Manitoba

Lords of the North: Ecology of Hudson Bay's Polar Bears

Program No. 6290RJ
Learn about the ecosystems of Hudson Bay from a polar bear expert, enjoying lectures and seeing unique Arctic species in their natural habitat.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

At a Glance

As autumn fades, the polar bears of Hudson Bay gather to await the sea ice that signals winter’s return. Alongside a leading authority on this precious population, journey onto the tundra aboard specially fitted vehicles to observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. Lectures, field trips and museum visits will help you understand not only the life of the polar bear, but also the challenges of global climate change, local conservation issues and the future of the arctic ecosystem.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles on frozen terrain.

What You'll Learn

  • Take part in a dog sled adventure and observe Arctic fox, snowy owl, and other Arctic species.
  • Examine research and conservation efforts conducted by the new International Polar Bear Conservation Centre.
  • Go behind the scenes at the Manitoba Museum to view pieces from the Inuit collection and discover the history of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

General Notes

This program stays in unique accommodations. Be sure to review the Lodging description for the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. If you enroll in a Single room, it is only available for the two hotels in Winnipeg but not in Churchill.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Martyn Obbard
Dr. Martyn Obbard is a research scientist for the Canadian government and a professor of environmental and life sciences at Trent University. He has spent much of his career studying the effect of sea ice distribution and duration and its effect on polar bears. His current project includes researching polar bear populations including the Southern Hudson Bay, one of the most southerly polar bear populations in the world. Dr. Obbard remains active with the International Union for Conservation of Nature polar bear specialist group.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Martyn Obbard
Martyn Obbard View biography
Dr. Martyn Obbard is a research scientist for the Canadian government and a professor of environmental and life sciences at Trent University. He has spent much of his career studying the effect of sea ice distribution and duration and its effect on polar bears. His current project includes researching polar bear populations including the Southern Hudson Bay, one of the most southerly polar bear populations in the world. Dr. Obbard remains active with the International Union for Conservation of Nature polar bear specialist group.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.





Recommended For You

loading spinner