Sisters' Arctic Expedition 2019 SOI

Hello! We are two high school students (age 18 &16) in Lake Country, British Columbia. We believe that each new experience broadens your view of the world, and allows you to become a global citizen. We have been selected, out of worldwide applicants, to go on the 2019 Arctic expedition (July 23-August 7, 2019) with the organization Students on Ice.

Students on Ice is the only global organization that sends students to Canada's two poles. This award-winning  ship-based program offers students from around the world unique educational opportunities to foster knowledge and respect for our planet.  Students travel with an incredible group of Polar experts, scientists, Inuit Elders, historians, musicians, and educators to engage in cross-disciplinary learning in the most remote and awe-inspiring place on our planet. Each year 100 lucky students are accepted into in this international youth  educational program, and this year we are fortunate to be a part of this journey.

We are both very passionate learners, and plan to attend post- secondary education in the science and arts fields. This expedition would give us unique insight into potential future careers, and allow us to encounter and learn from a wide range of people.


We believe that this would be an incredible way for us to connect and bond even more as sisters, while observing the effects of climate change and human activity on our beautiful planet. Opportunities to learn from very influential people will present themselves while we are on the ship and when we visit local indigenous communities in the Arctic. Honored values, traditions, and  survival techniques will be shared with us by the people that call the Arctic their home. A new appreciation and love for the local fauna and flora will arise out of this educational journey.

Once we return from the expedition, we will help share our experiences, and promote environmental awareness with the community through presentations at schools, and events throughout the Okanagan Valley, and  our home country of Germany.  

For more information about this incredible opportunity you can visit:
https://studentsonice.com/expeditions/educational-resources/ 

The expedition cost for each of us is $13 500 CAD. This cost includes airfare from the gateway city of Ottawa to the start of the ship journey in  Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, pre-expedition training, all shipboard educational programming ( seminars, workshops, hands-on learning opportunities), all expedition equipment, meals, and zodiac land excursions to local Arctic communities.  We both work part-time jobs outside of school, to  help save for the trip.

Any contributions over $250 CAD are eligible for a tax receipt as SOI is a registered non-profit, Canadian charity.  If you would like to receive a tax receipt, the donation must be made directly to the SOI financial office; please contact [email redacted] for more information.

Thank you for supporting environmental activism and youth education.

Louisa & Leonie Steigenberger