The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Pupils are feeling chilled out about 10-day Arctic mission
Youngsters at Monifieth High School are being put through their paces in preparation for a 75-mile Arctic expedition.
Fifteen pupils are being trained up to “athlete” fitness level by charity Polar Academy ahead of the challenge.
They are also learning survival skills including navigation, camping and outdoor cooking skills, and skiing.
Ten of them will then travel to a remote northern area of Greenland, where they will pull sleighs containing their food and kit during a 10-day winter expedition.
The remaining five youngsters, who are on the reserve team, will later get the chance to take part in an exchange with children from a remote Inuit village.
Expedition team member Douglas Baird, 14, from Auchterhouse, said: “Polar Academy came to the school and talked about what they did.
“I thought it was amazing that people my age get to do that, it looked super cool.
“I was shocked when I found out I’d been selected, I never thought they would pick me because a lot of people put their names down, so I was really happy.”
On the expedition the youngsters will walk through unmarked land, cross unnamed mountains and possibly even see the Northern Lights.
They might spot Arctic foxes at night around the campsite, although they have been told it would be extremely rare to see a polar bear.
Euan Hanbury, 14, from Monifieth, said: “I’m very excited about it, it’s a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity that not many people in Scotland will get.
“I’m most looking forward to cross-country skiing and cooking my own food.”
Euan said the training is “hard going” but that his fitness level is much better than when he first started, resulting in an increase in self-esteem.
“I feel much more confident walking around school and asking for help in class,” he said.
The group have become close through their intense workouts and extreme oneoff training sessions such as entering a cold chamber and removing their socks, shoes and jumpers.
They have learned to control their heart rate underwater in full immersion training.
And they have already bagged their first Munro during a residential trip to Aviemore.
S3 pupil Grace Wilcox, 14, from Dundee, said: “I was excited and nervous because I’d not done any camping or hiking before.
“It was difficult and a bit cold but it was good. Navigating and leading the team was nerve-racking but it was fine when I got used to it.”
Grace added that she is feeling nervous about the expedition and the prospect of two weeks away from home, but feels reassured in the friendships she has built within the team.
S3 pupil Rose Black, 14, said: “I’ve noticed a difference in my fitness but also in myself as a person.
“I feel more confident, and a lot calmer and happier. I’m very excited about the expedition.”
After completion of the expedition, the participants will tour Scottish schools sharing stories of their journey.