2026 Churchill Polar Bears
Workshop Information Packet 

Contents:

I. General Information

II. To Do Checklist

III. Daily Itinerary

IV. FAQ’s

2026 Churchill Polar Bears
General Information

Welcome!

Thanks again for joining our 2026 Churchill Polar Bears Photography Adventure. We know you are as excited for our trip to begin as we are! Some preparation is required so everything goes smoothly, however. This document contains important information to help you prepare for your travels. Please take some time to read it carefully.

Workshop Dates & Leaders:  
Workshop Dates:
Session 1:    Oct 26 – Nov 1, 2026, Ken Lee leader/instructor
Session 2:    Nov 2 – 8, 2026, Ken Lee leader/instructor

Itinerary & FAQ’s
A copy of our Daily Itinerary and trip FAQs are included in this package for your convenience. These documents contain important information so please read them.

Balance of Fees
The balance of your workshop fees are due as follows:

$3000 – due January 25, 2026

Remaining Balance – due June 25, 2026

You should have received an invoice by email with amounts and due dates. Click the payment link on the invoice to make your payments online at your convenience. Your on-time payments are greatly appreciated.

Health/Medical

Prescription Medications – remember to pack an adequate supply of any prescription medications (also supplements, sleep aids, non-prescription pain relievers, etc.) you take, as they may not be available in Churchill.

Allergies – please let us know about any allergies you have AND the severity of your reactions. It is your responsibility to carry appropriate medications (e.g. Epi Pen) in case of accidental exposure.

 Travel Logistics & Documents

Passport/Visas

Americans do not need a visa to visit Canada, but a valid passport is required.

If you are not a Canadian or American citizen, you will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. Most applications are approved within minutes and the cost is only $7. 

International Flights

Important Note: Our Winnipeg-Churchill flights won’t be finalized until Calm Air publishes their 2026 schedule in January. Depending on flight times available, there is a small chance we may have to change the workshop dates. Therefore, we suggest waiting until after we confirm the Calm Air flights before booking your travel to Winnipeg

Arrival – book your flights to arrive in Winnipeg (Airport code: YWG) no later than ~1pm on Day 1 of the session you booked (our first group activity is at 3:30pm).  

Departure – The workshop ends upon our arrival at Winnipeg airport on Day 7. Our flight from Churchill usually arrives in Winnipeg in the late afternoon. However, Calm Air (our airline) often changes flight schedules multiple times.  It is also common for these flights to be delayed due to weather or other factors. Therefore, we highly recommend spending the night in Winnipeg and traveling home the following day.

Churchill-Winnipeg Flights – are included in the workshop fee and will be booked on your behalf. Please send us a copy of your passport ASAP (cell phone snapshot is fine).

Winnipeg Hotel – Day 1 group activities will take place at the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel located directly across from Baggage Claim at the Winnipeg airport. Staying at the Grand is convenient but not required. Our 2025 group rate was $210 CAD + taxes (~$151 USD). We expect 2026 rates to be similar. We will notify you when we have our 2026 group rate confirmed.

Reminder: Hotels & meals in Winnipeg are NOT included in the workshop fee. You must book your own hotel reservations for your nights in Winnipeg.

Travel Insurance – is required for this trip. Policies that cover medical evacuation as well as many other things like trip delays/cancellation, lost luggage, theft/loss, etc. are widely available at reasonable cost.

Notify Banks & Credit Cards – notify your financial institutions about your travel plans to prevent problems using credit cards or ATM’s while traveling.

Mobile Phone Carrier – look into your phone carrier’s international roaming policies and rates BEFORE leaving home or you may return to an extremely expensive bill. You may want to pre-purchase a data plan from your carrier or limit your mobile phone data usage to Wi-Fi only.

What to Pack

Weather Note – Historical high/low temperatures for October and November are below, but the low temperature for any given day could dip well below these averages:

October 43˚F (6˚C)/30˚F (-1˚ C)

November 26˚F (-3˚C)/13˚F (-11˚ C)

Here is useful link for Canadian government data of historical averages and extremes in Churchill for specific dates. Enter the beginning and end date of your trip to get a better idea of the conditions you may encounter.

Clothing – the following are key items to help you stay warm and comfortable in very cold temperatures. It is not intended to be a complete packing list.

• Heavyweight base layers (top & bottom) – in my opinion, great base layers are the key to staying warm in extreme cold temperatures and well worth the cost. I favor merino wool for my base layers. Smartwool & Ice Breaker are some well-known (i.e. expensive) brands in this space. Minus 33 offers high quality alternatives at slightly lower (but still not cheap) price points. Investing in a set of expedition/heavy weight merino wool base layers for this trip will pay off if temps drop below normal.

• Mid Layers – thin down jackets/vests, wool sweaters or fleece should make up your mid layer tops. Lined pants made for cold weather or heavyweight corduroy on top of your base layer are the best option to keep your legs warm. Jeans are NOT a good choice.

• Outer Layer – a well-insulated parka and ski pants/bib (or similar). Rain is a possibility so waterproof materials or a separate rain jacket are recommended.

• Warm socks – merino wool again is our preferred material. We’ve found a  thin pair next to the skin with a thicker second pair on top work best.

• Insulated boots – something like a pair of Sorel winter boots with a temperature rating well below zero are what you want. Non-insulated hiking boots are NOT a good option.

• Gloves and/or mittens – you need a pair of thin gloves that will let you work camera controls without removing them. For those who tend to get cold easily, a second pair of gloves or mittens attached to your wrists by lanyards are a good option to keep your hands toasty. There are several photography-specific gloves/mittens options also, but we don’t have any particular recommendations. Ask our friends Google and Amazon and do your research

• Heated clothing –there are many options now for heated jackets, vests, and gloves powered by rechargeable batteries. Most work quite well but may not last an entire day and you must recharge batteries nightly. Also, make sure to pack the batteries in your carry-on luggage, as they are not allowed in checked baggage.

• Warm hat or beanie - essential

• Balaclava, scarf or buff – to protect your face & neck during extreme cold.

• Sunglasses

• Hand & Toe warmers – cheap, long lasting and very effective, especially for those whose extremities get cold easily.

Photo Gear – it’s tempting to bring everything you own, but that usually works against you. The following are what we consider to be the essentials. We’re happy to give more specific brand/model recommendations for specific items. Just ask.

• Camera Body(s) – most modern dSLR or mirrorless (full frame or crop sensor) bodies will get the job done. ‘Bridge’ cameras with a long zoom (400mm+) are also an option.

  • The Animal Eye Tracking feature available on some mirrorless bodies is a game changer for wildlife photography and works well with polar bears and most other animals we’re like to encounter. If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading, this trip may be the excuse you’ve been looking for to pull the trigger.

• Lenses - your long lens will be the workhorse of this trip and should reach at least 400mm, preferably 500mm+, before adding teleconverters. Polar bears are large animals, and we will be as close as we can safely get, but you simply cannot have too much ‘reach’.

  • You will also want several shorter focal length lenses also.  As an example, Ken’s Churchill kit consists of a 12-24mm, 24–105-mm, 70-200mm and a 200–600mm. If you prefer prime lenses, one lens from each of the these zoom ranges would be ideal.

• Filters – Polarizing filters are great for cutting glare off snow, ice and even fur but they can become impractical in low light. Clear/UV filters are helpful to protect expensive lenses but also provide more surfaces for condensation to form – it’s your call.

• Batteries and Memory cards – you will be shooting a lot, maybe more than you ever have, easily in the thousands of images and hundreds of gigabytes total (with today’s high frame rates & megapixels it’s not uncommon for participants to exceed 20K images and >1TB for this trip).  Bring PLENTY of extra cards and batteries. You should NOT erase/overwrite any memory cards until you get home, even if you have downloaded the images to your laptop or hard drive.

• Accessories – make sure to pack critical accessories like your camera battery charger, memory card reader and tripod quick-release plates!

• Tripod and/or monopod– sturdy, but light with a ballhead or gimbal and a quick release mount is the way to go. Make sure your tripod can solidly support your longest lens without having to bend over uncomfortably BEFORE extending the center column. Hand holding extreme telephoto lenses is not ideal for best results

  • Also, don’t forget your quick release tripod plates–in fact, I strongly recommend purchasing an extra plate to leave permanently attached to your long lens(es).

• Headlamp – MUCH better than a flashlight because it leaves both hands free.

• Remote release (optional) - nice to have when working with very long lenses to help prevent camera shake

• Flying with Camera Gear – Nobody even wants to think about putting their precious photo equipment in checked luggage, so here is the lowdown on how to avoid any issues:

  • Size is more important than weight. Calm Air’s official policy carry-on is 20lbs max, but carry-ons are not typically actually weighed. As long as your bag(s) is reasonable in size, meaning it will fit into the overhead bins or under the seat, you should not have a problem. DO NOT bring an enormous bag that won’t fit where it should. Calm Air sees a lot of photographers headed to Churchill and our groups in previous years have not had any issues, but that’s not a guarantee that we won’t run into an agent that starts quoting official policy. If you’re bringing that huge 600mm prime lens, consider packing the lens shade separately. Again, the real key is not to attract attention by bringing a huge bag that won’t fit where carry-ons belong!

• Valet Service – if your carry-on is too large, heavy or you just get the ‘wrong’ agent, you may be asked to use Calm Air’s valet service which means you will hand your bag to an agent at the stairs before boarding the flight and retrieve it at the bottom of the stairs when we land.  

Other Things to Pack

• Laptop or tablet – highly recommended. Your photography will improve if you review your images daily. Doing preliminary selects and ratings also makes the mountain of images more manageable when you get home. We will also have several sessions on post processing and image management

• Portable hard drive - for image storage and/or backup. If you are considering purchasing one, look for a “bus powered” model – a drive that gets its power from the computer and does not require a separate power cord.

• Chargers and cables for your mobile phone and other electronics. Note: Canada uses the same electrical sockets as the US, so adapters are not necessary.

• Power bank – extremely handy for traveling

• Snacks – if the action is good, lunch may be delayed and having something to nibble is nice.

• Refillable Water Bottle

A Word About Gratuities – we will have one driver/guide for the duration of our stay in Churchill and like most guides, gratuities account for a substantial portion of their income. I think you will find our guide to be outstanding at what he does. If you feel you received good service, a token of your appreciation is greatly appreciated.

The amount is up to you but since everyone asks for guidance, what I can say is that the typical range is between $150 and $200 USD. Canadian currency is preferred for gratuities, but US dollars are also accepted.

Besides our driver/guide, the only other customary tips would be for your restaurant servers.

If we’ve missed anything or you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by phone, text or email.

Thanks again,

Ken Lee
Art of Seeing Photography Adventures
949-282-9660 mobile
ken@artofseeing.com

Churchill Polar Bears Workshop 2026
To Do Checklist

___     Book Inbound/Outbound flights to/from Winnipeg (YWG) and forward a copy of flight itinerary to Ken.

___     Send us a copy of your passport

___     Book Winnipeg hotel

___     Purchase Travel Insurance

___     Notify Banks & Credit Cards of your travel plans

___     Check mobile phone carrier’s international roaming policies and plans

___     Make a personal packing checklist. Click here for a downloadable Photo Trip Packing List template you can customize to your own needs

2026 Churchill Polar Bears Workshop
Day by Day Itinerary

Note: This itinerary is our general plan but is subject to change without notice for weather, logistical considerations or other reasons.

 Churchill Polar Bears 2026 Workshop
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q: How is this trip different than other polar bear tours?

A: Every aspect of this workshop is specifically designed for passionate (but not necessarily expert) photographers who are looking for the best opportunities to bring home wall-worthy images of polar bears and other arctic wildlife and landscapes. We are not confined to a tundra buggy or attached to a large group of non-photographers. Finally, this trip is designed to be a learning experience about the art and craft of wildlife photography as much as an opportunity to photograph polar bears.

Q: How should I book my travel?

A: You should arrive in Winnipeg (YWG) no later than ~1 pm on Day 1 of your Session. Our return flight to Winnipeg on Day 7 should arrive in Winnipeg in the late afternoon, but this flight is often delayed by weather. We suggest planning an overnight stay in Winnipeg (NOT included in workshop fee) and flying home the following day.

Note: Our Winnipeg-Churchill flights won’t be finalized until Calm Air publishes their 2026 schedule in January. Depending on flight times available, there is a small chance we may have to change the workshop dates. Therefore, we suggest waiting until after we confirm the Calm Air flights before booking your travel to Winnipeg

Q: Can you guarantee we will see polar bears or northern lights?

A: No. When it comes to nature, there are never any guarantees. The workshop is timed specifically to maximize our chances of encountering large numbers of polar bears based on historical freeze-up dates but climate change and other factors are making things less predictable these days.

We need clear, dark skies and the right type of solar activity for the northern lights (aurora borealis) to appear. In 2022, the night sky will be relatively dark (no moon) for most of Session 1 and part of Session 2 but we still need the other factors to coincide to have any chance at photographing the aurora – again, no guarantees.

Q: Is it safe?

A: Polar bear viewing and photography can be done safely if everyone follows instructions and acts appropriately. Our guides are experienced professionals who are knowledgeable about bear behavior. They also carry deterrents including firearms which are only deployed as a last resort. However, these bears are wild animals and individuals may not behave as expected. Intentionally approaching large predators for viewing or photography is an inherently dangerous activity. Per our Terms & Conditions, by registering for this workshop, you explicitly acknowledge and accept this risk.

Q: What else is there to photograph?

A: Beside polar bears, we may also encounter other arctic species. Arctic fox, Red fox, Arctic hares & Ptarmigan are common. Other species such as gyrfalcon, rough-legged hawks, caribou, wolves and wolverines live here as well but are much more rarely seen. Landscapes are also an option and can be quite dramatic with the right light and weather, especially after freeze-up begins. Finally, we will be on Aurora (northern lights) alert the whole time we are in Churchill – if conditions look promising, we’ll head out after dark to hopefully capture some images of the Northern Lights. However, this trip is not specifically focused on Aurora photography.

Q: What will the weather be like and how should I prepare for it?

A: Layers upon layers - a detailed packing list including specific clothing recommendations will be provided to participants after registration.

Q: What kind of photo equipment should I bring?

A: Specific recommendations will be provided to participants after registration but a telephoto lens of at least 400mm is strongly suggested as a starting point.

Q: Where will we stay in Churchill?

A: We’ve reserved two private residences (think Air BnB’s) for our group. It’s a bit unusual, but the best choice among limited options in Churchill.