GUIDES: Leon Chartrand, PhD (Lead)
ACTIVITIES: NOTE: In order to preserve the uniqueness of this experience and show respect for Greenlandic and Icelandic peoples and, of course, to minimize overuse impacts upon a sensitive arctic landscape, specific locations of hikes and activities will only be given to the finalized roster and will not be listed here. Students will be expected to avoid tagging specific locations of activities.
Arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland for our first night and fly from Reykjavik to Ilulissat, Greenland (2 nights). Briefly explore Reykjavik and Ilulissat.
The Eqi Glacier: We depart on an Icebreaker ship from Ilulissat, sailing up the Davis Straight and through Disko Bay, around massive icebergs, on the way to Eqi Glacier (the most active glacier in the world!) Here, we will stay in yurts at Eqi Basecamp for three nights, listening to the frequent thundering of massive ice calving from the glacier into the bay. While at Eqi, we will hike onto the glacial moraine and learn about the history of this glacier’s advance and retreat within the context of why this is a significant event in climate change science and in the future impacts of Greenland upon the world.
The Greenland Iceshelf, the Polar Icecap. Here, 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle with 24 hours of Summer Sun, we take the hike up 2000 feet to walk upon the Greenland Iceshelf, the place famous now for concerns regarding climate change. We will walk in the footsteps of famous Danish and French explorers to this area.
Return to Ilulissat, Greenland. Our return from Eqi via Disko Bay and the Davis Strait affords us three nights stay in the Village of Ilulissat at a time when the National Greenlandic Inuit Games are being held. Here, we will visit the Greenlandic Arctic Museum and the Famous Knud Rasmussen Museum of the Arctic. We will also undoubtedly meet Greenlandic Inuit peoples with expectations to learn their perspectives on climate as well as meet the famous Greenlandic dogs, famous for their rugged endurance during -50F conditions. We will also kayak in the Greenlandic Sea.
We return to Reykjavik, Iceland for five days to stay in various lodges as we visit Vatnajokull, Snaefellsjokull and Jokulsarglijufur National Parks, all three of which are famous for their geology phenomena and incredible vistas. And all through this experience, we will focus on the perception of these magnificent places and peoples of Iceland and Greenland within the context of climate change due to causes in faraway places and how Icelanders and Greenlanders are adapting to such changes
FACULTY: Leon Chartrand, PhD; Kelly Swope, Phd
COURSES: 6 Total CORE Credits
PHIL 200 (Swope), 3 Credits, CORE PHIL 200 Perspectives, Free Elective
THEO 332 (Chartrand), 3 Credits, CORE THEO 200 Perspectives, ERS, Env Sci/Studies, Peace Studies, Humanities Elective, Free Elective
PROGRAM FEE: $4,875 includes roundtrip international airfare, all lodging, Eqi basecamp stay, iceshelf guides from World of Greenland, Greenland Travel, ground transportation, roundtrip icebreaker ferry from Ilulisatt to Eqi, Glacier-calving experience, visits to Iceland National Parks, Greenlandic Museum and Inuit visits, meals, snacks, beverages.
TUITION: $3,342 ($557/Credit Hour) for 6 Total Credits (separate from Program Fee)
DEPOSIT: $400 Nonrefundable deposit secures student’s spot. Deposit deducted from Program Fee.
LIMIT: Maximum 12 Students
VALUE: Attempting this program on one’s own would cost ~$14,500/person. For THIS expedition, a student’s total cost is $4,875 (Program Fee) + $3,342 (6 Credits Tuition) = $8,217 total. For questions on payment plans, contact Xavier University’s Office of the Bursar. For questions on grants and scholarships, contact Xavier University’s Office of Financial Aid.
