You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Ambassador Max
Kia ora,
My name is Max Bear. I come from Firth School in Matamata in the North Island. I feel very lucky to be going on the Antarctic field trip! Not many people go down to this amazing frozen land.
I have just returned from the LEARNZ kea field trip which was great fun and good training for Antarctica because we went up into the snowy mountains. I wonder if I will see any birds down in Antarctica when we are out learning about sea ice?
I'm off to pack my warm clothes.
Chat soon,
Max.
Tuesday 27 October
Kia ora,
It was such an amazing flight down to Antarctica and I can’t believe I am now living at Scott Base! We flew over sea ice for nearly two hours before arriving in McMurdo Sound. Climbing on to the aircraft was like stepping into a freezer, the air temperature was about -20 and with the wind it felt much colder. At least I had all my warm gear.
It is so cool having constant daylight. We can still go for a walk at midnight but it does make it hard to sleep. We have shutters on the window, which darkens the room.
I can’t wait to go out to the K131 field camp, we’ve done our skidoo training and we’re ready to go.
See you out there,
Max.
Wednesday 28 October
Kia ora,
We have been so lucky with the weather so far on this trip. We had another beautiful cold sunny day and made the most of it by racing out to the K131 field camp on skidoos.
I met some of the science team and helped them scoop ice out of the hole they had melted through the sea ice. They need to keep this hole free of ice so they can measure how cold and salty the sea water is.
Well, after travelling all the way back to Scott Base I’m pretty tired so I’ll say good-bye.
Max.
Thursday 29 October
Tēnā koutou,
I was quite happy to stay around Scott Base today as I was rather tired after our big day out yesterday. We met some of the other K131 scientists and saw the ice cores they have collected. They have to work in a -22 degree freezer which was really cold!
To warm up we headed out for a walk up Crater Hill. At the top we could see out over the sea ice in McMurdo Sound and I think I managed to point out where the K131 field camp is.
Tomorrow we are heading back out to the camp to help out.
See you there,
Max.
Friday 30 October
Kia ora,
We have had really settled weather down here in Antarctica but part of me is curious to know what a big storm would be like. Today we were out and about and helped the scientists drill holes in the sea ice, recover the temperature probe and collect ice cores.
I saw a group of three Weddell seals lying out on the sea ice near a crack. These seals are huge! We weren’t allowed to go over to them because we might disturb them. It would be so cool if we had seen a penguin.
Tonight we are staying at the field camp.
Bye for now,
Max.
Monday 2 November
Kia ora,
I felt very special today because I caught up with Brett Grant, who is Mrs Johnson’s son. I travelled to Antarctica with Brett a few years ago so it was great to see what he has been up to. He has such a cool job travelling around on boats and to places like Antarctica. Brett makes sure all the science equipment is working and helps the scientists.
It was quite a special feeling camping out on sea ice – not many people can say they have done that!
I can’t believe we only have one more day down here in Antarctica. Best I go to sleep now so I can make the most of it.
Bye for now,
Max.
Tuesday 3 November
Hi everyone,
I am quite sad that our time in Antarctica has come to an end. At least we had good weather today to make the most of our last day. We headed back out to the K131 field camp and caught up with Gabby. She has been taking some amazing photos of the sea ice platelets and painting them. I didn't realise that ice could be so beautiful.
When we arrived back at Scott Base I helped out Inga and Greg by cutting thin sections of ice core. I became really cold though because they work in a -22 degree cold lab.
I have to go and pack now so I’ll see you when I arrive back in New Zealand.
See you soon,
Max.
Max at Porter's Ski Area during the Kea field trip. Image: LEARNZ.
Max learns to ride a skidoo on sea ice. Image: LEARNZ.
Max helps scientists remove platelet ice from a hole they have made in the sea ice. Image: LEARNZ.
Max admires the view from the top of Crater Hill. Image: LEARNZ.
Max checks the temperature probe data logger out on the sea ice. Image: LEARNZ.
Max catches up with Brett, the ocenography technician out at the K131 field camp. Image: LEARNZ.
Max helps Slinki Malinki shave ice off a thin section of ice core in the cold lab at Scott Base. Image: LEARNZ.
Max says farewell to Scott Base. Image: LEARNZ.