
The Water stretches its finger into the land
Craving a Space
Slowly the hills run
Trying to escape
The water’s fingers turn to claws
Claiming not seducing
Waterfall roars demanding sustenance
Lake calmly indulges, suckling its child
All the while
The glorious sun beats, subduing
But underneath the thin veil
The land has changed
~Ophelia Snyder

Exploration doesn’t mean standing on the North Pole – it’s a mind state. ~Don Walsh

Isabella Bay will stay with me forever. ~Anonymous

Let us escape from tragedy. ~Anonymous

To everyone involved: I can’t say thank you enough! ~Anonymous

Quoi qu’on fasse, ou qu’on aille, on est, et on restera, un Student On Ice. ~Ben

Everyone is an environmentalist. ~Max Liddle

Live like you plan on staying. ~False English

Arctic games are precious.

Every day I discover another’s hidden talent here.

We live on ONE planet, not five! ~Rachel Eisener

Forget not that the earth longs to bear your bare feet and the wind longs to play with your hair. ~Khalil Gilbran

Seize opportunities, because they probably won’t come again. ~Anonymous

This expedition was “Merveilleux” ~Elsa

It’s not who you are, but who you want to be.

Shoot for the moon, even if you fail you will land among the stars. (anonymous) ~Delphine

Eigentlich gibt es fur diesen trip keine Work – dennoch ein mehr alsunglaubliches
Erlebnis fur mich – Danke an alle! Ihr seid die Besten! ~Anonymous

C’etait tout simplement genial! Et a la fois magique. ~Elsa

I had a life changing experience in this magical land on the amazing ship. ~David Crane

Este viaje fue incredible, conoci a grandes amigos y un lugar incredible de la Tierra; La cima del mundo! ~Mariana Hill Cruz

Time will stop for none of us, especially at this stage.

WE are the leaders of tomorrow AND today. ~Patrick Crawford

You only live once. ~Patrick Crawford

This is only the beginning. ~Patrick Crawford

Thank goodness Geoff took risks and started this program.

Long live the north! Save the poles. Protect the planet!

No words. ~Brenna Owen

N’attendez pas, agissez et preservez!

I feel as though this was a perfect expedition to dedicate to Fritz. We took risks and did a lot of unexpected things, and I felt as though he was here the whole time. We love you Fritz.

I want to make this place a part of my life.

Lots of WATER.

Whales!

Science! We miss Beth and Janet. We love you! ~Adrienne and Angel

The ice is alive with the sound of silent awe. ~Ramona

SOI gave you a balloon, now go and fill it! ~Lauren law

I will go where the wind takes me.

For the past two weeks, I LIVED!

When I leave I will not cry because it is over. I will smile because it happened and will continue to happen and grow.

This little light of mine – I’m going to let it shine!

Thank you! Everyone at SOI is wonderful and I hope to meet again.

Don’t just hear, but listen. ~Lauren Law

We’re going to do great things! ~Without a paddle

Our relationship with the Earth isn’t the healthiest – we need to stop hurting those we love. ~Ramona

Never have I ever felt so close to so many so quickly.

Llegue al mundo de mis suenos.

Life: I love you, you love me.

Together we are strong.

One of the most powerful and amazing events ever to occur within my life. Thank You.

My opened eyes see the light.

The poles are like a box of chocolates – you have to keep them from melting. ~Ramona

It could be fine…or, it could be catastrophic. ~Jeg elsker deg

It’s a ship, not a boat, and it’s an EXPEDITION and JOURNEY, not a trip. ~Dakota Green

Don’t think too hard, sometimes the answers are right in front of you. ~Lauren Law

Ultra-classic! ~Adrienne

Solemn admiration is the saddest positive feeling ever.

I feel free. ~Nora

Live
Laugh
Love

I actually feel like a part of something bigger, greater, and more exciting than life itself.

Ice is nice!

Completely worth the end of my summer.

You can’t solve the problems of the world by using the same thinking that was used when they were created. ~Einstein

I’ve got two families – all of you, and mine. ~Ben

I feel at home here.

A bunch of kids up on the ice; A bunch of kids that are so nice; A bunch of kids on top of the world; A bunch of fun for the boys and girls. ~Dakota

Take Action for future generations!

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Don’t just point fingers. You must look within and assess your own problems before you can look outward and assess others. ~Lauren

I’ve never been part of something so powerful and life-changing.

Now I have hope. ~Cason Crane

I’ll hold all the memories I’ve made here very close to my heart.

It doesn’t get any better than this! HOPE for the future. ~Khia

Remember to dig deep – find your 4th R. Remember to Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

REFLECT... RETHINK!!!

I am changed. I will continue to change for the better.

If you want a life changing experience, SOI is the place to be.

For the last 2 weeks I have felt alive.

All the broken-hearted people in the world agree, there WILL be an answer.

A once in a lifetime experience. No – a one in a billion lifetimes experience.

I love polar bears!

Thanks Geoff that you made this thing!

I love the Arctic! The Arctic is my home! +

Jamas olvidare esta aventura.

Be the solution! ~Rachel

Geoff, your kind gestures and efforts will not be forgotten.
Be the community that you ARE.

We only have one Earth. Love it, respect it, protect it. ~Nora

If you want to experience new things, meet cool people, see amazing things, then SOI is what you need.

Changed.

Late was better than nothing!

There is so much love on this ship!

Unforgettable friends. ~Shanice Kamingoak

It is that it happens only once in eternity that makes life beautiful.

When I look back on this, I can smile.

This is life.

This was AWESOME. I will never forget the people and the things I saw. I’ll miss it. ~Chelsea Charlie

I will never forget, the people, the places, the feeling. ~Brenna

I can’t even begin to explain how amazing this experience was.

Never before. Always again.

Follow your dreams, act now, so take action!

Amazing people. Love everyone.

Eco-centric, not ego-centric. ~Nora

Looking forward to a reunion!

Words mean nothing – your actions mean everything!

Este viaje me enseno que no estoy sola, conoci amigos que tambien planean cambiar la Tierra y salvar nuestro futuro. ~Mariana

There’s nothing quite like seeing the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your life every single day. ~Adrienne.

Just because you can have something doesn’t mean you should, so think twice before you buy that next big t.v. or iPod. ~Dakota

Thank you for everything. Everything was just so beautiful!

I love playing music on the back deck. ~Dakota

Are you courageous enough to take on the world? ~Lauren

Let us go forward fuelled by HOPE.

Small minds talk about people. Mediocre minds talk about events.
Great minds discuss ideas.

I want to change but I need help. ~Ben

Share the love
Share the knowledge!

Thanks mom and dad! I loved it!

Friends and experiences to fill my “back pocket” and stay with me for the rest of my life.

Thank you IPY!

Tired by inspired.

Ooooh it’s hot in here, there’s too much carbon in the atmosphere.
Ooooh it’s hot in here, there’s too much carbon in the atmosphere.
Take action, take action, and get some satisfaction.
Take action, take action, and get some satisfaction.
Ooooh there’s ice up here, but not as much as there was last year.
Ooooh there’s ice up here, but not as much as there was last year.
Take action, take action, and get some satisfaction.
Take action, take action, and get some satisfaction.
We’re students, we’re students, we’re Students on Ice!
We’re students, we’re students, we’re Students on Ice!

I hope that I will come back to the Arctic. And when I do, I hope the Arctic will still be here to come back to.

We are leaders
The time for action is now
To save the earth, be ready for a bumpy ride.

Change begins in the home of the common man.

Together, we can do great things... Together we can make the world a better place.
Let’s get to work!