Highlights From Our English Secondary School Students’ Trip to Quebec City

Field trips are an important part of the experience we try to create for students at Kells Academy. They offer a chance for them to have some fun, socialize with one another outside of a school setting and to experience some of Canada’s most interesting tourist attractions.

This October, the grade 9 class took an overnight trip to the historic and beautiful Quebec City. In an action-packed two days, our students took part in a number of exciting activities. Along the way, they learned about nature, history and even outer space! Keep reading to find out about some of the most memorable moments of this unforgettable experience.

Diving into Our Field Trip at the Aquarium du Québec

It was unseasonably cold during the trip, with the first snowfall of the year occurring, but the weather failed to dampen our students’ spirits. After a morning shopping in the city’s Place Laurier mall, the group enjoyed a self-guided tour of the Aquarium du Québec.

The facility houses over 10,000 marine animals from over 300 species, including mammals like walruses, seals and polar bears, as well as a huge collection of fish and marine invertebrates such as catfish, sea cucumbers and red piranhas. The aquarium also offers several opportunities for visitors to get up close and even touch certain creatures, such as stingrays, provided they are brave enough!

Our English secondary school students got up close and personal with the stingrays at the aquarium

Students Visited Quebec’s Historic Citadelle

Next on the agenda was a visit to Canada’s oldest military building, the Citadelle of Quebec. This extraordinary structure houses over 300 years of military history and is still an active garrison of the Royal 22e Regiment today.

Our English high school students learned all about the fortress’ heritage, its tactical importance in Quebec’s fortifications, and its fascinating star shape – a common characteristic of military structures from the era which helps to eliminate blind spots from the Citadelle’s lookout posts. They also enjoyed the stunning view the fortress offers of the city from the top of Cap Diamant.

Exploring First Nations Heritage at Village Huron

Following a hearty dinner at La Vieille Maison du Spaghetti, the group headed to Village Huron in Wendake, just north of Quebec City. This important site is a faithful recreation of an old Huron Village and offers a glimpse into the proud heritage and traditions of the Huron-Wendat Nation.

The guided tour included visits to traditional Huron houses, and presentations on the crafts, myths, and legends, and way of life of the Huron people. It was a chance to gain a new appreciation of the important place of the First Nations people in the province’s history and was a high point of the trip for many students.

Montmorency Falls was a Real Treat for Our English High School Students

The second day of the trip began with a short bus ride to the iconic Montmorency Falls. The tallest waterfalls in the province, Montmorency Falls stand over 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls (although they are not nearly as wide).

The group braved the dizzying heights to cross the suspension bridge, which spans the length of the top of the falls and enjoyed a spectacular view of the beautiful surrounding area. English secondary school students with a passion for literature were also interested to learn that the falls were referenced in John Keats’ famous poem "Sleep and Poetry"

Despite the cold, Montmorency Falls was a real highlight for our high school group

Hubble 3D Took Our Secondary School Students on an Even Bigger Journey

After such an active few days, it was fitting that our students ended their trip with something a bit more relaxing, so they headed to the cinema for an IMAX screening of Hubble 3D. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this excellent 2010 film explores the history and legacy of the famous Hubble Space Telescope. First launched in 1990, Hubble is one of the largest and most effective telescopes ever created and has provided us with an unprecedented collection of images from the farthest corners of the universe.

The documentary featured some of the most exquisite and breathtaking imagery ever captured by Hubble, taking viewers on a journey that included the Andromeda galaxy, the Butterfly Nebula, and the Constellation of Aquarius. Constantly surprising and awe-inspiring, Hubble 3D was a true joy, and really made the group realize how beautiful and precious our universe is.

Want to find out more about the field trips students can look forward to at our independent English school?

Contact Kells Academy to speak to one of our advisors.