Into the Arctic Skies: Aurora and Astronomy in Churchill

Arctic Skies delivered, the northern lights were amazing

We had a wonderful trip exploring cultures, peoples, history and aurora’s too! In Winnipeg our group leader David was a wealth of local information that enhanced our visit. Cab voucher to get from airport to hotel was nice after 24 hours of travel. Arriving a day early gave us a chance to settle in and explore. At both museums we had tour guides which was nice to help us get the highlights. The Manitoba Museum gift shop was closed much to the dismay for many of us who could see things we would like to purchase inside. Churchill was amazing. The CNSC staff and volunteers made us feel welcome and well cared for. No other group was there. This allowed one or two per room. Our group had a natural chemistry which was so much fun to be a part of. RS Travel Dept. got several comments including “lame” and “incompetent” in scheduling and ease of contact. In our case they were unable to provide us with a connection from our home airport despite the airline website saying it was possible. That made us have two itineraries. We converted $40.00 US for housekeeping and bell hops, etc. in Winnipeg. Otherwise we used the credit card. We brought shoe inserts which really helped keep feet warmer. Our metal frame glasses froze often. We were told to bring towels but CNSC had them for us. Purchased Yaktrak to fit our boots but did not use them. Hiking poles would have been a better idea. Goggles probably would have been helpful to keep our glasses from frosting up and the freezing wind. We rented the CNSC cold weather gear. Especially helpful aurora watching. Yaktrak would not fit the CNSC boots as they are much larger. Had a tri pod with camera. It was cumbersome and the photos from our iPhone 13 and 13Pro were as good or better. Did not use an app. Use Night Mode and a shutter of 10 seconds. Set screen brightness to max. Photos make the auroras come alive since our eyes just can’t see the subtle colors. Practice at home!

This is an amazing trip to see the North and the Aurora. NSCS is a great place to be in Churchill. The knowledge gained of the Canadian people, the murals and all of the field trips were Great. Dogsledding was an added bonus. It is cold But tolerable for all you get to see and enjoy!

This program was wonderful and I loved getting the opportunity to learn more about, and interact with, the indigenous people of northern Manitoba in addition to experiencing some fabulous Northern Lights.

Dress warm and be thoroughly impressed by the knowledge of the lecturers and the beauty of the Northern Lights

This program states that the sleeping accommodations are college dorm style and that there are 4 people to a room. Check w/the CNSRC to see if that will be the case because that might not be true for the dates of your trip. You would be missing out on a great experience if you don't do the trip because you think you will have to share a room w/people you don't know when in actuality that might not even apply for the dates of your visit. On the trip I took in early March 2022 even singles who were traveling alone had their own rooms.

If the Northern Lights has been on your bucket list, this is the trip for you. The odds of seeing the lights are really high. The Northern Studies Center is so interesting. The staff is amazing! I highly recommend renting their gear to stay warm.

Definitely 5 stars. A not to be missed program. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and highly recommend it. More than fulfilled my bucket list expectations. Luckily all the other participants were fun and interesting people, which added to my enjoyment. The leaders and helpers at the Research Center were also fun and helpful. A beautiful and somewhat surreal area, especially for this native born Californian! Preparation and warm clothing a must! I appreciated bing able to "rent" the articles of warm outerwear that I needed.

My wife and I just completed a trip to Churchill Canada to see the Northern Lights. It was wonderful. We had never taken a cold weather vacation before. Trust me, it was COLD. but we were dressed for it. The facility and leaders were great. We learned much about the flora and fauna and the people. The Lights were AMAZING. We saw them 4 of the 5 days. We also rode on a dog sled, snowshoed and, snowmobiled. The group of people was quite interesting and friendly. A must see.

An exceptional experience -- beautiful landscape (including the aurora!), exciting photography opportunities, and extensive learning about the far northern world and people who call it home. In addition to seeing the northern lights, we especially enjoyed snow-shoeing, dog sled-riding, and investigating snow & ice constructions as well as the community of Churchill. Our instructor, Ron, and CNSC staff Alex, Amanda, and Dylan were very helpful and knowledgeable, as were the local guest lecturers. Staying at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre was a treat; the remote location was perfect for the seeing the lights and for feeling a part of this world, and we lived there sustainably and very comfortably (delicious food!). It was very cold (-35F), but the gear we rented (and brought) plus access to the building meant that we could spend time outside, day and night. We especially appreciated Ron's hands-on photography help and Alex's and Amanda's daily help with gear. We also enjoyed our time in Winnipeg (we came two days early), especially having extensive time at the Human Rights Museum, visiting the Journey to Churchill exhibits at the zoo (where we got to see polar bears, who are all out on the ice at Churchill in February), eating at the Forks Market, and watching ice skaters on the river. Hotels (Fort Garry and Hilton Airport) were comfortable with helpful staffs. Program leader David was gracious, knowledgeable, and especially helpful with logistics. A five-plus star program!

Seeing the Aurora, going dogsledding, and learning how to build an iglu were well worth facing the cold and wind. This is a Californian speaking!

A couple of weeks ago, I left snowy Iowa to go to Churchill, Manitoba, just miles from Nunavut province for "Into the Arctic Skies: Aurora and Astronomy in Churchill." It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for me, and the people, places, and experiences totally exceeded my hopes. On a 1-10 scale, I'd give it a 20! It was fantastic!

Seeing the Northern Lights has now been checked off of my bucket list. Churchill, Manitoba and the Churchill Northern Studies Centre was an unexpected learning experience filled with educational opportunities and winter recreational activities.

If you have dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, this is the program to go on! We had fantastic luck and great weather. The daytime activities and other field trips kept us busy and active while we waited for the next evening and another chance to see the lights.

We chose this program to see the Northern Lights, which we did - one night was more a glimpse before it clouded over, the second night was perfect. Great display, not so cold that we couldn't stay out for hours. However the program was so much more - from visiting the museums in Winnipeg to the little gem of museums in Churchill. Walking out into the trees on a crystal bright afternoon was also an experience that was a bonus surprise. The people who gave the lectures were excellent - the information on the Aurora, how to photograph it and the insights into the challenges of a small town and cultural history and current situation of the indigenous peoples. All bonuses to our original purpose.

This is a wonderful program, not only to see Northern Lights but to learn about life in the North, fascinating history, and the real vastness of Canada.

GREAT TRIP - GREAT EXPERIENCE We enjoyed the couple of days in Winnipeg, even though was even colder than usual. Nice city and wonderful museums included in the Road Scholar. I'd recommend arriving a day or two early for the trip to have little extra time in Winnipeg, AND to avoid real possibility of weather travel delays in (or out, as we experienced at the end of the trip). The stay at Churchill was fun, educational, and rewarding. Enjoyed some time in Churchill itself, and loved staying at the Research Center. The building is rather new and very modern. The "dorm" rooms can accommodate 4 of same-sex, but when we went many of the rooms were vacant so they only put 2 to a room, and in fact placed my wife and me (only married couple) in same room. Shower/bath across the hall, modern and clean. Interesting place to reside, right in the main research building. Food was excellent, "home cooked" in the center's "dining hall". People at the center & the guides are gracious, friendly, and informative. Activities were well planned and organized. The rides on the snow mobile and and dog sled were a bit "token", pretty short, but given -40f to -20f temperatures was fine and enjoyable. A bit of hiking and experiencing the tundra forest and shore of the Hudson Day. Weather was generally sunny during the 8 hrs of sunlight in February, and long nights were clear,. We experienced NORTHERN LIGHTS all 5 nights we were there. They are gently beautiful and subtly moving to experience. Held you in a kind of awe. (By the way you learn Northern Lights are almost exclusively green tones. They explain how cameras do capture a broader/brighter color range, which is what we are all used to seeing in photos.) Still they are marvelous to experience - many of us stood for the 2-3 hours they showed, either outside or in the nice super-clear heated dome on top of the center. Be prepared for VERY cold weather but its part of making for a great experience. RENT the coat/gloves/boots there.

This is a great program for seeing and photographing the :northern lights" and learning how past and present inhabitants of the Hudson Bay cope with their environment. Makes one think about their impact on the planet.

This trip was a true adventure!!! On the vast tundra surrounded by the frozen Hudson Bay and the boreal forest. Staying in a warm, fascinating and inspiring research station. Dressing like plump penguin to toddle off for some dogsledding or snow shoeing. Great food and company, wonderful inspiring staff and so many wonderful programs. Plus learning from Starman and Big Dog Dave. Best of all, Lady Aurora, which words simply cannot describe but an experience that will stay with you forever. Just go for it!

Numerous times prior to heading to Canada, I kept asking the question when watching the weather “why am I doing this”. It turned out to be the most wonderful adventure. How lucky I am (when thinking of the world population) to be in the very small percentage to have experienced the breathtaking wonders of the Aurora Borealis. The passion of the staff and our lecturers at the Churchill Northern Studies Center for our world environment and our part in it was certainly refreshing. Sort of kept you warm and fuzzy. This was the seventh Road Scholar trip that I have participated in with my partner and it will always rank very high on my list of “wow, glad to have done that”. We do have other places to explore but would like to return to Churchill at some point.

We realized that seeing Aurora is weather dependent before we went. We had 4 overcast evenings in a row, when an OK Aurora display and on the last night a spectacular display that made the trip. Evan and Ron our guide and astronomer were friendly and fun to be around!

Bob Flynn I highly recommend The Into the Arctic Skies program to anyone who has ever wanted to experience the Northern Lights. Although we only got to see the lights the final three nights, the incredible display we witnessed on the final night was worth the trip. This trip far exceeded my expectations.

Have you always wanted to see the Northern Lights? Then, this is the program for you. The days are filled with interesting and informative activities; you receive an interesting astronomy lecture every evening while in Churchill; and you have five opportunities to see the lights. Best of all: the astronomer will do the evening sky watch for you and knock on your door for show time. This allows you to cat nap while waiting for Lady Aurora to appear. Oh...and did I mention: the food at CNSC is terrific!

If you have always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis and learn more about Churchill, alias "Polar Bear Capital of the World", and the skies above it and land around it, this is the trip for you. An added treat is time in Winnipeg with visits to the Manitoba Museum(with an entire ship within!) and the new architecturally intriguing and emotionally poignant Canadian Museum of Human Rights. Our guides and instructors were knowledgeable, personable and enthusiastic about their subjects. The passion was contagious. Living "dorm style" at the Research Center fostered a wonderful sense of community. Meeting our fellow Scholars was a high point of the trip! The cook, Sarah, was a "magician in the kitchen" and the food was superb! She kindly accommodated my GF needs and made the best GF cupcakes and Lasagna I have ever had the pleasure of tasting! Our resident astronomer, Ron, was phenomenal! Knowledgeable, humorous, personable, patient, and even shared his Aurora photos with all of us. So slip on your sense of adventure, bundle up and head north!

This program is well worth every penny it costs.

The Aurora Skies program exceeded my expectations! Not only because we saw the Northern Lights 4 out of our 5 nights at the Churchill Northern Studies Center, but because the program coordinators and presenters were passionate about their work and being able to provide us with educational programs to enhance our visit and our overall knowledge.

Wonderful chance to see the Northern Lights and support a non profit research facility. Clothing rentals available were very useful. Would recommend wind-proof mittens for hands.

One thing that was pretty clear was that the Aurora does NOT look like what you think it does. People are used to seeing these vivid colors of the Aurora online and in books that the human eye just can't capture. It would be more honest to explain that to people so they aren't too disappointed. Our instructor, Alan Dyer, made this abundantly clear to us and had I have known this in advance I would've brought a good camera and taken advantage of his tutorials on how to photograph the Aurora. Instead, I thought I could take a shot or two with my cell phone. NOT! Despite this, it is still a worthwhile experience to see Aurora in person. I also felt very moved by the other parts of the trip, visiting the remote town of Churchill, and the city of Winnipeg.