Conservation Journey: Polar Bears

Day 01

Winnipeg Arrival

We all arrived into Winnipeg by our own arrangements and make your way to the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, conveniently located adjacent to the Winnipeg International Airport. After checking in, we met with your guide and the rest of your group for an evening meet-and-greet to discuss the itinerary.

Photo: ©Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Day 02

Our Churchill adventure begins!

It’s finally here! 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 the 2-hour flight to Churchill.

Upon arrival, we head straight out on a Churchill Town & Area Tour which comprises of an exploratory drive in the area surrounding the town of Churchill, visiting sites like historical Cape Merry and the Polar Bear Holding Facility. 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 the tour we stop off at Churchill’s famous Eskimo Museum, home to an internationally recognized collection of Inuit art in stone, bone and ivory depicting the life and spirituality of a people deeply rooted in the north. Next, we head over to the Parks Canada Interpretive Centre, which has in depth displays that reveal the remarkable history of Churchill through wildlife dioramas and exhibits that portray the history of the fur trade in the area.

Photo: ©Doug Ross

Day 03

Dog Sledding and Tundra Buggy Lodge

After breakfast, our first excursion of the day is 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 dog pack and then takes each of the group on a mile-long dog sled ride through the boreal forest. Then we head back to town for lunch and some time to explore the town’s gift shops. 

In the late afternoon we board the Frontiers North bus and head out to the Tundra Buggy launch for our trip to the Lodge. It’s our first chance to see the incredible landscape of the north and it is absolutely breath-taking.

As the light begins to fade, we see the Tundra Buggy Lodge in the distance – it’ almost as if we’re approaching an isolated space station in the middle of nowhere. As we board the Tundra Buggy Lodge the feeling of isolation disappears. The welcoming lodge staff greets us warmly and we are treated to an incredible home cooked meal before settling in to our new home on the tundra.

Photo: ©Dan Harper Photo

Day 04

Tundra Buggy Adventure

After waking up in our bunks, we gather for a hearty breakfast before boarding the Tundra Buggy in time for first light. We set out to explore the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, in search of polar bears, arctic fox, ptarmigans and other incredible wildlife.

Our amazing Tundra Buggy driver and guide teach us about the history and importance of the northern landscape. Half-way through the day we enjoy a picnic style lunch packed for us by the Lodge chef.

At the end of the day, we return to the Tundra Buggy Lodge in time for a delicious meal and a chance to relax in the lounge with fellow travellers and PBI staff. 

Day 05

Tundra Buggy Adventure

It's another great day to see some polar bears on the Tundra Buggy! We start our day travelling more inland than yesterday, hoping to see a mom and cub that were seen in the area yesterday. Our Tundra Buggy driver is in constant contact with other Tundra Buggies in the area to share sightings, so we always know where other bears have been seen.

Today on our Tundra Buggy we were joined by Polar Bears International scientist Dr. Steve Ampstup, a well known polar bear researcher with over 3 decades of experience in the field. Dr. Amstrup's presentation is very informative and we get to see up close polar bear fur, claws and even a skull (not a real skull though, just a replica). It is a great opportunity for us travelers to ask questions about polar bears and to get some insight into how climate change is affecting the arctic ice.

Photo: © Daniel J. Cox/NaturalExposures.com 

Day 06

Last day in Churchill

Today is our last day on the Tundra Buggy and we excitedly set out right away to search for polar bears.

It is another great day on the tundra, full of extraordinary wildlife and many chances to get great photos. It’s been a successful day 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 in to the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. The night is ours to do as we wish, which gives me a lot of time to look over all the photos I took!

Photo: ©JP McCarthy

Day 07

Depart Winnipeg

What an amazing experience I've had this past week.

Not only did I get to see Canada's incredible polar bears, but I also got to learn about these amazing creatures from scientists and reserachers who have dedicated their lives to helping save the species. It's wonderful knowing that some of what I paid for my tour will be donated directly to Polar Bear International and their work to save polar bear habitat. 

Knowing now how every choice I make affects our world, I will definitely be making some changes at home to ensure I'm living as green as possible.