Youth Health and Wellness

Health and Wellness

SOI expeditions are fun and challenging. You may be away from home for the first time, encounter new perspectives, or be triggered by sensitive topics. You might need time to process or seek support. And we’re here to support you throughout the journey.

Your Support Team

You 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 on every expedition. This team is available for all participants should you require any assistance throughout the journey.

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 openly discuss wellbeing throughout the journey and create space for honest conversations 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. To help dispel any pre-expedition anxiety, Learn from SOI alumni in their own words about what to expect in the videos below.

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.

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 you 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.

What did you wish you knew?

What challenges did you face?

What helped your mental wellbeing?

What's your best advice?

Medical Insurance

SOI takes your safety seriously, and that includes making sure you’re covered while you travel. We purchase medical insurance for all youth participants, which includes emergency medical care, air ambulance evacuation from the ship or remote locations, with coverage up to $5,000,000 CAD. Your coverage starts the moment you board your flight to the gateway city, stays active for the entire expedition, and ends when you arrive back at your home airport. So wherever our journey takes us, you can focus on learning and exploring—we’ve got you covered.

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