Life-changing experience for ‘invisible’ teenagers

School pupils are being given the opportunity to put themselves through the ultimate survival test with a 75-mile Arctic expedition.

Before the winter trek with professional explorers from the Polar Academy, pupils participate in 10 months of gruelling training to raise their fitness to athlete level.

They also learn skills such as navigation, setting up a tent, outdoor cooking, controlling their heart rate underwater and skiing.

And then come the rewards – trekking through unmarked land in the Arctic, climbing unnamed mountains and possibly even camping under the Northern Lights.

But the programme, run by Craig Mathieson from Bo’ness, West Lothian, is so much more than a tough trek through the snow – it is a life-changing experience.

Having himself embarked on expeditions to both the North and South Poles, Craig set up the charity

Polar Academy to share the benefits of exploration and inspire future leaders.

The academy claims to deliver the “toughest” youth outdoor learning and education programme in Europe.

Every year since 2014, Craig and his team have visited schools throughout Scotland and hand-picked a group of youngsters aged 14 to 17 who are struggling with low confidence.

He describes pupils selected as the “invisible” ones in their school community, young people unlikely to volunteer for projects or put their hands up in class – much the same as he was at that age.

However, former serviceman Craig says that by the end of the programme, the youngsters are unrecognisable.

“It totally changes them,” he said. “Once the kids see what they can achieve, they want to do it more and apply it to every part of their life.”

Academy explorers practise skiing for their expedition.