Learning to swim above the Arctic Circle, in Old Crow

Whitehorse lifeguard Willow Brewster had no idea what to expect when she agreed to fly north to Old Crow to run a summer swim camp.

The community is about 100 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, and there are no swimming pools.

"All we were told was that we would be teaching in the Porcupine River," Brewstersaid.

"It's quite cold, and obviously there's no structured pool edge of the river it's just on a muddy bank."

She wasn't fazed, though, and neither were her students. They eagerly jumped right in to the lessons, which were focussed on basic swimming skills and water safety.

"They're on that water, hunting,regularlyas part of their daily lives, and it's quite dangerous if you don't know water safety and you don't have that experience swimming," Brewster said.

She said she would definitely go back next year, if she's invited.

"It was definitely a humbling experienceto see kids that don't have access to the type of facilities that kids in Whitehorse do, so exuberant and excited and full of life to just participate," Brewster said.