Our Family Learning Adventures are purposefully designed for families with children aged 8-12 years who value the cultural teachings and unique bonding experiences that come with travelling together. As a charter member of the Family Travel Association Family-Friendly Supplier certification program, our guests can be assured that we have met or exceeded the industry standards and guidelines that define family-friendly travel.
Family Learning Adventure: Polar Bears
Trip Overview
Experience Autumn in Churchill, the gathering place of the largest and most accessible population of polar bears on the planet!
Our unique Family Learning Adventures are designed for families who value the cultural teachings and unique bonding experiences that come with travelling together. Imagine exploring the wide-open tundra with your family, witnessing one of the world’s most extraordinary animals in the wild. Enjoy dog sledding and an evening yurt adventure in the enchanting boreal forest. Meet people from the local community to learn about wildlife conservation and the traditions of Canada’s North on your adventure! Healthy snacks and frequent bathroom stops are also built in throughout the trip.
A Family Learning Adventure is the best way to explore Canada’s North with your family — centred on meaningful travel experiences, filled with adventure and valuable lessons sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.
Interpretive-Guided: Our most well-rounded adventures, these tours include lodging and transportation with a mix of cultural and wildlife or northern lights viewing activities built in. Interpretive-guided tours are medium-capacity, escorted departures so you can sit back and relax while we take care of all the details.
Churchill accommodations: Centrally located near local amenities and attractions, all Churchill hotel rooms are family-friendly and welcoming to all types of families. Each room includes a private washroom and access to WiFi. Some Churchill hotels may also be equipped with a kitchenette, fridge, coffee maker and/or hair dryer.
Contact us to book a trip, or view the itinerary to learn more.
The Experience
Family Learning Adventure: Polar Bears
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 01
Welcome to Winnipeg
Our family holiday is finally here! We arrived in Winnipeg today and already the kids can’t stop talking about everything that we get to see and do in Churchill over the next few days. After checking into our downtown Winnipeg hotel, we have some free time to explore the Forks National Historic Site, which is right where the hotel is located! The Forks is a popular tourist destination filled with parks, trails, restaurants and a unique indoor market.
Later in the evening we meet with our Frontiers North Interpretive Guide for a formal meet and greet. Everyone – especially the kids – have tons of questions about the tour, which our guide answers easily and walks us through our itinerary for our time in Winnipeg and Churchill. Next stop is bed time and then tomorrow we continue our adventure in Winnipeg!
© Emilie St. Pierre
Day 02
Assiniboine Park Conservancy
Today we head to Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of their Journey to Churchill exhibit! The exhibit features Churchill's incredible wildlife, like polar bears and seals. The kids especially loved the interactive glass tunnel where the majestic mammals actually swam and played right above them! The exhibit also has animals like muskox, wolves and moose. It was the perfect learning experience and introduction to northern wildlife, now we especially can't wait to travel to Churchill tomorrow!
After the Journey to Churchill program we have some free time to explore around our hotel. We chose to visit the Manitoba Museum which is just a short walk away from the hotel; here we check out the amazing wildlife and cultural exhibits that tell the story of Manitoba. The kids loved exploring the life-sized replica of the Nonsuch, a boat that sailed into Hudson Bay back in 1668!
We head back to the hotel and are so excited for the morning so we can travel to Churchill!
Photo © Assiniboine Park Zoo
Day 03
Churchill Adventure Begins
Today we are going to Churchill! After a very early breakfast our tour group boards a warm bus for the short ride to the private hangar from where our plane will depart for Churchill. The flight is two and a half hours.
Upon arrival, we head straight out on a Churchill and area tour, which comprises of an exploratory drive past various points of interest in and surrounding Churchill. Our driver stopped briefly at Manitoba Conservation’s Polar Bear Holding Facility, also known as the Polar Bear Jail! The kids were fascinated that polar bears often roam into town and need to be safely caught and transferred back out into the wild by a helicopter. We take a break for lunch and enjoy a warm, home-cooked meal at one of Churchill’s family-run restaurants – who knew Churchill had such incredible food?
After lunch the group heads out for a dog sledding program with local dog musher Dave Daley of Wapusk Adventures. Dave regales us with his incredible dog sledding stories, introduces us to his sled dogs and then takes each of the group on a mile-long dog sled ride through the boreal forest. The kids loved meeting all the different dogs and hearing about their stories and unique personality traits!
What a great first day of family fun in Churchill!
© Alex Cupeiro
Day 04
Tundra Buggy adventure
It’s our first day on a Tundra Buggy® and we can hardly contain our excitement! After breakfast we are picked up right from our hotel and transferred out to the Tundra Buggy Dock where we board our Tundra Buggy. After a safety speech from our Tundra Buggy Driver, we hit the trails and travel into the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA)! Our driver navigates the bumpy trails of the CWMA in search of polar bears and other subarctic wildlife while our Interpretive Guide shares interesting facts about the area’s geology and history. He even let my son use his binoculars! We enjoy a delicious picnic lunch right on the Tundra Buggy as we watch and photograph wildlife.
At the end of an incredible first day on the tundra, we return to town for another delicious dinner.
Photo © Emilie St. Pierre
Day 05
Museums, Family Recreation and Yurt Experience
Today is a day for learning! First we head to Parks Canada Visitor Centre to learn more about the history and people Churchill. Next, we enjoy a tour of Polar Bears International House, a space used to educate Churchill's visitors about polar bears and climate change. It was awesome for the kids, as they are very passionate about the environment and love to hear all they ways they can help to conserve our wildlife.
Later we head to the Town Centre Complex for some family swim time - because what's a family vacation without a swimming pool?
Tonight is something truly special! With our Interpretive Guide we travel to a secluded yurt in the boreal forest for dinner and an outdoor family activity. Surrounded by trees and enjoying the outdoor bonfire, the kids feel like they are in an enchanted forest. There are so many places to explore in Churchill!
Photo © Madeline Grant
Day 06
Final Tundra Buggy adventure
Today is our second and final Tundra Buggy adventure. Similar to the first one, we are picked up at our hotel and transferred to the Tundra Buggy Dock where we set out in search of polar bears.
It is another great day on the tundra, full of extraordinary wildlife and many chances to get great photos! Once again we enjoy a picnic style lunch on the Tundra Buggy. It’s been a successful day on the tundra and our entire group celebrates our amazing luck to have been able to see polar bears in the wild.
As our day comes to an end, so does our time in Churchill. We are transferred back to the Churchill airport for our return flight to Winnipeg. When we arrive in Winnipeg we check back into our hotel. The evening is ours to do as we wish, which means an early bedtime for the kids while we review photos from our trip.
Photo © Brandi Hayberg
Day 07
Depart Winnipeg
It's time to head home.
This was an amazing adventure our kids will never forget. Not only was it an incredible fun vacation for them, but also a really great learning experience for all of us. We definitely plan on returning to Churchill again in the future!
© Emilie St. Pierre
Itinerary
Day 01
Welcome to Winnipeg
Guests will arrive into Winnipeg and make their own way to Inn at the Forks hotel; Free time to explore Forks National Historic Site; Evening meet and greet hosted by Frontiers North Interpretive Guide. (Meals: None)
Day 02
Assiniboine Park Conservancy
Behind-the-scenes tour of Assiniboine Park Zoo Journey to Churchill exhibit; Free time to explore downtown Winnipeg; Overnight at Inn at the Forks hotel. (Meals: B, L)
Day 03
Churchill Adventure Begins
Early morning flight to Churchill; Churchill and area tour; Dog sledding and interpretive program; Junior Rangers; Overnight at Churchill hotel. (Meals: B, L, D)
Day 04
Tundra Buggy adventure
Full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area; Overnight at Churchill hotel. (MEALS: B, L, D)
Day 05
Museums, Family Recreation and Yurt Experience
Parks Canada Visitor Centre; Polar Bears International House; Family recreation activities; Yurt experience; Overnight at Churchill hotel. (Meals: B, L, D)
Day 06
Final Tundra Buggy adventure
Full-day Tundra Buggy adventure in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area; Evening flight to Winnipeg; Guests will check into their Winnipeg hotel. (Meals: B, L, D)
Day 07
Depart Winnipeg
Guests may depart Winnipeg at their leisure. (Meals: None)
Join the Adventure
2025
| Dates | Adventure | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 24-30, 2025 Tour Code: 18 | Family Learning Adventure: Polar Bears Lodging: 3 nights Winnipeg, 3 nights Churchill Maximum 22 people | USD US$6,216 USD US$838 Single Supplement USD US$5,115 Child Rate |
Call To Reserve Your Spot Today
1 800 663 9832 (toll free)
1 204 949 2050 (international)
All prices USD plus applicable taxes.
All prices, inclusions, and dates may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.
All prices based on double occupancy. True North Deposit eligible. Gratuities included for 2024 and later travel dates only. Applicable taxes and mandatory comprehensive travel insurance are extra. See booking terms and conditions for more info.
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