Awe Inspiring

Over a hundred years ago, Lord Wandsworth College set out to widen the worlds of children whose lives had changed overnight.

 

More than a century on, that desire to inspire remains as strong as ever.

 

LWC students spent part of the October half-term break immersing themselves in two very different countries.

 

First to set off was a group destined for Nepal. Bordered by China and India, this landlocked South Asian country is renowned for its fertile plains and high peaks. Home to the Himalayas, it also has a culturally rich heritage, is multi-ethnic and multi-lingual.

 

Getting to grips with such a diverse country was one of the aims of this trip, supervised by CCF Contingent Leader, Alex Hamilton and LWC’s Head of Outdoor Learning, Richard Lovell.

 

“The purpose was to give the pupils a flavour of what life is like in other countries, to view some incredible sights and to experience a culture that produces a people very proud of their heritage, who are faultlessly generous,” Mr Hamilton explained.

   

Students spent just under two weeks exploring landmarks such as the World Heritage Site at Kathmandu, national parks, temples and taking safari trips into the jungle, where they were able to observe elephants and alligators.

 

Here are a few excerpts from their travel diaries along the way:

 

Piers: “Today we did all kinds of adventurous and interesting things, including catching our first glimpse of the Himalayan Mountains, which gave us quite the view! We then travelled to a religious site where we were able to get an insight into Buddhism. In the afternoon, we went to see a famous waterfall which carries most of the fresh water melted from the mountains. We ended the day paddleboarding at sunset – a personal highlight for me.”

   

Charlie: “Today we travelled from Pokhara to Chitwan and arrived at the Safari Adventure Lodge, where we’ll be staying for two nights. We’ve seen all kinds of animals – spotted deer, alligators, buffalo, boar and some beautiful baby rhino! We captured a stunning view of the sun setting over the distant hills, giving the sky an amazing hazy red colour. We later went to the Tharu Culture Program, where we saw some incredible performances using sticks and Nepalese drums.”

 

Max: “Today we had an early morning hike to a temple and on the way, played football with some Nepalese children. The walk had amazing views and the colourful, intricate carvings on and around the temple were like nothing we have seen before… We had dinner with the monks. It was simple, consisting of steamed bread and a curry dish. It was so different from everything else but I personally loved it.”

     

Nearly five thousand miles north-west, another set of LWC students were arriving in Reykjavik, capital of Iceland – for a trip promising awe and wonder in equal measure.

 

This Nordic island nation is located in the North Atlantic. Sparsely populated, but geologically active, there is nowhere like it on Earth.

 

The itinerary of this trip, led by the LWC Geography Department, set out to reveal the natural beauty and unique physical features of the land of fire and ice.

 

“The trip allowed students to explore Iceland’s dramatic landscapes, including volcanoes, glaciers and ancient sagas, in a way that brings geography to life,” revealed Head of Geography and tour leader, Jan Norgaard.

   

Here are a few glimpses from the trip, courtesy of the group’s travel diary:

 

Day One: “It was a long day, which started for most at 2am, when we met at LWC to travel to the airport.  Not wanting to waste time, we packed in a full day of exploring some truly spectacular sights.

 

“First stop was the Bridge Between the Continents, which illustrates the widening gap between the Eurasian and North American Tectonic plates.

 

“Next was Gunnuhver Hot Springs – a highly active geothermal area, brimming with mud pools and steam vents.

 

“Following the springs, we headed to the cliffs around Reykjanes Lighthouse – the first lighthouse in Iceland, built on Valahnukur in 1878.

   

“The final trip of the day saw us visit a recent lava flow, along with the Raufarholshellor Lava Tube. This showed the inner workings of a volcanic eruption.”

 

Day Two: “We started at Gullfoss Waterfall. This was so impressive that more than one pupil was seen video-calling their parents to share the experience with them!

   

“Next, we headed to the Geysir Geothermal Area, where we were lucky enough to spot some impressive spouts from one of the geysers (Strokkur). 

 

“We followed this by visiting the Hidden Lagoon for a swim in the geothermal baths, rounded off by a walk through Thingvellir National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to Iceland’s annual Parliament until 1798.”

 

A recent study by Lancaster University concluded that school trips enhance curiosity, wonder and desire to learn – truly widening worlds all these years later.