Arctic

EWR has been operating in the high North since 2004 and has built up a very strong family relationship with the community of Resolute Bay. Over the years we have employed the local expertise and have shared many activities with the school.

The first exchange trip we arranged brought children from Canada to the UK and vis versa, this was ground breaking at the time and both the UK and Canadian Governments have continued what EWR started. Below is an account of such a child who is now a young women with a law degree working in the UK offices of EWR.

Emily Waddell, one of the female pupils chosen to participate in the Polar Challenge Arctic School Exchange 2005…

Looking back on my experience as a 15 year old in the High Arctic still fills me with the same excitement and adoration as it did back then.

It all started with a morning talk in assembly to approximately 150 drowsy and uninterested 15 year old pupils at Cirencester Deer Park School by CEO, Tony Martin. In an instance the atmosphere changed when he started talking about an opportunity for two female students, two male students and two teachers to take part in an Arctic School Exchange to Resolute Bay. He explained that there were several selection stages; first, a piece to be submitted to Polar Challenge to explain why you deserve a place using an A4 piece of paper, in classic Tony Martin ‘think outside the box’ style. Receiving everything from an igloo made out of sugar cubes on an A4 piece of paper to a clipboard packed with information about the individual, they then shortlisted these and organised a team building weekend for the lucky 25 pupils who had made it to the next stage of the selection at Friday Island. There were many different mental and physical exercises from the ‘Spider’s Web’ to Dragon Boat Racing to working out how to catapult an egg as far as you can safely using pieces of string, bamboo and whatever you could find. Essentially, all the Polar Challenge team were interested in was getting to know all the individuals and seeing how each person interacted with people and worked together. Once the weekend was over we had to wait for an announcement in assembly as to the four successful pupils, two teachers and four reserves.

Let me tell you, even now as a 22 year old Law Graduate that is still the longest and hardest wait of my life.

I was absolutely delighted to be chosen as of the female pupils picked. However, this is where the hard work started. We were very busy drumming up interest and sponsorship and trying to raise money for our trip by doing many newspaper interviews, contacting local businesses and also held an Auction of Promises from donations received such as weekends away in France, putting ourselves up as slaves for the day and a beautiful diamond tiara (which, to this day, I still regret not buying!).  

We were very successful with raising money and set off on the long journey to the Arctic on the 5^th April 2005. The feeling of first touching down in Resolute really does take your breath away; the sheer cold air and beautiful ‘whiteness’ is something that only someone who has been there will understand. Everyone was so friendly and we were immediately made to feel very welcome not only in Resolute but by those at the partner school, Quarmatalik School. They made us Honorary members of their school and community and planned many things for us whilst we were down including: Skidooing, native bread cooking, trying local ‘delicacies’ such as Polar Bear, Arctic Char fish and Raw Beluga Whale flesh (!), participating in native Throat Singing, exploring the Arctic and building and spending a cold night in an igloo. Their trip to the UK was just as successful. Simple things as seeing so much grass and having to put up with bugs and flies that they do not get in the Arctic were a new and exciting experience for them.

Having returned from Resolute Bay I was enchanted by the whole experience and worked for the Company whenever I could throughout School, College and University. Having finished University I am now working permanently for Extreme World Races and many years later still have the bug, having been so inspired at a young age. Being involved with Polar Challenge has certainly made me the outgoing, adventurous person I am today and has driven me to completing so many things in my life. I love working for Extreme World Races and have so much to thank them for.

Having found the diary I wrote whilst in Resolute Bay I think this says it all:

“The most beautiful and awe-inspiring place I think I will ever go to. Bring on Antarctica…”