DIVISIONS II to IV (4-12)

A. General Information
The Training for Everest activity is designed to complement the Stairway to Everest Challenge. Students can participate in the Stairway to Everest Challenge without following Training for Everest, however, it will add an important dimension to the experience.

Training for Everest has been developed in consultation with Les Gramantik, Byron Smith's personal trainer for the climb. Les is Director for Athletics, National Sport Centre, Calgary.

Byron would like to encourage all students, regardless of ability, to make healthy decisions about their lifestyle, such as choosing to include moderate physical activity on a regular basis. Training for Everest is designed to allow participants to set their own training goals. Individuals decide how quickly they meet and adjust their goals, assisted by heart rate monitoring. Byron wants students to challenge their abilities, but not to set unrealistic goals.

Physical training is one more way for students to fully participate in the Everest 2000 Expedition. Students will learn more about the cycles of physical training for an athlete, and will understand the commitment that Byron has had to make for the expedition.

In the following phases, students will be engaged in experiments, activities and interactions with the expedition team as they explore the effects of intense physical activity at high altitudes. Students will relate this to Byron's training and physical fitness, and will compare the results of their experiments and activities to those conducted at Basecamp on Mt. Everest.

B. On-line Opportunities
(a) On-line Audio/Video Clips! Students can listen to an online audio clip with expedition leader Byron Smith inviting them to participate in the Stairway to Everest Challenge. Int the training tips videos, students will also get instructions for each of the exercises in Training for Everest, directly from Byron Smith's trainer, Les Gramantik. Byron demonstrates proper posture and technique for the activities as Les describes the exercises to participating students.
Stairway to Everest Challenge | Training Tips Video 1 | Video 2
Video and Audio Archive

(b) Use a LCD projector and screen with your computer to show the pre-recorded instructional videos to the whole class OR make use of your lab or classroom computers for individual viewing.

(c) If you have access to a portable computer, you may be able to schedule use of the gym to get your students started on setting their goals for participation and view the video there! Your Physical Education teacher may even want to dedicate some class time to the project.

(d) Send e-mails to Byron and Les regarding the training program and physical fitness questions relating to Byron's attempt to summit Mt. Everest. Teachers can also send questions if more information on how to get started on Training for Everest is needed, or if there are questions as students work through the challenge and adjust their goals.

You and your students can send these e-mails between at any time during the six-week training period, between February 1 and March 14, 2000.

Submit questions to the education coordinator at info@everest2000.ca. Please use the subject heading: "Training for Everest Question."

Not all e-mails will be individually answered, but those that are will be posted on the Everest 2000 website on the Results and Submissions page. The e-mail questions will appear along with the answers as given by Byron, the Basecamp education team, or online experts such as Les Gramantik.

C. Other Helpful Hints:
Though you may not have time to have students complete 10 minutes of exercise each day in your classroom, you may want to coordinate with your Physical Education Teacher to include this as part of their Physical Education class.

If the whole school is involved in the Everest 2000 education program, why not include Training for Everest as part of the morning announcements/activities? You could set time for it to be an official part of the morning routine, and then encourage students to continue during their lunch hour. Maybe they could use the gym at lunchtime for this purpose.

Training for Everest is related to the Stairway to Everest Challenge. Stairway to Everest will involve students in several activities and projects from Phase 1 to Phase 3, when the actual stair-climbing event will happen. This will be followed by a cultural celebration in Phase 4. Students will prepare for their stair-climbing challenge by organizing themselves according to the number of stairs they will climb, and learn about Nepalese culture to plan their celebration.

If you are not planning to participate in the Stairway to Everest Challenge, consider involving your students in the Read Your Way to Everest Challenge, in Phases 2 and 3.