A GROUP of North Lanarkshire teenagers have returned from a once in a lifetime expedition in Greenland.

 

The 10 teenagers, who range from 15 to 17-years-old, arrived at Glasgow Airport for an emotional family reunion after spending 10 days away braving temperatures of minus 15 degrees.

After almost a year of training and preparation, the group trekked through the wilderness hauling their own 45kg sledges, camping on sea ice and conducting experiments for European Space Agency as part of The Polar Academy charity .

Charity founder, Craig Mathieson, accompanied the team across the difficult terrain and pushed the youngsters to their limits.

Mr Mathieson said: "It was fantastic, they have done themselves proud, their families proud and The Polar Academy proud.

"It was difficult and that is what we wanted - to push them.

"I have got 10 unstoppable teenagers with me now.

"We aim to turn the kids into role models for their peers and it has been a success.

"These 10 kids have grown up in the last week, we have seen changes every single day.

"They will be speaking to 24,000 people in North Lanarkshire about the expedition."

Chief executive of leading outdoor specialist Tiso, Chris Tiso, who also provided kit for journey, was amazed at the difference in the teens.

He said: "What I see is a group of kids with vitality about them that was not there before.

"Before they were quite quiet, quite reserved and now there is this confidence about them and a camaraderie that they will have for years."

The teenagers, from Coltness High School and St Aidan's High School, still had time to take in some of the spectacular sights, including the northern lights - an experience which pupil, Rihannon Walker, said was "out of this world."

The 17-year-old added: "Sleeping under the northern lights was probably my highlight.

"Just popping my head out the tent that night was just unreal.

"The experience was just amazing.

"I'll never forget the phone call I had with my mum on the satellite phone.

"She was just crying and telling me how proud she was of me."

The Coltness High pupil also said the experience has helped her gain confidence, which she used throughout her university application process and has since received a conditional offer for veterinary medicine.

Paul Shuttleworth, from St Aidan's High School, plans to use the experience to help further his dream of studying geology.

The 15-year-old said: "It was an amazing experience and it's going to look great on my CV.

"Most people are going to have things like Duke Of Edinburgh on their CV but not a lot of people will be able to say they completed a 10 day expedition across Greenland."

Mr Mathieson will be taking The Polar Academy to schools across the country in search of recruits for his next expedition next year.