July 29, 2009

Welcome to Ottawa!


Student Anna Lisa Illauq looks at a dinosaur skeleton at the Canadian Museum of Nature
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Expedition Update: 6:09 p.m.

It has been a very busy twenty-four hours in Ottawa with students arriving late last night, and all throughout this morning and afternoon by plane, bus, train, car and bike! We have students from every Canadian territory and province participating in the expedition - as well as international students and educators from as far away as Australia, Norway and Monaco!

It has been a great day! Everything is going smoothly - and everyone is well and happy!

Our team is staying at Carleton University's Prescott House - and presently, there is a lot of excitement here! Students have been checking into their rooms, meeting and chatting with other students, staff and chaperones, playing frisbee, and playing guitars. Some of the early-birds went on a walking tour of downtown Ottawa this afternoon and visited some Ottawa attractions, including the amazing Canadian Museum of Nature!

After a delicious dinner tonight - the group played a few ice-breaker games out on the university lawn - sang some songs with musician-extraordiaire Ian Tamblyn - and are about to assemble in the auditorium for a special introductory presentation called Establishing a Sense of Place - featuring presentations by some of our polar educators.

Tomorrow is a big day! After breakfast, students will board buses and drive across the Ottawa river to the province of Quebec for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Canadian Museum of Nature's Arctic collection at their Gatineau research facility! The rest of the day will involve a big media launch, a '100-mile barbeque', and a special tour of Canada's Parliament Hill with former MP and SOI Education Team Member Peter Adams!

Tomorrow will be a very full-day - and we haven't even left for the Arctic yet!

Stay tuned to these pages for regular updates, photos and videos!

Students and staff gather for team-building activities at Carleton University
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Musician Ian Tamblyn sings a song for students and staff
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Students and Staff take part in a team-building activity at Carleton University
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Students visit the Canadian Museum of Nature
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Student Jessie Nayome marvels at a model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex
at the Canadian Museum of Nature - Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Student Jeremia Amarualik looks at wings in the bird exhibit
at the Canadian Museum of Nature - Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

A preview of some Arctic wildlife
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

SOI educator John Streicker with students in the Canadian Museum of Nature
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Students look at the interactive displays at the Canadian Museum of Nature
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Expedition staff member Patrick Tasse poses with a dinosaur model
at the Canadian Museum of Nature - Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

Students pose with dinosaur models at the Canadian Museum of Nature
Photo by Lee Narraway, Students on Ice

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