INUVIK - The Christmas holiday was very different for Alex Groepper this past year.

Student Alex Groepper was chosen to take part in a scientific expedition to Antarctica. He spent the Christmas holiday on the continent and returned in early January. - photo courtesy of Alex Groepper

He spent it learning about climate change in Antarctica.

Groepper, a high school student at Samuel Hearne, was part of the Students On Ice program, which educates youth about the effects of climate change and exploration in remote regions.

The 17 year-old said he first heard of the trip through his guidance counsellor at the school.

Groepper is scheduled to take part in a summer activity with the Students On Ice program as well.

"I went on their website to learn more about them and found out about the Antarctica trip," he said.

"I was interested in it and got more information on it."

He left Inuvik on Dec. 21 and arrived in Ontario on Christmas Day.

"I was expecting the flights to be quiet, because it was Christmas Day, but the airports were still packed," he said.

Continuing his trip south, Groepper had a few more flights to catch before reaching his destination.

"From Toronto, we went through to Chicago, then on to Buenos Aires," he said.

After a few more days of travelling, Groepper said he arrived at the southernmost city in Argentina, where he met up with the rest of the crew and other students from around the world.

"There were students from Mexico and a lot from the United States," he said.

"We packed all our stuff onto the ship we would take to the continent of Antarctica."

Groepper said all the travelling to that point was a bit different for him.

"The farthest south I'd been before that was Detroit, but we drove there," he said.

"It was something else, travelling to a different hemisphere."

Groepper and the rest of the group boarded a ship that took them across the ocean on a two-day ride.

It was during the trip across the ocean that the group passed through Drake's passage, where three oceans combine.

"It was pretty rough for a while," he said.

"A lot of kids got really sea sick."

Upon landing on the actual continent, he said a nesting area for penguins was near their point of arrival.

"I'd never seen anything like that before," he said.

"It was amazing."

It was summertime in Antarctica, which meant the weather was around 0 to -10 C.

"I brought the clothes I wear here at home," he said.

On the final day on the continent, Groepper and the crew were able to sit and spend some time on a piece of glacial ice that was stuck in the ground.

Groepper said it was the first holiday season he spent without his family.

"It was the first time being away, but it wasn't weird or anything," he said.