Churchill is one of the few places on Earth where you can watch the Arctic change in real time. Here, tundra, forest and Hudson Bay meet—and warming temperatures are reshaping all of it. The frozen ground is beginning to thaw, wetlands are shifting and trees are slowly moving into what was once open tundra, changing how the entire landscape works and how polar bears move across it. This expedition puts you in the field alongside scientists studying those changes. Join in collecting data, tracking what’s shifting and contributing to hands-on Arctic research. It’s a rare chance to experience a place most people never reach, and to help document one of the planet’s most important and rapidly changing environments as it transforms.
Research at a Glance
Your Role in Research
The Research Focus
Contribute to Arctic research on belugas, polar bears, permafrost thaw and treeline change in one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth.
What You'll Do
Photograph belugas, observe polar bears and measure permafrost and vegetation changes—collecting data used to track the changing Arctic..
Why It Matters
This research documents Arctic climate change rates and informs decisions guiding conservation and wildlife management.
Photograph Belugas Up Close in Hudson Bay
Capture images used to identify individual whales, helping reveal movement patterns, group behavior and how belugas respond as Arctic conditions continue to shift.
Track Wild Polar Bears on the Tundra
Witness polar bears in their natural habitat, documenting behavior and gathering data that reveals how they navigate a landscape shaped by shifting ice and seasons.
Measure Change at the Arctic Treeline
Track permafrost thaw and map trees advancing north, documenting how a warming climate is reshaping the line between forest and tundra.
Experience Arctic Science Across Land, Water and Wildlife
Take part in a single, integrated Arctic research expedition, studying polar bears, belugas and climate science to understand how they are connected.Discover One of the Arctic’s Most Dynamic Landscapes
Explore Churchill’s tundra, forest, wetlands and Hudson Bay, moving between habitats to understand their interconnection.Work Alongside Arctic Scientists in the Field
Join premier scientists studying climate change and its impact on key species, taking part in field activities and learning how observations become insight into a changing Arctic.Stay Inside an Active Arctic Research Hub
Experience the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, where scientists base their fieldwork, with rare access to the conversations and discoveries shaping Arctic research.Gain Insight From Our Expert Field Guides
Travel with experienced guides who bring deep Arctic knowledge, helping you connect daily field experiences to the larger climate story unfolding across the region.Learn About Churchill’s Culture and Community
Meet members of First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities in Churchill, learning about their cultural traditions, lived experience and deep connections to the northern landscape.Watch for Northern Lights as Darkness Returns
As nights lengthen in late summer and fall, look to the sky for the aurora borealis, adding another dimension to your time in the Arctic.Experience Churchill’s Sled Dogs
Visit a local dog musher and travel through the boreal forest behind a team of sled dogs for a firsthand look at a traditional northern way of life.Maximize Time in the Field with Private Chartered Planes
Fly directly between Winnipeg to Churchill on chartered aircraft, minimizing transit time and maximizing your time in the field.Explore in a Small, Focused Group
Join a limited group that allows more time in the field, closer interaction with scientists and a more active role in daily research activities.Travel with Purpose
Take part in fieldwork that supports long-term climate research conservation research, contributing to a deeper understanding of how the Arctic is changing—and the impacts of those changes.
