Antarctic Flags Program

A vicarious journey to the Antarctic Ice Cap for children around the world

BLUE ICE INTERNATIONAL – in 1995 visioned the creation of an educational framework that uses Antarctica as a catalyst for sustaining an interactive global learning network. Once constructed this interactive world wide network would ignite the students desire to learn through dynamic content and the collaboration of experiences, data, and resources. This educational framework would be delivered via the blue ice crystals network (each school a crystal ) which would be energized by programs which embraced the scientific technological environmental cultural and aesthetic aspects of snow ice and cold as it exists on earth and throughout the solar system.

A modest beginning

BLUE ICE INTERNATIONAL began with a modest goal of bringing children to experience the Antarctica. Students in the United States and Japan created flags that were taken by researchers on expeditions to Antarctica. Pictures were taken as Dr Peter traveled around the Antarctic and recorded daily observations. When He returned each flag to the home school the children were able to vicariously join the Antarctic adventure . The flag program was a resounding success but limited in reach.

Each school would design and create their own distinct flag that ensured the school and the children buy-in. These flags were taken to Antarctica by Dr Peter when he participated with ANSMET ( Antarctic Search for Meteorites). When the expedition returned the flag was ceremoniously returned to each school by Dr. Peter and the students were able to vicariously participate.

Schools from Finland Japan, Poland, Spain, and the United states (Including the Navajo Nation and the Jemez Pueblo) participated in the original flag program.

Spanning 10 years 30,000 students from 100 schools in five countries have participated in the virtual adventure.

This was continued, for a number of years, with the Japanese NIPR (National Institute of Polar Research) thanks primarily to Dr Minoru Funaki.

Children’s flags on SHIRASE journeying towards SOWYA station

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