Banff is a destination which attracts visitors from around the world and Grade 8 students from across Canada will soon put their videographer skills to the test to score a field trip in 2012.
Recently launched by Peter Kent, Canada’s environment minister and minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Canada’s Coolest School Trip Contest is part of the My Parks Pass program.
Up for grabs is a four-day, three-night tour of Banff National Park. To win, Grade 8 classes must submit a video that re-creates a significant Canadian moment related to a national park, marine conservation area or national historic site.
The winning class, up to 30 students and 10 chaperones, will spend four days and three nights touring Banff National Park and the win will include meals, accomodations and tours. They will be welcomed by Banff Community High School Grade 8 students and will experience the ultimate Canadian Rockies’ adventure packed with exciting activities, including a trip to the top of Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola, storytelling while cruising on Lake Minnewanka, and sightseeing at some of the most beautiful places in the Mountain Parks.
They will also visit the renowned Columbia Icefield, where the winning class will sleep over at the Glacier View Inn and venture onto the Athabasca Glacier onboard a massive Ice Explorer on the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure.
The official tour guide will be Brewster Travel Canada.
“This is a really terrific partnership,” said Dave McKenna, vice-president of hotels and attractions for Brewster. “It’s different groups with the same cause; to help connect urban kids with the national parks.”
Also on board with the project is Nature Canada, the Historica Dominion Institute, Banff Lake Louise Tourism and Air Canada, which will transport the class.
“It’s been a year-long process,” said McKenna. “Parks loved the idea and they tied it to their My Parks Pass. It’s a way to reach out to kids across the county.
“The Historica Dominion Institute’s mandate is historical vignettes to bring history to life and Air Canada joined us as the carrier, which made all this possible. They’ll fly them to us and then Brewsters will take care of them.”
Contest entries will be accepted online at the contest websites, www.myparkspass.ca and www.monpasseportparcs.com, until Jan. 8. The winning class will be announced in February.
“We think it’s so important to do things like this,” said McKenna. “It allows people to make lifelong connections to national parks and help them remain special and sacred to the next generation of Canadians.
“I’ve always said to my friends, before travelling extensively overseas, it would be a benefit to travel in our own country. And it’s a big country, it can take awhile.
“I think this contest really fits in with Brewster’s core values of sharing the Rocky Mountain national parks for over 120 years now. It shows our dedication to sustainable developments and positive experiences by helping kids have a really great and fun adventure in the national park.”
All that remains, said McKenna, is to see how many, and of what calibre (YouTube-style) videos are entered. “I have a feeling these things will be very entertaining.”
