We're going to the North Pole!

Kizzie, James and Matt in their tent

Eight children from the UK are facing freezing temperatures in the Magnetic North Pole with Polar Quest and the Royal Navy.

Press Packers James, Matt and Kizzie tell us how they got to go on this big adventure.

"We're part of the Polar Watch team, an expedition to the North Pole with the Royal Navy.

We're heading to North-West Canada, in the Arctic Circle, staying there for two weeks, learning about life in the freezing cold!

We will be staying at a small settlement called Resolute Bay. We'll learn to do things like igloo building, polar bear spotting, traditional seal hunting and traditional Inuit activities.

We will then fly to the magnetic north pole to meet the marines, who are walking the whole way!

Survival of the fittest

To be selected for this trip of a lifetime we had to go through a tough selection process.

100 people filled in the application form and 60 of us were chosen to attend a selection day at the Royal Marine's Commando Training Centre at Lympstone.

Once we had got there we had to give a pre-prepared speech in front of everybody, about why we should be picked and what we would add to the team.

During the morning we worked through mental and teambuilding exercises which would gauge our ability for these things.

Survival training in the snow

In the afternoon we completed more physical activities, concluding with a run around the marine camp. These gave the selectors information about our team building skills but also our fitness levels.

Raising their game

Since being selected in May 2005, we have individually raised a minimum of £300 with many of us getting £800-£1000.

We have also been active in group fund raising efforts within the school, and have altogether raised over £25,000, and the money is still coming in!

Click on the link to the side to follow their travels in their online diaries

Braving it below zero

Now that it is getting close to us going to the North Pole we have been doing lots of training.

This has ranged from personal fitness projects set by our P.E teacher expedition leader to a weekend on cold weather activities at Commando Training Centre Lympstone.

Our kit's in and our bags are packed so we're counting down the days until we leave!

None of us can wait to go on this once in a lifetime trip, it's simply too good to miss out on! When we're out there we will, literally, feel on top of the world!

James, 14, Matt, 15 and Kizzie, 14.

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