One of the world's youngest polar explorers - also an Edge
mentor - says practical learning and mentoring gave him the
confidence to succeed
Ben Saunders has the unusual distinction of being the youngest
individual to ski solo to the North Pole - 'conventional' is not in
his vocabulary. "I went to seven different schools and saw the
whole spectrum of education, from a tiny village school to a huge
inner city comprehensive," he says. "I wasn't inspired academically
and didn't go on to higher education. The important stuff like
goal-setting, leadership and decision- making I learnt outside
school."
A keen athlete, Ben found his passion and interest lay in
outdoor activities such as mountaineering and skiing, which led to
him undertaking his first expedition in 2001. Explorers learn by
doing, out of necessity. "There isn't a manual you can read on how
to explore the Arctic, you have to learn from experience," says
Ben.
Edge took advantage of Ben's experience and asked him to mentor
young people taking part in our 2007 schools competition, Ice Edge,
which Ben described at the time as "a great competition". He added:
"It allows teachers and students to actually try stuff out and also
to raise awareness on how climate change and pollution are
decimating the Arctic's fragile environment. I wish they had
something like that when I was at school."
Ben does a lot of work with young people in schools. He believes
in the importance of each young person being able to learn in a way
that suits them.
"For me the importance of having a mentor was paramount to
becoming an explorer," he says. "Mine was the explorer Pen Haddow,
who passed on all the essential information and skills I needed to
negotiate such an extreme and unique environment as the Arctic.
Now, I get emails all the time asking me about my experiences. I'm
more than happy to answer them to pass on my skills. Otherwise, how
else is anyone supposed to learn?"
Watch Ben Saunders launching Ice Edge on Edge's
YouTube channel
Visit Ben
Saunders website