Hurtigruten is encouraging little explorers to discover Antarctica with the launch of its Young Explorers Program. The program, designed specifically for children ages 7-13 sailing on Antarctica Discovery Style voyages aboard the MS Midnatsol between November 2016 and March 2017, utilizes age-appropriate field research, games, re-enactments and lectures to provide kids with hands-on experiences and the chance to learn more about the environments they will encounter on their journey.
Upon embarkation, children are greeted by the Young Explorer Program staff and receive a field note workbook containing chapters focusing on science, polar history, photography and nautical studies. The Young Explorer Program features science lessons that will take place in the science center (which is also open to adults), where children will look into the biology and geology of the Southern Ocean through actual field samples, as well as polar history activities, including a re-creation of the Amundsen party reaching the South Pole. Professional photographers will be on board to give photography lessons, while navigation officers are on hand to help teach nautical basics. For a more hands-on experience, kid’s can assist the Expedition Team set up the landing site before passengers go ashore, which may involve digging snow steps, carrying emergency equipment from the boat, placing flags and cones for path making, or standing post by a penguin colony with Expedition Team members.
Each lesson completed in the workbook earns young explorers one stamp. After completing the workbook kid’s earn a prize and an official certificate. The Young Explorers Program is available on all six of Hurtigruten’s Antarctica itineraries aboard the MS Midnatsol, including the 18-day Legendary Magellan Chilean Fjords and Antarctica, starting at $7,728, and the 16-day Discover Patagonia & Antarctica, starting at $6,666. For more information, call (877) 301-3117 or visit hurtigruten.us.
