MHS Field Trip: 2020 - “Jens Munk at Churchill”

21-24 July 2020

Jens Munk Commemorative PlaqueIn conjunction with the Federation of Danish Associations in Canada’s Jens Munk 400th Anniversary Steering Committee, the Manitoba Historical Society is offering an opportunity to visit Churchill, Manitoba on the 400th anniversary of Jens Munk’s wintering at the mouth of the Churchill River.

In 1619, the Danish navigator Jens Munk sailed on behalf of King Christian IV of Denmark to seek a northwest passage to India and China. After battling through ice at the mouth of Hudson’s Bay, his two ships, the Unicorn and the Lamprey spent the winter of 1619-1620 at the mouth of the Churchill River. Only Munk and two of his men survived the cold, famine, and scurvy, leaving Churchill on 16 July 1620 to sail the Lamprey back to Denmark. They arrived in Bergen in September 1620.

This trip will allow MHS members to visit the Munk wintering site as well as many other points of interest in the Churchill area (including Prince of Wales Fort, Sloop Cove, and the former Rocket Range), take a ride in a Tundra Buggy, and learn about the Indigenous history of the area.

All enquiries concerning the tour should be directed to Grant Chem of Adventures North at Grant.Chem@frontiersnorth.com or 204-949-2050 extension 300.

Itinerary

Tuesday,
21 July (L)

Guests will arrive into Churchill by their own arrangements and will be met by their Frontiers North Interpretive Guide. Guests will then be transferred into the town of Churchill to begin their adventure!

Upon arriving in to town, we will then set out on a relaxed walking-tour of Churchill. During our journey we will stop at the Parks Canada Interpretive Center, ltsanitaq Museum, the Town Complex, and some of the unique Gift Shops of Churchill. Our stroll will have us pass some of the most recent additions to Churchill, the Seawalls of Churchill, unique and inspiring murals that were painted in 2017.

Our excursion will lead us to the Anglican Church, one of the oldest prefabricated metal buildings in Canada and the only known iron facility of its type that survives in Manitoba. Here is where our Interpretive Guide will conduct a short Meet n Greet and go over our Itinerary and answer any questions guests may have. We will then have a tour of this amazing structure learning the history behind it. Lunch will follow in the Anglican Church hall.

After lunch, guests will board a Transport Canada approved vessel to view the beluga whales that migrate into the mouth of the Churchill River. Then, across the river, the group will tour the Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site, the oldest most northerly fort in the country.

Return to town where you are free to explore and choose one of the local restaurant's for your dinner. Evenings are also free to relax, explore Churchill's authentic shops or discover some of the local pubs and coffee shops around town. Overnight at a Churchill hotel.

Wednesday,
22 July (L)

Today's the day! After breakfast, which is included in today's adventure, we will be transferred to our private Zodiacs where our drivers will take us across the Churchill River. After we dock, we will be met by our bear monitor, then head out on a three-kilometre hike from Cockels Point to Jens Munk wintering site. On our way back (time permitting) we will also visit Sloop Cove, On our return Zodiak ride, weather permitting we will do some up-close-and-personal whale watching.

Upon returning to the dock, we will visit the Churchill Marine Observatory.

After this amazing adventure we head back to town where you're free to enjoy lunch and free time to discover Churchill.

After dinner at one of the many restaurants you can choose from, look to the skies, and fingers crossed the Northern Lights come out to dance for us. Overnight Churchill.

Thursday,
23 July (B)

After breakfast at a local restaurant, the group will set out for a Churchill and Area tour visiting local and historical points of interest such as Cape Merry, Miss Piggy, Manitoba Conservation's Polar Bear Holding Facility, and the lnukshuk at Town Beach (weather permitting). Included will be an interpretive program at the Dene Village where a member of the Sayisi Dene will join us and explain the relocation of the Dene people and the importance of the caribou.

After lunch, guests will be transferred to the Tundra Buggy Dock for a private Tundra Buggy® adventure exploring the Churchill Wildlife Management Area at a time when it is full of flowers, migrating birds and other wildlife such as caribou and arctic fox. And of course, the potential of seeing some of the first bears coming off the melting sea ice.

Upon our return to the Tundra Buggy Dock we will take a short ride over to the Churchill Northern Study Center for a tour of the facility and the Rocket Range.

We will will then be transferred to the Churchill airport for an evening flight back to Winnipeg. Upon arriving into Winnipeg our adventure comes to an end.

Program Inclusions

Price Per Guest*

$2,996.00, single supplement $490

Optional add-ons: Airfare from Winnipeg to Churchill, contact Frontiers North for pricing.

* Prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD), based on double occupancy with up to 14 hotel rooms available. Price does not include applicable taxes, gratuities except on prepaid meals, alcoholic beverages or items of a personal nature.

Terms & Conditions

INDIVIDUAL DEPOSIT: $750 CAD per person, due at the time of booking accompanied by guest name in full.

120 DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE: Remaining balance of invoice due.

In the event that individual reservations must be cancelled, refunds will be made according to the following schedule: 119 - 61 days prior to departure: 50% of total invoice, nonrefundable. 60- 0 days prior to departure: 100% of total invoice, nonrefundable.

Frontiers North Adventures (FNA) strongly recommends that guests purchase medical, trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

Updated rooming lists must be submitted to FNA 60 days prior to departure date.

FNA must have in our possession completed and signed FNA Tour Registration and Waiver Forms before guests are eligible to participate in any FNA adventure.

FNA supplier and logistical arrangements must be confirmed and paid for prior to trip departure; as a result FNA enforces strict adherence to the above Terms and Conditions.

All prices, applicable taxes, inclusions, itineraries, activities, dates and appearances may be subject to change at Frontiers North Adventures' discretion due to circumstances beyond our control.

Page revised: 16 October 2019