Young Inspiring Explorers’ Summit 2019

Update: Applicants will be notified by August 7th, 2019

Antarctic Heritage Trust is partnering with the William Pike Challenge to bring the spirit of Antarctic exploration to a group of year 7 to 9s from around New Zealand.

Over the weekend of 21-22 September 2019, approximately 20 students will travel to Christchurch, New Zealand’s gateway city to Antarctica, to spend the weekend with Kiwi legend William Pike at the Young Inspiring Explorers’ Summit. Successful applicants will engage in a weekend of exploration and learning; meeting husky dogs and penguins, camping out overnight; being challenged to step outside their comfort zone; and finding inspiration in the legacies of historic Antarctic explorers.

The weekend will encourage and empower these young, modern-day explorers to meet the challenges of life head-on by connecting them to the inspiring feats of early Antarctic exploration.

No previous knowledge of Antarctica or outdoor experience is required, but participants will have a positive attitude, a natural curiosity, and a desire to work alongside fellow explorers to learn about the remarkable world we live in. A willingness to share the experience with their community is important, as students will document their journey and tell their stories through a variety of channels when they return home.

Students will receive a certificate of achievement at their successful completion of the programme. They will also become members of the Antarctic Heritage Trust Alumni Programme, which includes Inspiring Explorers like William Pike and Brando Yelavich. As part of the Alumni Programme students will receive all the latest updates and info about alumni events and future expeditions.

The Young Inspiring Explorers’ Summit is supported by ChristchurchNZ, The Antarctic Office and the International Antarctic Centre.

Before You Apply

You will need:

Parent or caregiver permission.
Parents’ or caregivers’ email address and cell phone number.
A referee who is not related to agree to write you a short letter of reference. This is done via email.
To be available to travel to Christchurch over the weekend of 21-22 September 2019.

Take your time with this application, you’re able to save your work and return at a later time.

Eligibility Criteria

You’ll need to:

Be aged between 10 and 14
Be in years 7, 8 or 9 this school year.
Be enrolled in a school or group that is part of the 2019 William Pike Challenge or a student at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate at the time of application.
Be in good physical health with a reasonable standard of fitness.

Both the William Pike Challenge and Antarctic Heritage Trust are inclusive organisations so we’re taking applications from students of all abilities. We don’t see disabilities as a barrier to participation. If you have any questions, let’s chat about how we can make this work!

Obligations on Successful Applicants

You will:

Be committed to participate fully and have a go at all activities and experiences. This is an educational experience, not a holiday!
Participate in and complete any pre expedition programmes/activities. The pre-programme activities will include learning more about Antarctic Heritage Trust’s work and Antarctic exploration.
Post-Expedition, share your experience with your community by the end of the school year at the latest. You will only receive your certificate of completion at this point. This will include a presentation about your experiences to your classmates, sports team, or community members.
Complete a survey after the summit.
Support Antarctic Heritage Trust and the William Pike Challenge by promoting both organisations in a positive light to friends, whānau and your wider community.
Document your journey through journaling to share what you learn with your friends, family and community when you return home.
Participate in media and profiling activities arranged by Antarctic Heritage Trust.
Consent to Antarctic Heritage Trust using relevant and associated text and images for promotions (including web and social media channels).
Act in a responsible manner as a representative of Antarctic Heritage Trust while participating in the programme.
Respect and listen to the various adults running the programme.
Respect your peers. Be open to different backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences that each person contributes to our group.
Be curious about the world we live in and be willing to learn about Antarctica.
Be willing to step outside your comfort zone and explore.
Demonstrate a willingness to take on some or all of the following: accept unfamiliar tasks with enthusiasm, have a go at being a leader, contribute to a team, give back to your community, make a difference, share your experience and encourage the spirit of exploration in others.

Expedition Costs

The majority of the costs will be covered by Antarctic Heritage Trust.

Antarctic Heritage Trust will meet the costs for:

Domestic flights to and from Christchurch.
Transport to and from Christchurch Airport or other central transport hubs.
Delicious food for the weekend.
Accommodation for the Saturday night.
Camping equipment, which includes a tent, sleeping bag and pads.

Successful students will need to:

Contribute $75 towards the expedition costs. If the cost of this experience is out of reach for you and your family – please talk to us. We don’t want cost to be a barrier.
Supply all appropriate personal outdoor equipment and clothing for the trip. This includes wet-weather gear, warm layers, wool base-layers, and sturdy shoes for outdoor activities. If you don’t have some of this equipment, talk to us.
Cover costs for any excess bags. One checked bag of 23kg is included in your ticket. We highly recommend only bringing one bag as it will be travelling with you (on your back) during the weekend.

Please Read our FAQs

Check out the recorded LIVE QnA session with William and Sarah from June 23rd and the second one July 3rd. They both have very different questions so check them both out!

Frequently asked questions — for students.

Frequently asked questions — for parents/caregivers.

Register your interest

Thinking about applying? Great! (You really should!)

We’re looking for students from a wide range of backgrounds to attend the Young Inspiring Explorers’ Summit.

You will need to create an account with us in order to apply. Make sure you have your parent/caregiver consent before registering and applying.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require assistance with your application.
Sarah Bouckoms
P: +64 3 358 0212
E: S.Bouckoms@nzaht.org
Antarctic Heritage Trust
Private Bag 4745
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand

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Update: Applicants will be notified by August 7th, 2019