Supporting Youth Health and Wellness

Health and Wellness

SOI expeditions are fun and challenging. Youth may be away from home for the first time, encounter new perspectives on Canada’s colonial history, or be triggered by sensitive topics. They might need time to process or seek support. As educators and staff, we provide support, but cannot guarantee confidentiality if personal information presents a risk to the individual or others. Further guidance on balancing responsibilities and limits will be provided at Educator Orientation. We also have online youth mental health modules available.

Your Support Team

All participants will be introduced to the Health and Wellness team at the beginning of the program. SOI travels with a nurse or doctor and a mental health professional. This team is available for all participants should they require any assistance throughout the expedition.

Mental Health

Expedition life can be exciting, but also a lot to take in. Your mental health matters just as much as your physical safety on expedition. We talk openly about wellbeing throughout the journey and make space to talk openly about how we’re feeling in a supportive, judgment-free environment. And if you ever need someone to check in with, a counsellor is always close by.

Health Guidelines

To keep everyone healthy and feeling their best, we ask all participants to follow the health guidelines shared at the start of the expedition and throughout the journey. This includes checking in with yourself for any flu-like symptoms—COVID-19 included—before, during, and even after the expedition. If you’re not feeling well at any point, please let an SOI team member know right away. Our protocols may change as needed to align with local health requirements, and we appreciate your cooperation in keeping our expedition community safe.

Medical Insurance

SOI takes your safety seriously, and that includes making sure you’re covered while you travel. SOI purchases travel medical insurance for all educators, which provides coverage for emergency medical care, air ambulance evacuation from the ship or remote locations, and basic travel coverage up to $500,000 CAD. Your coverage starts the moment you board your flight to the gateway city, and stays active for the entire expedition until you arrive back at your final destination.

Personal Medication

You are responsible for bringing and managing any personal medications during the expedition. Our medical team is here to support you, and they may reach out before the trip if they have any questions based on your registration. If you ever need help or have concerns about your meds during the journey, just let the medical team know—they’ve got your back.

Wisdom is Sailing: Expedition Advice from SOI Alumni

As part of our focus on health and wellness, we invite youth to watch this short series of videos featuring SOI alumni sharing personal stories, reflections, and experiences related to mental health and well-being on expedition and beyond. These stories remind us that everyone’s journey is different—and that feeling challenged, vulnerable, inspired, or changed is a natural part of learning in new environments. Together, these videos help open conversations about mental health, normalize asking for support, and reinforce that well-being includes emotional, cultural, and relational dimensions.