Churchill Northern Studies Centre

Churchill Northern Studies Centre

Churchill Northern Studies Centre
4.5
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Address
Launch Road, Churchill, Manitoba R0B 0E0 Canada
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  • rellis812
    Fremantle, Australia55 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The best eco adventure
    Joined my Canadian friend for a week kayaking with Belugas in a small group guided by passionate and informative scientists to experience the tundra environment and wildlife and meet local community. Fabulous facilities and well cared for. Never a dull moment and so memorable. Even saw polar bears and the northern lights as well as the beautiful and amazing Beluga whales.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written October 18, 2024
  • KH Peffekoven
    Bonn, Germany4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Absolutely wonderful experience
    Experience of a lifetime! We joined the „Lords of the Arctic“ learning vacation and everything was even better than we hoped for. We saw a lot of polar bears while on Tundra Buggy tours and had a breathtaking heli ride over the Hudson estuary and the wide national park. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Very highly recommended, the learning vacations actually offer more than many commercial tour operators and are not quite as expensive. They also serve good meals and a fine library. Note that the station is situated quite some distance away from the city and you are, if not on tour, confined to the premises due to the bears roaming around. We actually watched one of the giants approach in the evening and walking around the building. Great experience. Wrong place though if you like to spend your evenings in the bar - here there was a fascinating lecture on polar bears, climate change and nature protection almost every night, so we alle really learned a lot why it is so important to protect this remote wilderness.
    Visited October 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written November 5, 2024
  • Karen S
    100 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Polar Bear Experience
    We went on the Lords of the Arctic learning vacation and had the greatest time. We had two tundra trips looking for bears and saw 25 the first day and then on the second around 18 but this included the incredible sight of 2 bears sparring. The trip included a helicopter trip and dog sledge ride both were amazing. The helicopter ride was for 45 minutes and great to get a different perspective of the area and also to see a polar bear eating a seal and a fox eating the bear’s leftover of another seal. Luckily there had been snow so our dog sled ride was on the skis rather than wheels and was a great experience. The evening lectures lasted an hour each night and were all really interesting. The food is good and plenty of it. There are fancier ways to do a Churchill trip but this trip was perfect it concentrated on the wildlife and outdoors which is what we were there for. We also got to see the Northern Lights. The itinerary is excellent and full keeping you busy nearly all the time.
    Visited November 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written November 6, 2024
  • jet126
    Excel, Alabama231 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    You'll Have Fun and Learn A Lot, Too!
    I cannot say enough good about the “Lords of the Arctic” learning vacation at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. In all we saw 67 unique polar bears, went on a 50-minute helicopter ride over Hudson Bay, got to go dog sledding, and were given a tour of the town. The quality of activities packed into our five days was worth far more than the price they charged. Add to that the educational lectures, they are the best value of any Churchill package you can find. The dorm rooms, although basic, are clean and comfortable and the meals kept us fueled for our activity-filled days. The staff is professional and friendly. They did their best to accommodate every special request we threw at them: the post office for a passport stamp, an evening visit to the local artist’s market, and (my request) fresh bear tracks where I could safely take a “bare hand/bear paw” photo. On my final leg home, a short flight from Atlanta to Pensacola, I sat next a gentleman who was fascinated with my week in Churchill. I found myself confidently discussing the diminishing sea ice, declining reproductive rates, and the global politics of polar bear management. Along with the fun and beautiful photo opportunities, I learned a lot!
    Visited November 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written November 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles143 reviews
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33
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Danya F
Columbus, OH404 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
My husband and I did a learning vacation from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4 through the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, called Lords of the Arctic II, and we had a blast. Not only was our trip more affordable than any of the other options in Churchill i looked into, but we also learned more, since we had lectures on diferrent aspects of polar bears each night. Our trip included two days out on a tundra buggy, dog sledding, and a helicopter tour out to Cape Churchill and Wapusk National Park. We saw tons of bears - from the buggy, from the school bus back and forth from the CNSC, and from the air via our helicopter trip. I was so afraid that I wouldn't see a polar bear when I put down my deposit, and now I have more good bear photos than I could reasonably make my family sit through! We enjoyed the company of our other 25 participants, and our group was even treated to the northern lights on our final evening. It was difficult for the staff who wanted to give us wine, Arctic char, and our certificates, when half of us were photographing the lights from the Aurora Dome and outside balcony. We will be back for beluga season in the future.
Written November 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sued
Seaford, Australia31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
The learning experience, well exceeded my expectations.
Accomodation, food and services were amazing.
Food excellent, variety appetising and tasty.
Organisation of activities are well co-ordinated and met all objectives of the trip…
Warm, Friendly and supportive staff…
Excellent trip !!
Written November 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hellp842
United States296 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
We were with a group.I don't know what solo visitors can arrange.We started with lunch in the cafeteria which was basic and good.
The person who took us through was knowledgeable and nice.
The best part was a visit to a snow site where we cut blocks of snow with saws and built inukshuks. Great day there.
Written February 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelinSuz
Fernley, NV939 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
We were snowed in with a chance of a flight out to see bears. So we waited here for a bit. They showing how they are growing salads hydroponically was interesting there’s pelts and all sorts of interesting things. Wish we had a tour to explain what we are looking at.
Written April 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michael T
Oakton, VA35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2017 • Couples
I can't say enough good things about the CNSC. It exceeded my expectations in every way. I'll try to keep this short for easy reading:
- Comfortable accommodations with everything considered. Yes, you're 4-to-a-room in bunk beds, but it's a study center so that's expected and part of the charm. But the beds are comfortable, the rooms are well designed with a closet for each person, a long desk across the window, moveable top-bunk ladders, etc.
- Hot water in regulated showers (45 seconds to a push). The pressure was good, the shower rooms were well designed, and I never felt like I had to sprint through the shower. There was also never a line for the showers because there were 12 shower rooms.
- Several rooms in which to meet for conversation away from the dorm (to keep it quiet). We were a loud group, but we didn't overly disturb anyone as a result of this.
- Aurora viewing dome was cool. 360 degree views for both bears and aurora.
- Large deck for aurora or bear viewing. Plus a good place to get safe fresh air.
- Cool location at the old missile launch site.
- Cool location outside of town near the protected area for bears.
- Great aurora viewing despite the bright spotlights shining at the Frontiers North / Great White Bear tundra buggy sites (a few minutes away).
- Great food, better than expected. The kitchen staff took pride in variety and quality. Everything tasted great, wasn't overcooked like a lot of institutional food, and had good variety throughout the week. I definitely put on weight over the 7 days!
- Great program. I learned A LOT about polar bears as well as the sub arctic around Churchill in general. It was superbly interesting and also provided great value for viewing in two tundra buggy rides and one heli ride. Rupert was a superb lecturer/host.
- You are busy at ALL times. I loaded my Kindle with books and brought several games but we didn't read ANY books and only played games one evening. The rest of the time was booked coming, going, learning, or hanging out with the rest of the group.
- I recommend getting a buggy ride of your own on the last day. People who left on the 9p flight had plenty of time to do the buggy ride, get back to the CNSC for bags and dinner, and then arrive at the airport. You're there, you might as well add another chance to view these majestic bears and other wildlife!
- Binoculars, binoculars, binoculars. It seems basic, but there were several people who didn't have zoom cameras or good binocs. Most bears were not right next to the buggy, and the other wildlife certainly wasn't. Binoculars and zoom lenses are a must.
- Be prepared to talk and contribute to the discussions. It makes the week much more fun and informative for both the participants and the instructor(s).
- Look at the forecast immediately before leaving for Churchill. Our forecast changed dramatically from even the week before. What was going to be "normal cold" became "frigid cold", but it could be vice versa. It's not fun to have frigid feet/hands while on an all-day buggy ride. The floors are not insulated, so keep your feet elevated and/or wear ultra-warm boots if it's a frigid day. I thought the frigid cold was great - we were in the sub-Arctic after all! There is no bad weather, just bad clothing choices.
- On that note, the CNSC has warm clothing for rent if needed. I would recommend bringing your own if you can, but it came in handy since our bags didn't arrive for two days (late connecting flights).
- On that note, I recommend planning more than 1.5 hours between connecting flights. Things are delayed A LOT this time of year so adding in more time makes things much more relaxed and more likely to work as planned. Also, be sure you bring at least your first day's worth of warm clothes on your back or in your carry-on just in case (we did, thankfully).
- Lastly, the wifi is VERY slow and the phone service is virtually non-existent. Assume you'll be mostly out of touch all week.

All in all, I HIGHLY recommend this place and this program.
Written November 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

William K
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2015 • Solo
I participated in a one-week polar bear watching trip organized by the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in November 2013. It was a great experience! The accommodations are not fancy, more college dormitory of fifty years ago than luxury motel. The building itself is remarkable. Food was plentiful and good. The sightseeing and nature programs were first rate, as were the staff and instructor. Would I do it again, absolutely. And I'm 80 years old.
Written April 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nora T
Charlottesville, VA30 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2014 • Solo
Though it is a very remote location and, in winter, initially uncomfortably cold, inside the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, you are comfortable, warm, and well-fed. The staff, including Executive Director Mike Goodyear, Director of Scientific Research LeeAnn Fishback, Assistant Director Heidi, Accountant Kim, Cook Laura, and all the staff were all knowledgible, friendly, and helpful. The facility, itself, is a brand new green building complete with water saving faucets and showers, composting toilets, efficient electric heat, sewage treatment. The building was Gold Standard LEED Certified. One of the most interesting classes we attended was a tour of this wonderful green building. Other classes taught were on viewing and photographing the Northern Lights, the Science of the Aurora, The Subarctic in Winter, Cosmology, and Starwatching. On walking tours, we observed testing of the snow pack, and tours of the boreal forest and the tundra, and we even had a chance to try snowshoeing. On firld trips, we took dog sled rides and went to the Eskimo Museum in Churchill.
Written February 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sarah
14 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019 • Solo
I came to the CNSC as a volunteer and spent a month there over aurora season. As a volunteer, the deal is that you help out for 6 hours/day (you are warned in advance, this will mostly be spent washing dishes) and you get to stay for free & take advantage of the opportunities at the centre.

I came to Churchill because I wanted to see the northern lights, and I saw them many times over the month - they were incredible. I also got to attend all of the aurora & astronomy lectures offered as part of their "Learning Vacation" and "Road Scholar" programs. The lectures were a huge highlight; I learned so much from the instructor, Ron, about the aurora, the stars, and beyond!

Additionally, as a volunteer, I got to participate in activities including dogsledding, town trip, and the cultural talk, which were all really interesting, informative, and fun.

Volunteering here is a good opportunity for people who want to go to Churchill and see northern lights, but can't afford to go there on holiday. However, at the CNSC, I found that the volunteering experience is very much what you make of it.

Though I stated in my phone interview that I was coming to the centre to learn, I found that my expectations on this weren't quite met. For example, after dinner, volunteers are often busy doing dishes until past their scheduled shift time. This runs into the lecture time, so you end up missing the lecture. There is an option to go to the lecture on time and finish the dishes later, but this isn't really a viable option when by "later" the aurora may already be appearing and you want to be watching it.
As well, there were a couple of times where special lectures were being delivered and I missed them because I had no way of knowing that they were happening (they weren't posted on any schedule, talked about, announced, etc..). When it comes to participating in lectures and activities, you have to be highly proactive in seeking out these opportunities and finding out when they're happening.

I've volunteered at a number of different places and for different organizations, including trips throughout North America & Africa. Those volunteer placements have included difficult, physical labour, long hours, and extreme environments - they have not been easy. In comparison, this is pretty easy work, but it is not a fulfilling volunteer opportunity. During my time I received minimal training. You will spend all of your time washing dishes, and if there's extra time, they'll set you to work housekeeping. The work itself, though boring, is not especially tiring or difficult. The biggest problem was the work environment in the kitchen, which was often times not good (to say the least).

They don't have any sort of volunteer reviews to look at or share (for people thinking about volunteering there). As well, every paying guest fills out an "exit survey" upon leaving the centre, but volunteers don't get one. When you leave there's no exit survey, no "how can we do better". As a volunteer, I rarely felt that the work I was doing mattered or was particularly beneficial.

*They were transitioning through volunteer coordinators at the time I was there, and I think this may have had an impact on my experience.*

Overall, I did enjoy the time I spent at the centre. I think their Learning Vacation programs and the research work they do are fabulous, and would definitely recommend those. Most of the staff who work at the centre were awesome, passionate, super welcoming, and very friendly to me. It's an opportunity to stay in Churchill more affordably than a complete vacation, but as a volunteer opportunity, I cannot say I would recommend it to others. I think it could be great, but currently has areas that need much improvement.
Written April 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WorldWanderer88
Montreal, Canada223 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2011 • Solo
I headed up to Churchill in November to see the polar bears, thinking that this is pretty high on my bucket list. I flew from Winnipeg to Churchill where I met my fellow travellers and hosts. We settled into dorm style rooms then headed for an introduction meeting and meal. While this place is no 5 star resort, we were well fed and cared for. The price for the tour sounds steep but when you factor in all that is included, the you would realize that this is one of the most economical ways to see polar bears. I opted to visit during the second session. We got lucky but it could have gone quite wrong. The day that we arrived, the ice had already frozen over so bears were already heading out to sea. Luckily, the weather and ice accumulation cooperated and the bears stayed ashore. In fact, it shaped up to be one fantastic polar bear viewing opportunity. We are taken out in tundra buggies, which have stoves to keep us toasty on the tundra. A viewing platform is at the rear of the vehicle, giving a bit of the closer to nature feeling. On day one in the buggy, we had a windy day. The bears opted to stay sheltered on windy days, understandably so. Even then, we saw about 22 bears. Day two was a crisp calm cold day, perfect for polar bears to venture out and check the ice formation. We ended up seeing over 60 bears! This included different groupings such as male bears fighting, mother and cubs, 'teenage' bears. The 'all-inclusive' included transport from Churchill Airport to the research centre, a helicopter ride to view the terrain and possibly spot a bear from high, a short dogsledding ride, a visit to town and the Eskimo museum (they opted to keep the name 'Eskimo'), lodging as already described, and lots of food.

My fellow travellers were interesting in their own right. Many of them are young professionals who are used to independent travel.

I finished off the short trip with a visit to the bubble overlooking the terrain watching the sun set and stars appearing. It had been a short yet memorable trip.
Written January 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rosebunch
Los Angeles, CA2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2013 • Family
This trip was extraordinary. Rarely does one get the opportunity to vacation in an active research environment. CNSC provides an all encompassing experience of education, fun, fascinating people, comfortable accommodations and good food! Dog sledding, snow shoeing, snow mobile rides, snow hikes, interesting and entertaining speakers and 5 nights of amazing northern lights! Cross one off the bucket list with a BIG AAA++++
Written March 18, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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CHURCHILL NORTHERN STUDIES CENTRE (2025) - All You MUST Know Before You Go (with Reviews)

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