A local educator is again taking his teaching to a wider audience of international students.

Longtime Yukoner Remy Rodden, manager of environmental education and youth programs for the territorial government, has a couple of weeks off his day job.

Rather than spend it relaxing and enjoying the time away from his work in education, Rodden has journeyed to the Antarctic as part of the Students On Ice field staff to introduce close to 60 students from around the world to the Antarctic from Dec. 27 until next Monday.

They include Whitehorse student Shauna Yeomans-Lindstrom.

Such expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic have been happening since 2000 through Students On Ice.

The organization has a mandate to "provide students, educators and scientists from around the world with inspiring educational opportunities at the ends of the Earth and, in doing so, help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet.”

Over the course of the journey, educators like Rodden facilitate workshops and field expeditions for groups of students.

Workshops can range from the more scientific topics that come from observing the landscape and wildlife to the more artistic endeavours with instruction from the likes of Rodden and other artistic field staff.

Rodden not only brings with him his educational background, but also a musical gift.

Along with overseeing wilderness experiential youth programs in the territory and supporting environmental literacy in schools, Rodden is well-known as an eco-singer with songs like What's That Habitat recorded for the Think About the Planet compilation album.

As Students On Ice operations manager Reina Lahtinen said in an interview from her Gatinau, Que. office Tuesday, Rodden's work in music helps give students a way to express what they're seeing and experiencing on the expedition.

"It's always that sense of awe and feeling humbled by the environment,” she said when questioned what students typically get out of the expedition.

For many, she said, it's their first experience in the Arctic or, in this case the Antarctic, and the trip often fuels the students' passion for the environment. They then often end up sharing what they've learned and experienced with others upon their return.

Choosing the nearly 60 students to be part of the expedition team comes down to an application process that doesn't seem that different from a college application in some ways.

Prospective students are asked a series of short essay questions designed to show why they are a good candidate for the program. Leadership skills and extra curricular activities are also considered.

A brief biographical statement on the Students On Ice website (www.studentsonice.com) notes that Yeomans-Lindstrom's interests come in being outside and learning about the environment "and the way things work throughout the land and with animals.”

With hobbies in photography and travelling, Yeomans-Lindstrom loves capturing photographs of the world as she sees it and recording her journeys.

"Doing this helps me to re-live the experiences I have had throughout my life,” wrote the Porter Creek Secondary School student.

Along with the Students On Ice application criteria, there can be individual circumstances looked at where scholarships are being considered for those who can't fund their own trip.

In this case, costs were set at $13,500 Cdn for those travelling from Toronto, $12,500 for those travelling from Miami, Florida and $11,000 for those leaving from Santiago, Chile.

Lahtinen pointed out a number of donors have scholarships aimed at students with differing circumstances. One donor, for example, offers a scholarship for young women without a means to pay for the expedition, while others aim their dollars at students living in particular areas.

Meanwhile, field staff like Rodden are selected for a variety of reasons. In most cases, they have met and perhaps worked with Geoff Green, Students On Ice's founder and executive director.

Rodden's involvement with the International Polar Year outreach and other efforts on the environmental front brought him to Green's attention and has seen him be part of the field staff for two other expeditions – one to the Arctic and one to the Antarctic.

His background in education and music allow him to bring a number of skills to the expeditions, Lahtinen said.

Along with his experience, a brief biographical statement on the web site notes Rodden often tells his audience: "We all have gifts to share, to help make the world a better place.”

He works to assist people in recognizing and using their gifts and support them in moving from awareness to action.

"Rodden's life and music is influenced by his daily contact with the relatively pristine natural Yukon environment,” reads the statement.

Lahtinen said the journey from Argentina, the meeting point for all members, aboard the ship has gone very well.

Participants have enjoyed clear weather, which has allowed students and staff to take in whales swimming close by the ship, including one with her calf.

They've also seen numerous penguins and the vast Antarctic landscape, taking in a number of workshops and other events, such as New Year's celebrations and onboard entertainment.

Day-by-day updates are being provided on the Students On Ice website over the course of the expedition.

"It's been a pretty busy program for them,” Lahtinen said.

As the expedition draws to an end, the group is set to explore the numerous islands, harbours and sites such as an old British Antarctic Survey cabin – hiking, ice core gathering and continuing with a number of other activities until next Sunday.

At that point, they will disembark in Argentina and begin journeys to their respective homes.