Everest Rescue Trust Launches Kids Adventure Progr

For immediate release

Everest Rescue Trust Launches Kids Adventure Programme

NZ Schools join global interactive campaign to learn about Nepal and Everest while following the Rescue on Everest Challenge at www.rescueoneverest.org

Auckland, New Zealand, 13 March 2007: Today, the Everest Rescue Trust launches its Kids Adventure distance learning programme for kids. In consultation with New Zealand education authorities, the Trust has developed a comprehensive and interactive schools project to run in tandem with the Rescue on Everest challenge. The schools project is based on established curricular modules tailored to students aged between eight and twelve. Combining learning with adventure and challenge, the project has been enthusiastically endorsed by teachers and students during pre-launch school trials. Participating students choose their own unique ID and password to access the site.

“We wanted to give children an opportunity to actively get involved in what we are doing. Through the Schools Programme we also want to inspire a sense of adventure in children again as well as encourage global interaction with other kids their own age,” said Trevor Rogers, Founding Trustee of the Everest Rescue Trust.

The schools project is available free of charge to all primary and intermediate English-speaking school-age children (or any other student) around the world. A teacher resource section is available on the site, where teachers can login to view information and answers. The schools project may be viewed at home by children, using their login, allowing their parents to view what is being done and their child's progress. Future plans include translating the programme into foreign languages and developing more advanced project content for inclusion at secondary school level.

The Everest Rescue Trust has also created a challenging educational game called SkyHook for the entertainment of all children. The game strategy is based on the activity of the Trust’s challenge, rescuing injured climbers, cleaning rubbish and litter from the mountains and creating awareness of the harsh conditions of the mountains. Players must overcome difficulties including weather, avalanches, rockfalls, temperature, time and fuel use. A little artistic license is applied in the encounter of a Yeti (Abominable Snowman) and a few other surprises.

“There is deliberately no blood or violence in this game as we want it to be a pleasant interlude in the progress of completing the school project and an adjunct to the learning process,” said Bob Lye, Project Manager of the Rescue on Everest Challenge, “Actually, the game would probably be enjoyed by the parents as well, as it touches a little on the skills involved in flying an actual helicopter.”

About the Rescue on Everest Challenge:

On the 1st of February 2007, the Everest Rescue Trust launched the Rescue on Everest Challenge to design, build and operate a self-funding rescue helicopter service for the extreme altitude regions of Nepal. This humanitarian project aims to save lives on Everest and improve the safety and emergency services in Nepal, while directly benefiting the Nepalese people.

After six years research, development and building of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) TGR Helicorp in East Tamaki New Zealand, has designed and developed an unpiloted full-size alpine rescue helicopter; the Alpine Wasp, which will be able to operate safely and autonomously at altitudes up to and beyond 30,000ft (over 9000m). Most helicopters are not designed to operate above a ceiling of about 14,000ft (4,300m).

The company will be donating the Alpine Wasp to the Everest Rescue Trust. It will be capable of airlifting up to two sick or injured climbers at a time from extreme altitude, using ultra-modern composite technologies, a revolutionary diesel helicopter engine and rotor blades designed especially for maximum performance in thin air. The Alpine Wasp represents a huge leap forward in helicopter performance and technological capability.

The success of this project will increase the Trust’s capability to help other people all over the world. The potential for pushing the boundaries of long range, high altitude rescue is unlimited, it could change the course of modern alpine aviation history.

ENDS

http://www.rescueoneverest.org

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