2026 Educational Exchange Trip

Part 1: Trip to ____

• Details TBD

Part 2: Rivers Road Trip

Ła Bała Sg̱an

• Welcome (Overview and Orientation)

Students on this road trip will visit communities along these important North Coast rivers:

• Ksiyeen (Skeena River)
• K’alii-Aksim-Lisims (Nass River)
• Wet’sinkwha (Bulkley River) (which feeds into the Skeena)

These rivers help sustain the Ts’msyen, Gitxsan, Nisg̱a’a, and Wet’suwet’en nations, and are important to the Haisla, Tinglit, and Tahltan nations. We will also learn about neighbouring Haida Gwaii, an archipelago of the Haida (reachable by an eight-hour ferry ride from Prince Rupert).

Meals

• Some meals are “on-your-own”
  • For these meals, you can eat at restaurant of your choice in a group of 2-6 students
  • Meal cards are provided for all students for “on-your-own” meals
    • $25 McDonalds
    • $25 Tim Horton’s
    • $25 Subway
• Other meals are:
  • Group meals (eat together at a restaurant, school, or other venue)
  • Bag breakfast or bag lunch

Sunday April 5 – Arrival Day

• 3:45 PM Meet at the Airport Shuttle Station
  • The airport shuttle picks guest students up from the airport
  • The shuttle then transports the guest students to downtown
  • All CHSS students meet at the airport shuttle station
  • Once connected at the station, each CHSS student goes to their home with their twin
• 4:00 to 6:45 PM Twin Dinner
  • Each CHSS student hosts their twin for dinner
  • Guest may also want to shower and get refreshed after the flight
• 7:00 PM Movie and Sleepover at CHSS
  • All students (both schools) meet back at CHSS at 7:00 PM
  • Students first unpack for a sleepover in the multi-purpose room and then do some activities
  • There is a group (team building) activity starting around 7:45 PM
  • The movie starts around 8:15 PM
• 10:00 PM Lights out
  • For students who want to sleep at 10:00 PM, the sleeping area is silent with lights out at 10:00 PM
  • For students who want to stay up a bit longer, there will be quiet games in the CHSS library until 10:30 PM

Monday April 6 – Travel to Smithers

• 6:00 to 7:30 AM Wake Up and Pack Up
  • Lights on at 6:00 AM
  • Bus arrives at 7:00 AM
  • Everyone is packed up by 7:30 AM (all stuff on the bus)
• 7:30 to 8:00 AM Breakfast
  • Breakfast is served (in the multipurpose room) starting at 7:30 AM
• 8:15 AM Bus Departs
• 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM Ksiyeen to Wet’sinkwha (Skeena to Bulkley)
  • Stop at the Memorial Totem Pole at Kaien Island Bridge
  • Stop at first rest stop along the Ksiyeen River (Skeena)
  • Stop in Terrace for a short break
  • Stop at Lakelse Picnic Site
    • Hot dogs and other picnic foods for lunch
  • Photo stop at 7 Sisters Mountains
  • View the Gitwangak Battle Hill National Historic Site
  • Stop at gas station outside of Kitwanga for rest stop
  • Stop in New Hazelton to view the Hagwilget Canyon Bridge over the Wet’sinkwha River (Bulkley) and to view the Ksan Historical Village
• 3:00 PM Arrive in Smithers
  • Room assignments are provided
  • Wait at Tim Horton’s during check-in
  • We unload the bus later (at 4:30 PM)
• 3:30 to 4:30 PM Smithers Orientation (Walking Tour)
  • Walking tour of the downtown area
• 4:30 to 7:00 PM Free Time (including dinner)
  • Unpack your stuff from the bus by 4:45 PM (bus is locked at 4:45 PM)
  • Once you are settled into your hotel room, you have free time until 7:00 PM
  • Dinner is “on-your-own” (you must be in a group of 2-6 students)
• 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Quiet Time in Your Hotel Room
  • If you want to go to the movie theatre (or another activity) during “quiet time”, please let us know by asking your school’s chaperones about what is allowed during this time beyond quiet time in your hotel room
• 10:00 PM Lights Out

Tuesday April 7 – Smithers Free Time, Movie Night in Terrace

• 7:00-8:00 AM Bag Breakfast or Optional On-Your-Own Breakfast
  • You can stop by the room of Mr. Kertes for a bag breakfast (available between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM) or you can have breakfast “on-your-own” (in a group of 2-6 students)
  • After breakfast (until 9:30 AM) is free time
• 9:30 AM Load the Bus and Check-Out of the Hotel
  • Empty your own, pack up, and ensure your room is clean by 9:30 AM
  • Turn in your key to Mr. Kertes at 9:30 AM (he will be by the bus at this time)
  • Meet at the bus at 9:30 AM to pack your stuff
• 9:45 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Continue free time until 1:00 PM
  • There are lots of activities in Smithers that you can do during free time
  • Lunch is “on-your-own” (in a group of 2-6 students)
• 1:00 to 1:15 PM Board the Bus
  • Board the bus and be ready to depart at 1:15 PM (for the drive to Terrace)
• 3:30 PM Ferry Island Park
  • There will be a short hike at Ferry Island Park when we arrive back in Terrace
• 4:30 to 5:30 PM Dinner On-Your-Own
  • Dinner is on-your-own from 4:30 to 5:30 PM (in a group of 2-6 students)
  • In addition to Subway, Tim Horton’s, and McDonalds, there are lots of optional choices for dinner in Terrace
  • Be at the movie theatre by 5:45 PM
• 5:45 PM Movie Night
  • Meet at the movie theatre by 5:45 PM
  • We will view a film as one group (all students, both schools)
  • Movie includes:
    • Admission
    • Popcorn
    • Soda
    • Candy
  • After the film, we will bus to the school for sleeping in the gym
• 8:00 to 9:45 PM Quiet Time
  • Bus to the school, set up gym, quiet time (in the gym for sleeping) and sports outside (like basketball) or games area
• 10:00 PM Lights Out
  • For students who want to sleep at 10:00 PM, the sleeping area is silent with lights out at 10:00 PM
  • There will be a games area and outdoor activities for students who want to stay up to 10:30 PM

Wednesday April 8 – Visit Nisg̱a’a Territory

• 6:00 AM Lights On
  • The gym lights are turned on at 6:00 AM
  • Quietly start to pack your things
  • You may schedule a turn in the washroom (5-minutes per student) starting at 6:00 AM
• 7:00 AM Load the Bus
  • The bus is scheduled to arrive at 7:00 AM
  • A team of students will help Ms. Prohaska load the bus
• 7:30 AM Ready to Leave
  • Once the gym is clean, the washrooms are clean and checked, and garbage is packed up we will be ready to go (aiming for 7:30 AM)
• 7:30 AM Bag Breakfast
  • A bag breakfast is provided for all students or you may have optional breakfast when we stop for optional coffee at McDonalds (with a nearby Tim Horton’s)
• 7:45 to 8:30 AM Optional Coffee at McDonalds
• 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Depart and Drive Up the Nisg̱a’a Highway
  • Stop at TBD
  • Visit TBD
  • View TBD
  • Lunch at TBD
  • Visit TBD
• 5:00 to 6:00 PM Dinner
  • Dinner is TBD
• 6:00 to 8:00 PM Games and Activities
  • Games and activities are TBD
• 8:00 to 10:00 PM Set Up for Sleeping and Quiet Time
  • Details TBD
• 10:00 PM Lights out
  • For students who want to sleep at 10:00 PM, the sleeping area is silent with lights out at 10:00 PM
  • For students who want to stay up a bit longer, there will be quiet games and TBD until 10:30 PM

Thursday April 9 Terrace Day

• 7:30 AM Lights On
  • The gym lights are turned on at 7:30 AM
  • Quietly start to pack your things
  • You may schedule a turn in the washroom (5-minutes per student) starting at 7:30 AM
• 8:30 AM Breakfast
  • Breakfast is TBD
• 9:00 AM Load the Bus
  • The bus is scheduled to arrive at 9:00 AM
  • A team of students will help Ms. Prohaska load the bus
• 9:30 AM Ready to Leave
  • Once the gym is clean, the washrooms checked, and garbage is packed up we will be ready to go (aiming for 9:30 AM)
• 9:30 to 11:30 AM Bus to Terrace
• 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM Free Time in Terrace
  • During free time, students must be in a group of 2-6 students
  • There are lots of activities and choices for food in Terrace
  • There are two optional activities during the day:
    • Swimming from 2:00 to 3:00 PM (fee is paid for by CHSS for all students)
    • Hike up Terrace Mountain (time TBD) (we will meet at the library and then bus to the trail head)
    • Lunch is on-your own (free time is always in a group of 2-6 students)
• 5:00 PM Meet at the Library
  • We will meet the library and then take the bus to the group dinner
• 5:00 to 6:30 PM Group Dinner at Boston Pizza
  • Once everyone is on the bus, we will drive to Boston Pizza for a group dinner
• 6:30 to 8:30 PM Swimming or Games at the Library
  • The cost of admission for swimming is paid for by CHSS for all students (both schools)
• 8:00 to 9:45 PM Quiet Time
  • Bus to the school, set up gym, quiet time (in the gym for sleeping) and sports outside (like basketball) or games area
• 10:00 PM Lights Out
  • For students who want to sleep at 10:00 PM, the sleeping area is silent with lights out at 10:00 PM
  • There will be a games area and outdoor activities for students who want to stay up to 10:30 PM

Friday April 10 CHSS Day

• 6:00 AM Lights On
  • The gym lights are turned on at 6:00 AM
  • Quietly start to pack your things
  • You may schedule a turn in the washroom (5-minutes per student) starting at 6:00 AM
• 7:00 AM Load the Bus
  • The bus is scheduled to arrive at 7:00 AM
  • A team of students will help Ms. Prohaska load the bus
• 7:30 AM Ready to Leave
  • Once the gym is clean, the washrooms checked, and garbage is packed up we will be ready to go (aiming for 7:30 AM)
• 9:45 to 10:15 AM Breakfast at McDonalds in Prince Rupert
  • This meal is part of the “on-your-own” meal cards that were provided at the start of the trip
• 10:15 AM to 3:01 PM CHSS Visit
  • Orientation and Tour (10:20 to 10:50 AM)
  • Program Part 1 (10:50 to 11:33 AM)
  • Break (11:33 AM to 12:13 PM)
  • Local Foods Meal (12:13 to 12:43 PM)
  • Program Part 2 (12:43 to 1:33 PM)
  • Documentary and Discussion (1:41 to 2:21 PM)
  • Unpack Bus (2:21 to 3:01 PM)

Part 3: Homestays in Prince Rupert, Port Edward, and Metlakatla

Friday April 10 (Homestay Day 1)

• 3:01 PM Start the “Super Twin” Homestays
  • “Super Twins” are two sets of twins (2 students from CHSS, 2 students from ____) who stay at one host home together
  • There is free time (with homestay) starting after school that continues to lights out (at your homestay)
  • CHSS host teams (2 students per team) are expected to work together to plan activities for both twins together and should be doing things as a group
  • Pizza is ordered and prepaid for each “Super Twin” group (two large pizzas per 4 students, 2 from each school), delivery time is between 7:00 and 9:00 PM (arrange this with Mr. Kertes)

Saturday April 11 (Homestay Day 2)

The group activities on Saturday April 11 are mandatory for all students (both schools).

• 9:45 AM to 2:00 PM Hike in ____
  • Meet at ___ 9:45 AM to catch the ferry to ____
  • Bag lunch is provided
  • Hike to ____
  • The ferry arrives back at ___ at ___ PM
• 2:00 to 5:00 PM Free Time
  • CHSS students are expected to remain with their twin during free time in Prince Rupert
• 5:00 to 6:00 PM BBQ Burger Dinner
  • Burgers are provided for all students (both schools)
  • Each CHSS student brings either a salad or dessert
  • Meet at CHSS in the multipurpose room at 5:00 PM
• After 6:00 PM Free Time and Super Twin Homestays
  • CHSS students are expected to remain with their twin during free time in Prince Rupert

Saturday April 11 (Homestay Day 3)

• 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Closing Breakfast
  • Meet at ___ for a catered breakfast and closing activities
  • This is a required part of the trip, all CHSS students must plan on attending
• 12:30 PM Walk to the Shuttle Station
• 12:45 to 1:30 PM Wait at the Shuttle Station and Send Off
  • CHSS students wait with guest school students to send them off as the shuttle bus leaves