THE CAMPFIRE British Exploring Society members magazine

Spring 2019

“The only low point I can think of was being bitten by hundreds of mosquitos” Amina Smith-Gul on her expedition last summer to the Amazon

“I think I’m grateful overall for having subconsciously blanked out chicken supreme from most of the last 40 years” Former Young Explorer from our Norway’79 expedition WELCOME TO THE CAMPFIRE

Since 1932 over 11,000 Young Explorers and Leaders have participated in expeditions with us around the world. Our members are a diverse group of people. You are a collective of individuals who, through your adventures together, have forged friendships for life and become part of a unique community with shared experiences, values and perspectives on the world.

With this magazine, we want to provide a community space for members, celebrating members, with content from members. We want to encourage you to share your adventures, past, current and future.

We also want to keep you up to date with what’s happening here, as many of you have told us you have a continued interest long after your expedition.

We hope you enjoy your first edition of The Campfire.

Honor Wilson-Fletcher CEO British Exploring Society

What’s in your magazine

Over the page you can read about what’s been happening recently at British Exploring Society. And on page eight, we ask for your views on what membership with us means to you.

You’re introduced to Amina on page four, an inspirational young woman who visited the Amazon rainforest last year, who shares details of her experience. On page five you can meet our most recent Chief Leader to the Yukon, Bruce Manning, as he shares some of his experiences from expeditions over the last decade.

On page seven you can watch the videos our talented Media Leaders produced from our expeditions to the Peruvian Amazon, the Indian Himalaya and the Canadian Yukon, last summer.

You’ll find information on page nine about the retail discounts you’re entitled to as British Exploring Society member, and if you’re up for a challenge this summer than look no further than page 10.

On page six we say thanks to you, our members. Some of you recently responded to our first fundraising campaign and offered some excellent words of advice and encouragement for our Young Explorers soon to depart on expedition, and we wanted to share some excerpts from these with you.

On page 11, you can find out about how some of you have been busy organising reunion events. Members from Newfoundland’69 are planning a get-together this summer in the lake district, a whopping half-century on from their expedition. Members from Norway’79 are similarly planning a reunion, but are looking to venture back to the location they visited on expedition.

Explorers cooking around the campfire, on one of our earliest expeditions Roald Dahl, Newfoundland’34

Cover: Young Explorers enjoying a campfire Ben Watts, Yukon’18 WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING

Infinity UK Explorers

We’re finally setting sail. How many first part of the expedition began Sticking to the theme of firsts, our of you are sailors as well as hikers on land with us leading the young Expedition team have been hard at and climbers? people across Dartmoor. They spent work planning for our first ever UK three nights and four days on land based expedition. The programme We are delivering, in partnership before joining Jubilee Sailing Trust will take 40 young people on with Jubilee Sailing Trust, one of the aboard one of their unique tall ships’ expedition in the Scottish Highlands most ambitious youth development SV Tenacious at Poole, Dorset and in the Spring, and another 40 in the programmes in the world; a multi- embarked on a six-day challenge Autumn. year expedition programme for at sea. disabled and non-disabled Young The UK Explorers programme is Explorers. Combined with Jubilee Sir Ben Ainsle, Olympic sailor and designed to be an accessible first Sailing Trust, we have over 125 supporter of British Exploring Society, step into an expedition environment. years’ experience in creating and had this to say about Infinity. Following feedback from our delivering personal development Leaders and in pursuit of our through adventure – Jubilee Sailing “I started sailing in a duffle strategy for broader inclusion, the Trust at sea, and us in deserts, coat and wellies as a child. programme is predominately aimed mountains, jungles and the arctic. I couldn’t have known then at young people aged 14-17 from Both of us understand the value that what my adult life was schools and youth organisations. comes from offering young people going to be like. You never This nine-day programme will offer genuinely challenging experiences in know what can happen. young people an opportunity to gain new and demanding environments. Infinity offers an incredible further experience in the outdoors opportunity for young and valuable training for those Last November, 28 courageous people to discover a real who might want to join one of our Young Explorers (comprising of 16-18- taste for adventure as well international expeditions in the future. year olds, non-disabled and disabled as a life-changing challenge students from Westminster academy that can influence their Did you take part on Expeditionary and students from Bristol City Council, entire future. Infinity will year in 2017/2018? If so, our thanks VICTA & REACH) embarked on define lives - like sailing as a go out to you as your experience an educational land and sea pilot child transformed mine.” and feedback helped shape UK expedition ahead of the Infinity Sir Ben Ainslie, Olympic sailor Explorers. programme launch this summer. The

AN IDEA BORN FOUR DECADES AGO

“Another possibility was a short future in accordance with the best is remarkably similar to the idea our (three-week) low cost Easter traditions of the Society.” Chairman, Mr Derek Jackson, had expedition to NW Scotland for almost 40 years ago. Thank you the 14 ½ to 16 ½ year age group. It This excerpt is taken directly from the Derek, and sorry it’s taken us this would take the name of B.S.E.S.* Chairman’s report following our 1981 long! into more schools and at a younger AGM. Amazingly, the programme age, thus helping to build for the we are now launching, UK Explorers, *British Schools Exploring Society, our former name OUR STORIES An interview with Amina Smith-Gul, Amazon Explorer 2018

Amina, 20, faced a series of serious Q&A as I was constantly doing something. I feel more encouraged about life. “I realised that the Aminas’ key worker Tameeka says: challenges in her young life, which The only low point I can think of I recognised the skills I have now, “To say that she is a changed young left her homeless and contemplating What motivated you to go on an was being bitten by hundreds of like emotional intelligence. I can destination is always lady is an understatement. She said suicide. With support from her youth expedition? mosquitoes! contextualise things and use effective it was the best experience she has centre, Amina, from South London, Before I left for the Amazon there communication skills when dealing pleasing despite not ever had”. joined us through our Ambassador was lots of chaos in my life; I wasn’t What did you learn? with others. Explorer programme. organised, and I wasn’t clear about I learned mapping skills, pacing and knowing where you Amina, who described her life what my next steps would be. Life mammal traps, camera traps and What does the future hold for you? will end up. I feel previously as “chaos”, has completely The programme works with school was happening, but I felt like I didn’t lots of things about the Amazon such I want to keep developing myself turned things around for herself. As groups and partners to make taking have control. I thought I might as as the different canopies and the and focus on my goals. I will start my more encouraged well as being an ambassador for us part in expeditions possible for those well as I probably wouldn’t get the animals that live in the Jungle. own business shortly; I want to work through our Duke of York Explorer from disadvantaged communities. opportunity again. in sports and mental health and about life.” programme, she also works for the What have you taken away from wellbeing. I would like to combine charity Black Minds Matter and has Last summer Amina visited the What was your favourite moment? the experience? these three to find different ways to change their lives for the better. I am been selected to sit on the FA Youth Peruvian Amazon with us and My happiest moment was watching When I got back from the Amazon, I help others. a better person because of it. I have Council. now joins the thousands of other the sunrise, surrounded by trees, realised how much calmer I am and realised that life is about choices and members that make up the core of animals, the seabed and the marvels how much resiliance I have. I am Any last thoughts? I am in control of my own life and British Exploring Society, like you. of nature. more driven and focused, I know to This experience was life-changing destiny. keep on pushing despite not knowing for me. I hope more people support Watch Amina’s And your low point? where I am going. I realised that the this programme because I think so I didn’t have many low points destination is always pleasing despite many opportunities can be created story because I didn’t have time to think not knowing where you will end up. and so many young people could OUR STORIES An interview with Bruce Manning, Yukon Chief Leader 2018

Bruce is one of our longest standing to enlightened teachers who took “Over several years And your low point? What have you taken away from “An expedition can expedition leaders, having led me skiing, rock climbing, caving, An expedition can be a powder keg the experience? with us for over a decade. He is an diving and mountaineering. Family I have seen first- of emotions and fears. My personal Over several years I have seen be a powder keg exceptional Chief Leader and a commitments kept me close to home lowest point has been when the first-hand that we can and do make great champion of our work, and his for many years but as my children hand that we can relationship with other leaders has a huge difference to the young of emotions and support for, and commitment to, our grew up I was able to broaden my broken down. Fortunately this has people we set out to help. This is cause is admirable and unwavering. horizons and travel further afield. This and do make a huge only happened to me once. It is also an immediate effect but it is also fears.” And with eight expeditions with led me to an Arctic adventure race difference to the sad when it becomes necessary to important to allow it to continue over us under his belt, he has plenty where I met a young Welsh woman send an Explorer home for medical future decades. I am still contacted from stepping forward. I will be of material and experience to who suggested I might like to lead young people we reasons. Expeditions are challenging by Explorers from more than ten happy to take more supporting draw from to help him answer our for the British Exploring Society. This but teach us all to manage adversity. years ago asking for advice and roles and to encourage new blood. questions. chance meeting opened up a lot set out to help.” references. Being retired from my more adventure for me but also the What did you learn? professional life I am happy to help Any last thoughts? opportunity to use my professional assent of a North facing glacier They say you can’t teach an old dog and it continues to bolster my sense British Exploring has meant a lot to Q&A project management skills with in Zanskar. I was leading a rope new tricks. Whilst there is some truth of worth. me over several years and I hope young people, sharing some of the with four Explorers and a second in that, in as much as we come to to continue my involvement for What motivated you to go on an things my teachers had taught me. group was led by a leader now in rely more on experience to guide What does the future hold for you? many more. Being made a Fellow expedition? Antarctica. As we finally rounded this us, I am constantly learning new I am not ready to hang up my boots last year was a great honour and I I’ve climbed and mountaineered What was your favourite moment? very remote summit we were more approaches to encourage Explorers just yet. Nevertheless, I am very now need to discover how best to on and off all my life enjoying the There are many moments that than surprised to meet a group of and Leaders on the road to self- aware that I cannot carry on for ever support the Society as my physical sharing of adventure and wild I could choose that were my Trainee Leaders coming up from the development. Much of this comes and that whilst I take senior roles involvement with expeditions places with like-minded people. “favourite” in different ways. I South side. from initiatives developed by the such as Chief Leader on expeditions wanes. This love began at school thanks remember making a challenging Office Team. I may be preventing younger people THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE We recently sent out our first fundraising campaign These messages will help build their confidence as they young people but your words of encouragement and to you, our members, and received some generous embark on their own journeys. We wanted to share wisdom will help settle those butterflies... responses. As a charity, we are dependent on the good some of our favourite quotes from you, as they are too will and generosity of our members and supporters. In good not to. addition to the donations we received, all of which will help start more Young Explorers on their journey, many of Thank you to all of you who responded to our you took the time to compose inspirational messages of fundraising campaign and sent back messages. encouragement for 2019’s Explorers. Departing on expedition can be a daunting time for

“This experience is life-enriching “There will be physical and “Take every opportunity that – making you realise how far emotional challenges to face is offered to you and make the you can push yourself (a lot and you will find that you most of what will be one of the further than you think).” have the inner strength to best experiences of your life.” Explorer, Arctic Sweden’66 overcome these.” Unknown (if this was you then please Explorer, Arctic Scandinavia’61 let us know) EXPEDITION VIDEOS

The Peruvian Amazon The Indian Himalaya The Canadian Yukon

Producer/Editor: Emma Brennard Producer/Editor: Sian Lewis Producer/Editor: Ben Sullivan Expedition: Amazon 2018 Expedition: Himalaya 2018 Expedition: Yukon 2018 Position: Media Leader Position: Media Leader Position: Media Leader

Emma is a journalist, photographer & documentary Sian is an award-winning travel and outdoors journalist Ben is a professional science and technology journalist, filmmaker with a passion for wildlife conservation and who writes for titles including The Independent, having worked internationally for several magazines outdoor education. She has a PhD in Environmental Evening Standard, BBC Countryfile magazine and and newspapers since graduating in journalism from Chemistry and since graduating has worked in science Coast. She is also the editor of Active Traveller University College Falmouth in 2011. communication across a range of media platforms. magazine and author of The Girl Outdoors. Expedition highlight: Watching the sunrise at 4am Expedition highlight: Watching the excitement on the Expedition highlight: Living and working as part of one from the top of a mountain - you could tell just how Explorers faces when they found a sloth in their latrine. big team, getting to experience the highs and lows special the moment was from the look on all the Young with an amazing, supportive group of Leaders and Explorers faces. Next Adventure: Emma has 96 of the 214 Wainwrights left Young Explorers. to summit, so will be working her way through them this Next Adventure: Ben hopes to be heading off to canoe year. She’s also keen to see ptarmigans in Scotland this Next Adventure: Sian has recently been trekking in the Nordics, and is returning as a leader again this year with their winter plumage. through Chiles Atacama Desert and next hopes to summer, this time heading to the Himalaya. cycle across parts of Japan.

Share my adventure You, our members, are of different ages and from different athlete interested in marathons or triathlons - would branded mugs to give away, so share your thoughts backgrounds. However, since participating on expedition you consider fundraising on our behalf? Whether it’s an to be in with a chance of winning one. with us, you have become part of a community filled with interest in organising a reunion, advocating on our behalf, other like-minded volunteers who share life-changing fundraising for us, or you just want to stay in touch, we JOIN US personal experiences. would like to open the door to you and hear your thoughts and ideas. One of our aims in our five-year strategy ‘Advance and Ascend’ is to ‘Foster our network of passionate, committed We would like membership with us to be special and of AROUND and technically-able volunteers and members’. So, we value to you. We want ours to be a community where you would like to invite you to join us around the campfire and can come together, help one another and see the benefit consider how you might like to get involved. of being involved. We appreciate our members active involvement with us, whether you went on expedition three Do you often find yourself reminiscing about your or 30 years ago. THE expedition experience - about the places you visited, the friendships you made or the things you learned? And of course, we would love to hear your thoughts on Perhaps you have considered advocating on our behalf, your first members magazine; what you’ve enjoyed, what representing us at school events, helping us find the next you haven’t enjoyed, what you’d like to see more of? Our Share my thoughts CAMPFIRE generation of Young Explorers? Or maybe you are an CEO, Honor, has handed over a small number of our newly MEMBER DISCOUNTS

We are excited to announce Páramo And as a reminder, as a member as our official kit partner for the of British Exploring Society you are third season in a row. Thanks to entitled to discounts at several other the continued partnership, you can outdoor clothing and equipment benefit from heavily reduced prices suppliers, including Cotswold across the whole range of Páramo Outdoors, Snow+Rock and Runners products. With the discount offered World. Visit our website to see what to you, their prices work out to be discounts are available to you, and roughly 40% off retail price, which contact us if you would like us to is a significant saving for such high- send you details on how to access quality kit. Below you will find a list them.. of prices and can make an order by calling 0189 278 6446.

Paramo discounts

Enjoying a warm brew Sian Lewis, Himalaya Fancy a challenge this summer but not sure what? behavioural, physical, or mental health issues, and We’ve got you covered. We have a limited number of young people with disabilities. places available for this years’ RideLondon 100-mile route around central London and Surrey, taking place We would support you with a fundraising pack, which CHALLENGE 4th August. would include some promotional posters, a fundraising guide offering inspiration and proven fundraising ideas Your journey will commence at the Olympic park, to help you meet your pledge, as well as a British then follows a 100-mile route on closed roads through Exploring Society branded technical t-shirt. YOURSELF the capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside. You’ll take in some of London’s most iconic landmarks, If you would like to take part in this year’s event, before finishing on The Mall by Buckingham Palace. contact Sam, our Membership Officer, or visit our website to find out more information. We ask that you pledge to raise £450 on our behalf, THIS and there is a £25 registration fee to secure your place. Your pledge will help support some of the most disadvantaged young people on the margins of society, to have an expedition experience like yours. Find out SUMMER This includes young people in foster care, leaving Apply care, not in education or employment, those with more A CLASSIC RECIPE

We love it when we hear from reminiscences. A particular highlight you about your adventures since was on the topic of food (of course!), expedition, especially when it after one of the members managed involves one another. to find and share a copy of the rations list they took on their original From time to time we learn about expedition. reunion events you are planning, such as the one Newfoundland’69 members are arranging. They are “What a tremendous hosting an impressive get-together reminder of our this summer in the Lake District, a whopping half-century after their rations. I had expedition. forgotten the ubiquity of the oxo Chris Thorp and Chris Grace have been taking the lead on this reunion cube. and have worked tirelessly, having almost unanimous interest in people One commented “What a wanting to attend, and the numbers tremendous reminder of our rations; I have just grown and grown. They’ve had forgotten the ubiquity of the Oxo managed to get in touch with 72 cube. Conversely, I think I’m grateful members, with 37 planning to attend. overall for having subconsciously blanked out chicken supreme from We can’t wait to hear more and if most of the last 40 years. I suspect I any of you are going along, perhaps might not be alone in that regard.” you can give us an update about how it’s gone? Suffice it to say, we don’t think the group were keen on replicating Some go even further afield. their original rations for the reunion Members from Norway’79 are trip! And if you’re going on this trip, currently planning a return to the likewise, we’d love to hear more Lygen Alps and their old stomping from you. grounds. We have been fortunate enough to be involved in some of the conversations about this reunion, and it’s been amazing to witness their

Explorers and Leaders warming themselves around a campfire Fred Babcock, Norway’79 You’ve witnessed first-hand how If you know someone who might be transformational an experience an interested in starting their own journey, tell expedition with us can be. You shared them to get in touch with us or visit our SHARE amazing sights, learned about yourself website, where they can find out more and may have made friends for life. information and apply. Perhaps you know someone who could benefit from the same experience – a child, sibling, niece or nephew maybe? YOUR Now’s your chance to share the experience.

Places are now available on our summer OWN 2020 expeditions to the mountaineous Indian Himalaya and the wilds of the JOURNEY Canadian Yukon. NEXT ISSUE SUMMER 2019