Many of the students were still wrapped in Red Cross blankets when they arrived at the school on Tuesday evening. (CBC)

A group of B.C. students who arrived in Haiti just before the devastating earthquake last week finally returned home to an emotional welcome at their Kootenay high school on Tuesday night.

The 17 students and seven chaperones were met by family and friends at Mount Sentinel High School in South Slocan, following an eight-hour bus ride from Calgary and a flight from Montreal.

Tears streamed down many faces as the students walked into the school and into the arms of their parents.

Les Bell hugged his daughter Aubrey and said the worst part of the ordeal was waiting for information immediately after the earthquake struck.

'I'm so happy, but there is still a lot we have to do, like fundraise.' —Student Aubray Bell

"The first night we couldn't find any information for about five hours," said Bell.

The group landed in Haiti about 45 minutes before the earthquake hit on Jan. 12 and communication was virtually cut off. Eventually they made their way to a nearby mission and were able to get an email out to reassure parents they were safe.

They spent six days at the mission before Canadian Forces arrived to get them out on a military flight to Montreal over the weekend.

Haitian generosity

Teacher Don Warthe said the generosity of Haitians helped them through the ordeal.

"They are marvellous, generous hosts. It's one thing to be generous and gracious when you are secure, but when your whole country has been devastated, it's really telling of the people," said Warthe.

Student Aubray Bell couldn't control her tears after seeing her family, but said she and other students still want to do what they can for the earthquake victims in Haiti.

"It's incredible. I'm so happy, but there is still a lot we have to do, like fundraise and that. They need help down there," said Bell.

The school said it's going to review where it sends students, but the students said they don't regret a thing, saying the experience gave them a new appreciation for where they live.

"We fall into childish frivolities because we have everything. So it's given me an appreciation for that," said Elijah Liester.

Some of the church leaders on the trip vowed to return to Haiti to help out, including Pastor Jim Reimer of the Kootenay Lake Evangelical Church.

Reimer said that, to his amazement, his wife has told him she is prepared to go back with him to Haiti, even though she has never wanted to go before.

"I've travelled everywhere and she never wanted to go, and now she wants to go to Haiti," he said.