🐧 Support our Inspiring Explorers™ appeal and give today! 🐧

About the Inspiring Explorers Fund™

Grow the Next Generation of Explorers

Over the years, supporters like you have helped us care for the Antarctic bases left by the legendary global figures of Sir Ernest Shackleton, Sir Edmund Hillary and Captain Robert Falcon Scott.

The early explorers’ stories and journeys are iconic. Whether they ended in success or failure, fame or obscurity they were incredible. What binds those early explorers is a shared and common trait – a desire to head into the unknown; an explorer’s mindset.

Exploration embodies curiosity, allows us to embrace uncertainty and develop resilience. These qualities are more critical in today’s world than ever before and will be crucial in shaping our shared future.

2025 Ross Sea Inspiring Explorer Kitiona at Nimrod Hut.
Inspiring Explorer Kitiona. © AHT/Anna Clare

“As I stepped through the door I got a nostalgic vibe, like they are still here, not visibly, but you can feel them.”

You can grow explorers…

By making a gift to the Inspiring Explorers™ Fund, you can support young explorers like Kitiona, who stepped foot on snow for the very first time during the 2025 Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ Ross Sea.

Your gift can help young explorers push outside their comfort zone, giving them experiences that they never imagined through the Inspiring Explorers™ programme.

No other programme in the world draws on the rich heritage of polar explorers as a source of inspiration. The Inspiring Explorers™ programme draws heavily on the explorer qualities of curiosity, resilience, leadership, innovation, and team work, encouraging young people to engage with the spirit of exploration and grow an explorer mindset. It includes our Inspiring Explorers Expeditions™, Young Inspiring Explorers™ and the Inspiring Explorers™ Education initiatives.

As a donor, you’ll receive stories of impact about programme participants. You’ll also be invited to special events, giving you the opportunity to hear stories from explorers of yesterday and today.

Give to the Inspiring Explorers™ Fund Today

Inspiring the next generation of explorers…

Destiny

Destiny

Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ South Georgia 2023

Destiny didn’t believe an experience like this could ever be possible for her.

Laura

Laura

Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ South Pole 2022

Laura has given talks to thousands of students across New Zealand about overcoming her fears as she skiied to the South Pole.

Anzac

Anzac

Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ Antarctic Peninsula 2020

Anzac used his experience to share Antarctica with thousands of students across the globe.

Abby

Abby

Young Inspiring Explorers™ Worsley Weekend 2020

The Young Inspiring Explorers™ Worsley Weekend inspired Abby to want to become a heritage conservator in Antarctica.

Inspiring Explorer Tegan Allpress. © AHT/Anna Clare

Creating impact in their communities

Inspiring Explorers deliver a dedicated outreach programme sharing their stories and encouraging others to explore. Since the inaugural expedition in 2015 Inspiring Explorers have delivered hundreds of presentations, created art, music, short films, virtual and augmented reality, Antarctic-inspired education programmes and exhibitions. Their stories have a powerful ripple effect through their communities and with our global audience, reaching millions of people worldwide.

Read recent Inspiring Explorers™ news:

A group of young people standing around a memorial statue of an explorer.Antarctic Heritage Trust

Icy Fun and Learning at Summit

, , ,
In November, the Trust’s Young Inspiring Explorers™ Summit saw 25 students, aged 11-14, travel to Ōtautahi Christchurch from around New Zealand. Thanks to our donors, Royal Society Te Apārangi, and our major sponsor, the US Embassy and Consulate in New Zealand, this was our biggest Summit yet. This action-packed weekend was delivered in partnership with William Pike Challenge.
Antarctica21/Rodrigo Moraga

Connections Create Life-changing Experience in South Georgia

, , , , , ,
Twenty-two young New Zealanders travelled with the Trust to South Georgia in October 2023 for our ninth Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ as part of the Shackleton Centenary Year Expedition.
Antarctic Heritage Trust climbing team on Mount Hodges Inspiring Explorers South GeorgiaInspiring Explorers Expedition™ climbing team members during their ascent of Mount Hodges. © AHT/Sam West

First Kiwi climb of South Georgia mountain cancelled – ‘unique’ expedition undertaken instead

, , , , , , , ,
A combination of wind, rain, and limited visibility has prevented a group of young New Zealand explorers from attempting to climb one of the most remote mountain peaks in the world.