© ATOM 2016 A STUDY GUIDE BY MARGUERITE O’HARA
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74295-992-4 http://theeducationshop.com.au © ATOM 2016 2 - - - - - tally? This courageous and likeable teen puts her personal test. catchcry ‘expand possible’ to the extreme venturers Jade has a story and a life that have lead her to venturers this moment, this mission. Mount fuelled by a father who conquered are Her dreams and is with her every step of the way during her Everest and a need to give thanks for daring North Pole journey, fatal the gift of life itself after she survived a potentially illness following birth. respiratory and is also moulded by a loving her character, Her story, mother who, in her honest moments, confesses protective to not wanting the child she fought to save as an infant exposed to the dangers she will inevitably face. father and daughter must implicitly trust one of the Mother, Eric Philips, as he polar adventurers, most renowned world’s and unfor a dangerous across guides his teenage charge giving landscape with no guarantee of success or survival. history-mak Jade’s This one-hour documentary recounts the North Pole, the punishing training ing attempt to reach ob the unforeseen as she prepares, she endures regime getting to the starting her from stacles that almost prevent point and the constant challenges she faces during the on ice itself. gruelling trek doubts school student beset by real an ordinary It reveals about her ability to succeed but driven by an extraordinary determination and a motivation to inspire will to live, fierce to chase their dreams. young girls everywhere Will she live up to her own high ideals? How far is she emotionally and men to push herself physically, prepared Only a handful of adults has ever achieved all three but her all three Only a handful of adults has ever achieved beyond ambitious quest is part of a story that stretches Like all ad polar history. a new chapter in global forging - -
Introduction, Synopsis, Introduction, Resources and References. Resources
Guide Outline:
Table, Post Viewing Questions, Extension Activities, Table, Curriculum Guidelines, the Expeditioners, Background Background Curriculum Guidelines, the Expeditioners, to the Region, Filmmakers, Stages of the Trek, Viewing Trek, to the Region, Filmmakers, Stages of the our belies the driving force that prompted her to set her that prompted our belies the driving force sights on becoming the youngest person to conquer ‘The Greenland across Pole, North the to trekking Trick’: Hat Polar to the South Pole. the coast of Antarctica and from A quiet, almost shy, teenager whose unassuming demean A quiet, almost shy, Jade Hameister is a 14-year old schoolgirl from Jade Hameister is a 14-year old schoolgirl from Melbourne, and a vision to Australia with big dreams the world. In April, 2016 she set young girls around inspire out to ski 150 km to the Geographic North Pole, further than anyone her age had ever managed. SYNOPSIS tions Jade and her father make before setting out. This is tions Jade and her father make before an inspirational story of passion, perseverance and self- belief, set in a little known world that is as beautiful as it is cold and inhospitable. remote,
On Thin Ice - Jade’s Polar Dream is the story of 14-year- On Thin Ice - Jade’s the on skis across amazing trek old Jade Hameister’s polar of three ice to the Geographic North Pole, the first by the end of expeditions she is intending to complete 2017. With her father Paul and polar guide Eric Philips, the white wildernessthey cross pulling all they will need they need to complete in 11 days. behind them on a trek on film along with the prepara The expedition is captured INTRODUCTION The importance of thorough long-term preparation for something as complex and difficult as walking to the North Pole is illustrated clearly in this film.
As well as the physical challenges of the trek, Jade must deal with her own concerns about whether she can achieve the 150-kilometre trek within the time frame and stay mentally focused throughout. Resilience involves the capacity to deal construc- tively with change or challenge, allowing us to maintain or re-establish our social and emotional wellbeing in the face of difficult events. It involves thoughts, feelings and actions. This film is about a young woman following a dream and challenging herself mentally and physically.
In cross - curriculum terms, the film’s setting in the Arctic Circle provides stunning images of a bright white world entered by few people which, as Jade CURRICULUM GUIDELINES says ‘probably won’t be here forever. It’s melting at a fast rate and might not be accessible in a few On Thin Ice -Jade’s Polar Dream would be enjoyed years’. The polar ice regions and changes occur- by students from upper primary (years 5 and 6) and ring there are critical aspects of global climate secondary students from years 7 -10. It is a story change with implications for the whole planet. about a 14-year-old girl’s pursuit of a dream and achieving her goals through preparation, persis- This guide includes activities and questions de- tence and an adventurous spirit. signed for upper primary to middle secondary stu- dents as both the story and the way it is told make The Health and Physical Education (H & PE) it accessible for students aged 10–15. Equally, National Curriculum guidelines include a strong students undertaking Outdoor Education would endorsement of outdoor education activities that find this documentary inspiring and interesting. challenge students in different ways. The empha- Teachers could select from the chart-filling activ- sis in all these activities is on safety with thorough ity, the close viewing questions and/or some of the preparation in relation to the terrain, the weather Jade is a fourteen- Extension questions, depending on their students’ conditions, access and anticipated challenges and year-old student interests and abilities or they could work through all how to meet them safely. from Melbourne, these areas. Australia who Specifically, In H & PE, the strand: Personal, Social and Community Health includes sub-strands loves being active »» THE EXPEDITIONERS across all levels from Foundation to years 9 and 10 and outdoors. which include Identities, Changes and Transitions, Jade climbed Mt Help-seeking and Making healthy and safe choices, Jade Hameister Connecting to the environment, Fitness and physi- Kosciuszko and cal activity, Teamwork and leadership. This film completed her first Jade is a fourteen-year-old student from addresses and illustrates all these learning areas. triathlon season Melbourne, Australia who loves being active and outdoors. Jade climbed Mt Kosciuszko and The documentary would also be a valuable re- by the age of six. completed her first triathlon season by the age of source for students undertaking Outdoor Ed chal- six. By twelve, Jade had conquered the Mt Everest lenges as part of their VET course where they can Base Camp Trek and was inspired by the courage select from activities that may include Abseiling, of two women she befriended on that trip – one Bushwalking, Skiing, Cycling and Surfing. who was aiming to reach the summit and who had previously skied to the South Pole solo and the While few students are likely to have an opportunity other who had been the first woman to summit to undertake the challenges that Jade has set for Everest without oxygen. herself – trekking in the North and South Pole regions, her polar trek has within it lessons about the joys of This inspiration has led Jade to undertake her own adventuring where setbacks and difficulties are all quest… Jade’s Polar Quest. Jade hopes to cover part of learning and character development, where almost 2,000 kilometres over three expeditions (al- © ATOM 2016 there are new and valuable skills to be learned and most three months on ice) on skis, dragging a sled new worlds to experience. (Note: On Thin Ice: Jade’s in some of the most extreme and beautiful environ- Polar Dream was supported by National Geographic ments on the planet. Her expeditions will include who helped fund the documentary) the North Pole, Greenland and the South Pole. 3 the seven continents, which includes Mt Everest. Paul accompanied his daughter Jade on her quest to the North Pole and will also travel with her to Greenland and the South Pole in 2017.
Eric Philips OAM – Polar Guide, Expedition Leader Eric Philips is a polar adventurer dedicated to exploring the vast and varied ice landscapes that typify our polar regions. His outdoor career spans more than 25 years during which time he has worked professionally as an IPGA Polar Guide, outdoor educator, film maker, motivational speaker, team facilitator and musician. As an adventurer, Eric has visited every continent on earth, often leading lightweight and self-supported expedi- tions to remote areas. He has explored the world’s four largest icecaps and was the first Australian, together with companion Jon Muir, to ski to both the North and South Poles, locations that he has since visited many times as a polar guide. Through his experiences Eric has developed alternative and highly efficient methods of travel in the polar regions and has embraced the use of special- ised plastics in the construction of polar-specific equipment.
Eric is the author of Icetrek: The Bitter Journey to the South Pole and his expeditions have produced four internationally-screened documentary films, most notably, the Emmy Award-winning Greenland production, Chasing the Midnight Sun. Eric lives in Hobart, Australia with his family.
Petter Nyquist was the cameraman on the trek. He is a seasoned sub-zero cameraman whose experience shooting in inhospitable climes like the Himalayas and polar regions has bred a passion for the pictures he takes and the places he takes them.
She has recently achieved her first goal, being »» BACKGROUND the youngest person (male or female) to ski to the North Pole from beyond one-degree latitude, covering a total of 150kms. Jade is now starting Getting there to plan her next expedition, a coast-to-coast trek across Greenland early in 2017, followed by a Read about Svalbard, the archipelago in the Arctic coast-to-pole trek to the South Pole later that year. Ocean, which is Norwegian territory and is the starting-off place in the region for polar excursions to the Arctic Circle and the North Pole. Paul Hameister https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/ Paul is an ex-lawyer and ex-investment banker, svalbard-islands/ who has been involved in the property develop- ment industry since 1997. He is Co-Chairman of Read about Barneo, the temporary Russian ice the National Board of Australia’s largest university base in the Arctic Ocean from where the party will commerce student association – the Financial be flown by helicopter to the starting point of their Management Association of Australia (FMAA), 150-kilometre trek to the North Pole as long as the © ATOM 2016 which he founded while at University in 1990. airstrip on ice remains reasonably stable and safe to land on. Paul is also the 12th Australian to have climbed the Seven Summits, the seven highest mountains on https://icetrek.com/base-camps/barneo-ice-camp 4 What is the Arctic Circle? Who owns the Arctic Ocean and the North Pole? The region surrounding the North Pole consists of a large ocean surrounded by land. This ocean, the Under international law, the high seas including the Arctic Ocean, is like no other ocean on Earth and North Pole and the region of the Arctic Ocean sur- because of its special location and climate, the rounding it, are not owned by any country. The five lands that surround it are unique. surrounding Arctic countries are limited to an ex- clusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles Most commonly, scientists define the Arctic as the (370 km; 230 mi) adjacent to their coasts. They are region above the Arctic Circle, an imaginary line Russia, Canada, Norway, Denmark (via Greenland) that circles the globe at approximately 66° 34’ N. and the United States (via Alaska). The Arctic Circle marks the latitude above which the sun does not set on the summer solstice, and See the map referenced below to see the countries does not rise on the winter solstice. At the North fringing the Arctic Circle at: Pole, the sun rises once each year and sets once each year: there are six months of continuous day- https://nsidc.org/sites/nsidc.org/files/images//arc- light and six months of continuous night. At lower tic_map.gif latitudes, but north of the Arctic Circle, the duration of continuous day and night are shorter. Jade’s journey to the pole will take place in 24 hours day- Ice Language light every day. The geography of polar regions and understanding The North Pole is reached by walking across the the movements of the ice, sea and wind are impor- frozen Arctic Circle. tant areas for understanding the diversity of natural © ATOM 2016
5 environments, particularly those as relatively un- touched as the north and south pole regions.
Pressure Ridge – formed when two drifting slabs of sea ice, called floes, collide with so much force they create rugged ice shards several metres above and below the water line. This formation is Wildlife in the Arctic region seen at several points in the documentary. Apart from polar bears, whose tracks are seen Open Water Leads – the gap between ice floes at one stage by the expeditioners, there is other that cannot be skied over. Seen in the documen- wildlife in the Arctic Circle. But one creature you tary as a feature to be negotiated. won’t see in the North Pole is the penguin as they live in the South Pole. Several species of flying Negative or positive drift – Negative drift is when penguin-like birds called auks, guillemots, and puf- the wind and ocean currents push the expedition- fins can be seen in the Arctic Circle, though. Orca, ers away from the North Pole. Positive drift pushes humpback and Beluga whales can also be found them towards the North Pole. in the Arctic. The arctic fox and reindeer live on the fringes of the Arctic Circle.
The Filmmakers Stages of the journey Key Crew While the 150-kilometre trek across the ice to the On Thin Ice: Jade’s Polar Dream is a Jade Productions film for National North Pole is planned to take Jade, Paul and Eric Geographic Channels. The production was supported by Film Victoria and approximately 12 days, careful preparation of all Screen Australia. aspects of the journey and reasonable or at least not ferocious weather conditions are what will result Writer/Producer/Director Wayne Dyer in a successful expedition. Executive Producer Daryl Talbot On page 7 of this guide there is a chart – Table Narrator Jessica Whittaker 1 - you can use for notetaking as you watch the documentary. Later you could fill out the third col- Director of Photography Petter Nyquist umn with details about a holiday trip you have been on, either in Australia or overseas. The first one has Additional Cameras Dom Farrell, Mick Purdy, Rod been done for you as an example. Campbell, Scott James © ATOM 2016
Editor Andrew Wilson Later in the guide there are post-viewing questions about the different stages of Jade’s journey. 6 Table 1 Jade’s Polar My trip to Bali Dream
Preparations Preparations
Training Jade lifts weights, endurance trains by hauling heavy Saving money, booking tickets, buying new weights, runs, swims and builds up her general fitness swim gear. intensively for 12 months.
Luggage – contents and weight
Companions
Getting there Getting there
Means of transport to destination
Specialist local guides
Means of travelling around destination
Accommodation Accommodation
Essentials for trip Essentials for trip
Clothing
Food
Any special equipment
Conditions Conditions
Weather and expected temperatures
Unexpected hazards or possible dangers to be aware of
Wildlife
Scenery
Daily Routine Daily Routine
Social Activities
Communications with family and friends at home
Days away © ATOM 2016 The Best Bits, reflecting The Best Bits, reflecting and and recording memories recording the memories 7 »» CLOSE VIEWING Svalbard in Norway – Last QUESTIONS minute preparations What is the group going to eat during the Preparations trek? How many calories will they need to ingest daily to keep up their stamina? Training What problem arises about being able to fly How will Jade, her father, guide Paul and their in to Barneo, the temporary Russian ice base cameraman move across the ice? where planes can land?
For how long have Jade and her father Paul How does Jade spend her time in Svalbard been preparing for this trek? while waiting for the Barneo problem to be resolved? What does Jade know about the physical dis- comforts to expect in walking across frozen What work is finally completed on the ice sta- ice? What does she outline to her fellow stu- tion at Barneo that means they will be able to dents about some of the physical challenges? get to the next place on their journey?
Apart from being physically prepared and Why are delays such as Jade and Paul face strong enough to pull her sled across dif- so critical for people planning a trek to a polar ficult terrain, what does Jade believe will be region? one of the most demanding challenges of the expedition? Read about Eric Phillips’ North Pole ice treks at this site https://icetrek.com/ Motivation Apart from being physically How many days do the trekkers – Jade, Paul Who has stimulated and encouraged Jade’s and Eric - have to complete their 150-kilome- sense of adventure? prepared and tre journey? strong enough What challenges has her father Paul set and to pull her sled What will happen if they are unable to make achieved for himself? the trek in this time frame? across difficult What early experiences as a baby do her par- terrain, what On the trek to the Pole ents believe may have contributed to Jade’s does Jade believe strong determination to live life to the full? How many kilometres do they need to cover will be one of the daily to make their deadline? Read the information on Jade’s website at most demanding http://www.jadehameister.com and find out challenges of the What is the dangerous obstacle that they more about what has inspired Jade to pursue expedition? encounter early on in the trek? adventures and challenge herself. How do pressure ridges form on the ice sheet, What other polar adventures is she intending creating dangerous shards and what is the to take in the next 12 months? best way to get across this uneven surface dragging a 50 kilo sled? What do you think is the key character trait exhibited by Jade and others with an adven- Time coded sequence at 19.47 – turous spirit? 22.59 - Beauty, Danger and Thin Ice Pain, cold and pushing on What are some of the beautiful features of the What painful condition is Paul operated on in icy landscape that Paul points out to Jade? the hours leading up to the departure date for What are the sounds on the ice and how is the polar trek? this ‘symphony’ created? How does Eric get them across the freezing How might this surgery make it more difficult open water created by the ice floes? for him to undertake the journey and the trek Now that Eric is across this freezing waterway, across the ice? how do Jade and Paul follow? © ATOM 2016 How do they all feel after navigating this Why is he so determined to push through his waterway? own discomfort? 8 What do they learn on Day 4 from Victor What does this sequence of scrambling Serov, camp manager at Barneo, their starting through rough icy terrain dragging sleds dem- point for the trek? onstrate about the persistence, strength and resilience of Jade and her father? How is Jade feeling at this point in the trek? How does Eric’s encouragement and experi- How do the wind and ocean currents either ence help them all move with safety and care help or hinder their progress towards the through the conditions? pole? What could go wrong as they navigate their What energises Jade on the trek and keeps way with their sleds through the almost im- her going? penetrable ice rubble?
What do the tracks they find tell them about 90 degrees north - The most the possible danger on the ice sheet? northerly people in the world
Keeping on keeping on Apart from day 11 being ‘pole day’, what other good news makes the final stage of the How are Paul’s difficulties managing his post- trip even better for them all? operative pain affecting him and Jade? Jade is the youngest person, male or fe- What contact is she able to make with her male… to have skied to the North Pole from mother and brother back in Australia after 3 150 kilometres away. How good would this weeks away? What technology makes this make her feel? Who is she able to share this possible? How important is this brief satellite moment with? contact for all the family? How does Jade reflect on this experience now What comforts does Jade find in the tent after that they have made it well within the set time a day’s trekking? frame?
Time coded sequence at 36.39 – How important is it that she has completed 38.47- ‘The worst we’ve had for this trek in 2016? What does she suspect sure’- Eric Philips might happen to the thin ice of the Arctic © ATOM 2016 Ocean in the next few years? How have the weather conditions changed overnight and made the trek even more Limits are illusions that we create to protect demanding? ourselves from ourselves – Jade’s brother 9 What are some of the time constraints imposed by seasonal conditions in remote areas? Investigate the different travel and shipping companies providing a wide range of Polar excursions
Flying over the Poles on a jet plane has recently become a means by which people reluctant or unable to brave the extreme weather conditions can at least see some- thing of the terrain. Investigate these polar flights online.
2. Polar explorers
Who was the first person to reach the North Pole from outside the Arctic Region? When Kane’s response to his sister’s achievement. did this occur? What do you understand this to mean in the context of Jade’s achievement? See this Wiki site for a timeline and a range of maps about Arctic and polar exploration Identify what you most enjoyed about this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_exploration story. In what ways might Jade’s remark- able journey provide inspiration for working In what ways have technologies developed in through challenges in your life? the last 100 years transformed many aspects of adventure travel and particularly polar travels? »» EXTENSION ACTIVITIES 3. Wildlife Select one or more of the following activities to extend your understanding of the Arctic region. Investigate the varieties of wildlife that live in the North Pole region and the surrounding 1. Going to the Poles lands. Investigate the Adventure Tourism is becoming increasingly popu- varieties of List the wildlife and find pictures of them lar amongst people who are keen to experience the wildlife that either on websites or in library books. realities of life in other places. While Jade’s expedi- tion is more like Extreme Adventuring, places such live in the North Write about how their habitat is being as the polar regions and other remote and sparsely Polar region and changed through both climate change and the populated places are become more accessible to the surrounding people living in and visiting the region. people. lands. Use whatever resources you can find, includ- Enter the words ‘Polar Excursions’ into a ing the one listed here search engine and see what you can find out about opportunities for travelling to and http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/ spending time in places that are literally ‘off where_we_work/arctic/wildlife/ the beaten track’. Alternatively, you could investigate the travel Make sure to click on The People and Wildlife section of a weekend newspaper or visit a lo- tab to understand how local communities live cal travel agency to collect information about with wildlife. travelling to the Poles or other adventure destinations. 4. The locals
Apart from walking across the frozen land- While the region is quite sparsely populated, there scape dragging a 50 kilo sled, what other are people still living in the lands around the Arctic means of travelling are available to people Circle. wanting to visit the polar regions? Who lives in the Arctic Region? © ATOM 2016 Why do many people now see it as impera- tive to make such journeys as soon as they Who are the Indigenous peoples of the possibly can? region? 10 What work are they involved in and where »» RESOURCES AND do they live? See: http://www.arcticcen- REFERENCES tre.org/EN/communications/arcticregion/ Arctic-Indigenous-Peoples Jade Hameister’s website includes a map of her North Pole trek and quite a lot of information and 5. Jade Hameister’s ongoing drive pictures about Jade and her dreams. to empower young women to http://www.jadehameister.com think big. Get inspired by this program to invent and change Jade’s TEDx talk- More Than We Appear, was your own and other people’s lives recorded in Melbourne in August, 2016. After girlsinvent.com.au Jade returned home from her successful trek, she delivered a talk about her experience and belief in Jade’s TEDx talk on YouTube at https://www.you- the importance of girls challenging themselves to tube.com/watch?v=eMXQ6ebbC1c achieve their dreams – to go for more in life, not Polar Guide Eric Philips’ website at https://icetrek. less. com/ Watch her 10-minute talk at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=eMXQ6ebbC1c Thomas Ulrich’s Polar Trekking website with a number of remarkable images of the Arctic region. What expectations does Jade have for young http://www.thomasulrich.com/en/northpole-last- women to challenge themselves ’to do’ rather degree.html than just ‘be’? A detailed account of the North Pole, including What are some of the things Jade believes information on Polar history, annual temperature hold many young women back from ‘going charts and the politics of the pole for it’? What social and economic factors in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Pole our society do you think inhibit young women from pursuing activities that have traditionally Information about the North Pole and the politics of been the province of males? oil exploration beneath the Arctic Ocean http://www.today.com/news/10-things-you-never- This talk also offers more information about knew-about-north-pole-1C7657750 Jade’s North Pole trek. How will the two other ice adventures she is taking on in 2017 differ Peter Wadhams, A Farewell to Ice: A Report from from this first one and build on her 2016 expe- the Arctic, Penguin, September, 2016 rience trekking to the North Pole? This recently published book details scientist Peter Wadham’s estimates about how much longer Investigate the Girls Invent website at girlsin- there will be an ice sheet on the Arctic Ocean thick vent.com.au which describes a program now enough to allow human and other traffic to move operating in more than 30 schools in Victoria across it. where girls can get assistance and encour- https://www.penguin.co.uk/ agement to promote their inventions and turn books/273799/a-farewell-to-ice/9780241009420 dreams into viable businesses. Lookout for the ‘roll-on bandage’. © ATOM 2016
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