What Students on Ice Foundation does

Students on Ice Foundation is a Canadian charitable nonprofit founded in 2000 by Geoff Green and headquartered in Quebec. The foundation designs and delivers ship-based and land-based educational expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic, and intermediate locations for youth aged 14-35, with explicit emphasis on Indigenous, Black, and under-represented participants. Core expeditions are operated aboard the ice-class vessel MV Ocean Nova, with capacity for nearly 200 youth, educators, researchers, and policy leaders per voyage, and are led by a roster that includes scientists, Inuit Elders, knowledge keepers, artists, and musicians. Since inception the organization has run more than 35 expeditions and served 4,575+ youth and educators.

The foundation's product portfolio extends beyond physical expeditions into a structured career-development ecosystem. The Blue Futures Pathways (BFP) sub-brand connects youth aged 15-35 with education, training, mentorship, employment, and funding opportunities in the Sustainable Blue Economy, including a free internship program, a job board, online learning modules, and the ECOP Canada node (housed under SOI since 2024). The foundation also operates a 360° Virtual Expedition video series to extend reach beyond ship capacity, the MySOI alumni portal, an Alumni Council, microgrant and mentorship programs, alumni delegations to international conferences (Arctic Frontiers, Arctic Circle Assembly, COP), and the Greatest Classroom on Earth podcast. The organization operates under the Viceregal Patronage of the Governor General of Canada, with H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco as Honorary Chair, and is an officially endorsed action of the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model. Self-funded participants pay expedition fees exceeding $16,950 plus gateway-city travel, with the majority of spots funded via scholarships supported by donations, government grants (notably Global Affairs Canada and the Nordic Council of Ministers), and corporate/philanthropic partners including the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Ocean Supercluster, and National Geographic. Leadership is founder-led, with Geoff Green as Founder & President, Henk van der Molen as COO, and Tammy Quinn as Chief of Staff, supported by an approximately 20-person team spanning programs, expeditions, alumni, marketing, and finance.

Name

Students on Ice Foundation

Legal name

Students on Ice Foundation

Website

https://studentsonice.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Students on Ice Foundation is a Canadian nonprofit that runs ship-based and land-based educational expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic for youth aged 14-35, complemented by the Blue Futures Pathways career program, ECOP Canada, virtual expeditions, and a 52-country alumni network of 4,500+.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Experiential Education Programs

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Pre-College Summer/Winter Academic Programs (High School Students) (EDAIAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Field Schools & Experiential Academic Programs (Archaeology, Ecology, etc.) (EDAIAIAG), Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI), Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Youth educational expeditions
• Polar experiential learning
• Sustainable blue economy
• Ocean workforce development
• Environmental youth leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

Quebec

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Expedition Participant Fees: Self-funded participants pay expedition fees exceeding $16,950 plus travel to gateway cities. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is required within 10 business days of acceptance, with 50% due 120 days prior to departure and final balance 60 days prior.
2. Donations and Philanthropic Support: Individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners provide funding for youth scholarships, program operations, and initiative development. Monthly donor program provides dependable base of support.
3. Government Grants: Funding from government bodies such as Global Affairs Canada and the Nordic Council of Ministers supports expedition programs and youth scholarships.
4. Program Partnerships and Sponsorships: Partnerships with organizations provide financial and in-kind support for programs, scholarships, training, mentorship opportunities, and employer engagement in the Blue Futures Pathways ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Students on Ice Foundation delivers ship-based and land-based educational expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic, and intermediate destinations for youth aged 14-35, alongside the Blue Futures Pathways initiative that connects participants with internships, jobs, training, mentorship, and micro-credentials in Canada's Sustainable Blue Economy. Programs integrate Western science with Indigenous Knowledge Systems, complemented by virtual 360-degree expedition content and a global alumni network.

Product overview

The SOI Foundation operates a multi-product portfolio organized around experiential youth education in polar and marine environments. The core offering consists of ship-based and land-based expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic, and intermediate destinations, including the North-to-North Expedition (NN26), the SOI Arctic Expedition (Arctic26), the Innu Nation Uinipekᵘ Expedition, and the Saavittut Inuit Cultural Land Camp. These expeditions are complemented by the Blue Futures Pathways (BFP) sub-brand, which bundles an internship program, a job board, mentorship services, learning modules on the Sustainable Blue Economy, micro-credential courses (in partnership with Mitacs and UBC), virtual 360° video expeditions, and the ECOP Canada node of the UN Ocean Decade network. Supporting programs include the Greatest Classroom on Earth podcast, Alumni Delegations to international conferences, an Alumni Council, Alumni Microgrants, and Alumni Mentorships. Together, these products form a continuum from experiential learning expeditions to career development and professional networking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blue Futures Pathways: An initiative connecting youth aged 15-35 with education, training, mentorship, employment and funding opportunities in the Sustainable Blue Economy. An officially endorsed action of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
• ECOP Canada
• Greatest Classroom on Earth Podcast

Products and services

• SOI Arctic & Antarctic Expeditions Ship-based educational expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic bringing together youth participants alongside scientists, Elders, artists, musicians, historians, knowledge keepers, and visionary leaders for immersive learning journeys focused on climate action and environmental stewardship aboard the ice-class vessel MV Ocean Nova.
• North-to-North Expedition (NN26) A 13-day Arctic ship-based expedition from Nuuk, Greenland to Iqaluit, Nunavut (July 10-22, 2026) celebrating the 30th anniversaries of the Arctic Council and the Nordic Arctic Programme with support from the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship of the Arctic Council.
• SOI Arctic Expedition (Arctic26) A 12-day Arctic ship-based expedition from Iqaluit to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (July 22 to August 2, 2026) bringing together a diverse international cohort to inspire youth leadership through immersive learning in partnership with the Arctic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers.
• Innu Nation Uinipekᵘ Expedition A 19-day land- and sea-based expedition (June 27 to July 15, 2026) developed in partnership with the Innu Nation, exploring Innu territory and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems with Western science.
• Saavittut Inuit Cultural Land Camp A 9-day land-based expedition outside Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), Nunavut (August 2026), led by Inuit Elders and knowledge holders, integrating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit through experiential learning focused on cultural revitalization, language preservation, and intergenerational mentorship, developed with Braiding Knowledges Canada and Northern Youth Leadership.
• Blue Futures Pathways (BFP) Initiative Initiative connecting youth aged 15-35, and those in the first ten years of an ocean-related career, with education, training, mentorship, employment and funding opportunities in the Sustainable Blue Economy, including an internship program, job board, mentorship, micro-credentials, and virtual expeditions under the PORT digital platform.
• BFP Internship Program Program supporting youth in Canada aged 18-35 to explore careers in the Sustainable Blue Economy through learning materials, mentorship, free training workshops, and potential funding opportunities.
• BFP Job Board Free platform enabling employers to post Sustainable Blue Economy internships and jobs for youth aged 18-35 across Canada, with features for personalized email notifications and custom RSS feeds.
• Leadership in the Sustainable Blue Economy Micro-credential Program A suite of instructor-led online micro-credential certificates in ocean science communication and the Sustainable Blue Economy, running throughout 2026-2027 in partnership with Mitacs and The University of British Columbia.
• 360° Virtual Expedition Video Series Immersive 360-degree virtual video content capturing SOI expedition experiences, including the 2023 Blue Futures Pathways Atlantic Expedition, the 2023 Iceland x Arctic Circle Assembly Expedition, and the 2022 Cape Breton and Sable Island Expedition, viewable with VR headsets.
• ECOP Canada The Canadian node of the UN Early Career Ocean Professional Network Programme housed under SOI Foundation, empowering Early Career Ocean Professionals in the first ten years of their ocean-related careers through community, professional development, and networking.
• Greatest Classroom on Earth Podcast A podcast hosted by SOI founder Geoff Green featuring conversations with SOI alumni about how their polar expeditions inspired their lives and careers, launched as part of SOI's 25th anniversary celebration.
• Alumni Delegations Programs that bring SOI alumni to national and international conferences such as Arctic Frontiers, Arctic Circle Assembly, COP, and other international forums to champion youth voices and build professional networks in polar and ocean policy.
• Alumni Microgrants Grant funding provided by SOI partners to support alumni-led projects worldwide, enabling youth to turn expedition inspiration into community initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,575+ youth and educators have participated in SOI expeditions since 2000
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship of the Arctic CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Official endorsement of the 2026 expedition season, aligning with the 30th anniversary of the Arctic Council Chairship.
• United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SOI expeditions endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade, aligning with global ocean science and sustainability initiatives.
• Braiding Knowledges CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner supporting the Saavittut Inuit Cultural Land Camp, supporting Indigenous language revitalization and cultural knowledge sharing through land-based education.
• Northern Youth LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner organization developing the Saavittut Inuit Cultural Land Camp in partnership with SOI, empowering Inuit youth with cultural understanding and leadership skills.
• MitacssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with Mitacs and University of British Columbia to deliver micro-credential courses in Leadership in the Sustainable Blue Economy throughout 2026-2027.
• The University of British ColumbiasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in delivering micro-credential courses on Leadership in the Sustainable Blue Economy, providing world-class expertise for professional development.
• Canadian Museum of NaturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian institution providing scientific expertise and support for SOI expeditions and biodiversity research programs.
• Ocean SuperclustersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering the Indigenous Career Pivot Program for individuals looking to advance or shift careers in the maritime sector.
• ECOP Canada (UN Ocean Decade)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian node of the UN Early Career Ocean Professional program, housed under SOI Foundation and Blue Futures Pathways since 2024, supporting workforce development in Canada's Sustainable Blue Economy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Earthwatch Institute: Coordinates short-format citizen-science expeditions worldwide, including polar regions. Comparable in combining paid participants with scholarship places, immersive field learning and a long-running alumni community.
• Where There Be Dragons: Designs immersive, place-based learning expeditions for high school and gap-year students with strong cultural and Indigenous-knowledge components. Closely comparable to SOI's experiential expedition model and youth-driven scholarship funnel.
• Rustic Pathways: Runs short-duration experiential travel and service programs for high school and college-age youth globally. Highly comparable in mission (youth experiential learning), scholarship-supported model, and reliance on multiple cohorts per year.
• OceanX: Ocean science and media nonprofit producing immersive ocean content, partner of the UN Ocean Decade. Closely aligned mission around youth engagement with oceans and Strong ECOP/blue-economy network overlap.
• School for Field Studies (SFS): Operates field-based undergraduate environmental programs. Similar experiential learning architecture, partnership with universities (SFS partners with Duke and others) mirrors SOI's Mitacs/UBC micro-credential ties.
• Quark Expeditions: Polar-focused expedition cruise operator running Antarctic and Arctic voyages. Comparable operational layer (chartering polar-class ships, seasonal polar routes) though commercial/leisure-oriented rather than education-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound: The largest global provider of experiential youth expeditions. Less polar-specific than SOI but a structural benchmark for tuition-funded-with-scholarship youth expeditions, alumni programs and a long institutional track record.
• National Geographic Student Expeditions: Brand-backed youth expeditions including polar itineraries. Comparable product and audience; differentiated primarily by a much larger media and distribution footprint versus SOI's nonprofit mission positioning.
• World Learning (The Experiment in International Living): Operator of Experiment in International Living and School for International Training. Comparable experiential, scholarship-supported programming for high-school and gap-year youth with a global alumni base.
• Lindblad Expeditions: National Geographic–aligned expedition cruise company with strong polar itineraries. Comparable ship-based polar delivery model; differs as a publicly traded commercial operator with broader leisure audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StudentsOnIce
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCobefDUn6NF7KtQE8hrqmhw
• Facebookfacebook.com/StudentsOnIce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/students-on-ice
• Instagraminstagram.com/studentsonice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Students on Ice Foundation