Explorer Benedict Allen Visits Churcher’s

What do piranhas, Arctic blizzards, giant snakes and a shipwreck have in common?

They all featured in the extraordinary stories shared by world-renowned explorer Benedict Allen when he visited Churcher’s College Junior School last week.

Benedict spent time with pupils across different year groups, sharing photographs and stories from his expeditions to some of the world’s most remote environments. From travelling by dog sled and canoe to hunting with indigenous communities, his adventures have taken him to places few people have ever experienced – and sometimes put him in very real danger.

His tales of survival had pupils captivated. They heard about encounters with wildlife, extreme environments and the many occasions when things went seriously wrong, illustrated by some remarkable photographs – including Benedict eating piranhas and wrestling giant snakes!

Benedict’s visit also introduced pupils to his new children’s book, Nine Ways I Nearly Died, aimed at readers aged eight and above. The book brings together nine true stories from his expeditions and pupils were very excited to have their copies signed by the author, at the end of his talk.

But his message went beyond survival stories. Benedict encouraged pupils to be curious, courageous and willing to step outside their comfort zones. He explained that he decided he wanted to become an explorer when he was just 10 years old and encouraged pupils to find their own ways to explore the world around them.

We may not have followed his example by wrestling giant snakes, but Benedict certainly left pupils with plenty to think about – and perhaps a little inspiration for their own adventures.