Adventure Challenges

To download a .pdf of the Kids Adventure Challenges on this page, click here

M I S S I O N

Your Mission Challenge

What information will you need to know to be able to successfully achieve your mission?

Brainstorm with your class and come up with a list.

After you have done this move on to the website, using the Flight Plan, and find the information you need to help you.

N E P A L

Nepal: People Challenges

Challenge 1

Find out more information about the Sherpas using the following websites. Present your findings using Powerpoint, KidPix or another suitable computer program.
Everest Online: History
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/history/
MountEverest.net by climbers: People
http://www.mounteverest.net/expguide/sherpas.htm

Challenge 2

Draw a picture of a Sherpa showing his or her clothing and the equipment Sherpas carry in their role as a climbing guide on Mt Everest.

These websites may help you
http://classic.mountainzone.com/everest/sherpas.stm
http://www.sherpafund.org/

Challenge 3

If you were living as a Sherpa in the mountain regions of Nepal what would you miss most about the lifestyle you left at home?

Challenge 4

Research the effects that tourism has had on the people and the environment in the Khumbu region of Nepal.

Create a PMI chart to show the good, bad and interesting effects. From this information make a statement as to whether you think tourism is good or bad for the area.

Give reasons for your decision.

Use these websites to help you
http://nepal.saarctourism.org/
http://www.nssd.net/country/nepal/nep07.htm

Challenge 5

Research the living conditions of children in Nepal. Create a Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between your life and the life of children in Nepal.

These websites will help you

http://www.childrenofnepal.org/main/background2nepal.htm

http://www.himalayanchildren.org/nepal/

Sherpa mother carrying child Research the life of Sherpa women. Create a Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between the life of women in your family and the life of Sherpa women.

This website will help you
www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/nepal/

Challenge 6

Find out the national symbols for Nepal at this website. You can even play their National Anthem.

http://ncthakur.itgo.com/nepal.htm

Nepal: Transport Challenges

Challenge 1

A porter can carry a load of up to 20 kilograms. Find objects that collectively weigh 10kg. This is half what a porter would carry. Put the objects in a bag or box and carefully try to lift it. If you can, get a friend to time how long you are able to carry it before it gets too heavy.

Do you think you could lift 20 kg?

What do you think would make it easier for you to carry the load?

List some ways that might help.

Challenge 2

Prepare a list of questions for an interview with a porter.

Challenge 3

Work out why a tumpline helps to carry a heavy load.

This website may help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumpline

Challenge 4

Do some more research on the yak and find out why they are so important to the Sherpas. Present your work using Powerpoint, KidPix or another suitable computer program.

Challenge 5

Write a report on how you can transport your gear from Kathmandu to Namche Bazar.
Use the following website.
http://www.mounteverest.net/expguide/transport.htm

Nepal: Environment Challenges

Challenge 1

On a blank map of the area label the countries that border Nepal to the north, south, east and west.

Can you mark on the capital cities of each country?

Challenge 2

Using a map of the world, compare the size of Nepal with New Zealand and the United States of America. How many Nepal's would fit into each country. Then look at what other countries in the world are a similar size to Nepal.

Challenge 3

Find the names of Nepal's eight mountains that are over 8,000 metres high. Record the names and height of each one. Write them in a list from the tallest to the lowest.

This website will help you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-thousander

Check out the view from the top, the highest mountains in Nepal and a map of Nepal showing where they are, at this website.

http://ncthakur.itgo.com/mtpeaks.htm

Nepal: Climate and Weather Challenges

Challenge 1

Set up a variable-speed fan. Stand in front of the fan at different fan speeds. Try putting a tray of ice in front of the fan. How does this change what you feel? Check the temperature difference with a thermometer. What is the normal temperature of a fridge and freezer? This website will help you.

http://www.retravision.co.nz/v2/consumertips/kitchen.htm

Wind chill websites

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_chill

http://www.learner.org/exhibits/weather/act_windchill/

http://observe.arc.nasa.gov/nasa/earth/wind_chill/chill_home.html

Challenge 2

Find out which months fall into summer, autumn, winter and spring in Nepal.
Create a table showing each month of the year. Using the information about the weather on Mt Everest, complete the table showing temperature, snowfall, rainfall, and typical wind for each month. Use this information to decide the best climbing months at Mt Everest.

http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/Nepal/Weather+and+Climate

Find out the weather in Kathmandu today at this web site.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0152

http://www.nepalhomepage.com/hotlinks/weather/index.php

Nepal: Kathmandu Challenges

Challenge 1

Design a stamp for Nepal showing various aspects of Kathmandu's fascinating street life.

Challenge 2

Write a short poem about life in Kathmandu from the images and descriptions in the Kathmandu section.

Use the websites below for more information and photos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathmandu

http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/

Check out the time and weather in Kathmandu at these websites.

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=117

http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=VNKT

See what it is like in Katmandu in the monsoon at this website.

http://ncthakur.itgo.com/kathmandu03.htm

Nepal: Namche Bazar Challenges

Challenge 1

Graph the annual temperature range and rainfall at Namche Bazar.
This Namche Bazar website will help you
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namche_Bazar

Challenge 2

Write a short report listing the reasons why Namche Bazar is an ideal base for a Mt Everest climbing expedition.

These websites will help you.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Namche_Bazaar

http://www.triplecitizen.com/Nepal/namche.htm

http://www.friendshipnepal.com/sightseeing_places/namche_bazaar.php

http://www.globosapiens.net/travel-information/Namche+Bazaar-1131.html

Nepal: Food Challenges

Challenge 1

Use these recipes to prepare Nepalese meals.

Recipe for Moong Daal and Fragrant Rice

200g yellow moong daal
2 large tomatoes, chopped
2 green chillies, chopped
2.5cm square piece of fresh ginger, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon tumeric powder
1 tablespoon coriander leaves, chopped
about 8 curry leaves
1 tablespoon butter or oil
salt

Wash the daal well.
Bring 5 cups of water to the boil in a cooking pot.
Add the daal with the tomatoes, chillies, ginger, 2/3rds of the garlic and the tumeric powder.
Return to the boil, and add salt to taste.
Cook for 30 minutes.
Remove from the heat and whisk gently with an egg beater until the grains are completely mashed.
Add coriander and curry leaves and cook for 5 minutes.
Heat the butter or oil in a small pan.
Add the remaining garlic and fry until golden.
Pour into the daal, which is now ready to serve. It should look and have the texture of a creamy soup. Serve with fragrant rice.
To make fragrant rice add a 1cm cinnamon stick and a quarter of a bay leaf when boiling the rice. Add also 1 cardamom and 1 clove, if liked. Remove the spices before serving.

Recipe for Fried potatoes with mixed spices

500g potatoes
1/2 teaspoon tumeric powder
salt
1/4 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon red chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
1/3 teaspoon dried mango powder (anchur)

Boil the potatoes in their skins with the tumeric powder and salt for 5 minutes. Drain and cool. Peel off the potato skins and cut into large fat chips or smaller bite-sized pieces.
Put the oil into a wok with the coriander and chilli powders. Let these spices heat up with the oil over a very low heat.
As soon as the oil is hot add the potatoes and stir well.
Cover with a lid and leave to cook, stirring from time to time. This will take about 20 minutes.
When almost done add the garam masala powder and toss several times.
When ready sprinkle with the mango powder and toss once before serving.

Challenge 2

Report on the ways that Nepalese families prepare food and their methods of eating. How does this compare with your own family?

Further recipes on this website

http://www.food-nepal.com/

Nepal: School Challenges

Challenge 1

Go to this website to find out about the day in the life of a Nepalese schoolgirl:

http://www.roomtoread.org/shs/nepal/life_student.html

Assemble a list of questions you would like to ask a student. Go to this page (or get your teacher or parent) to submit a question by email:

http://www.roomtoread.org/shs/nepal/questions.html

Challenge 2

Discover how the literacy rate has changed since 1981.

Find out which region and district have the best rate overall.

Which district has the best rate for woman? What do you think the reason for this could be?

This website will help you:

http://www.moe.gov.np/Educational%20Statistics/download%20pdf/literacy.pdf

Challenge 3

Find out the percentage of female teachers in Nepalese Primary schools. Compare this with your own school.

This website will help you:

http://www.moe.gov.np/Educational%20Statistics/Educational_Statistics_2061.php

E V E R E S T

Everest: Facts Challenges

Challenge 1

Research and write a report about climbing to the summit of Mt Everest. Describe the area and the challenges you are likely to face and how you might overcome these.

View organisations associated with Mt Everest expeditions by visiting these websites
The Alpine club Est. 1857
http://www.alpine-club.org.uk/

Royal Geographical Society Est.1830.
Organised the first successful summit of Mt Everest.
http://www.rgs.org/

Read an account of an Everest climb and see amazing photos at this website.

http://www.clubtread.com/ArticleDetail.aspx?ID=33

Challenge 2

This will show you why Mt Everest is growing in height.
Place two pieces of paper flat on a table. With a hand on each, push both pieces of paper so that they crash into each other. This will demonstrate what is happening within the Earth's crust as two tectonic plates slowly smash into each other to produce mountains.

Challenge 3

Look at the 360 degree panorama from the summit of Mt Everest on the internet link provided and write a description of what you see.
http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen2/full22.html

Everest: Hazards and Dangers Challenges

Challenge 1

Find out more about glaciers and icefalls on this website.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/glacier.html

Challenge 2

Visit these websites about climbing hazards and file a short report on each.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,925457,00.html
Seven survival rules
http://www.mounteverest.net/expguide/survivalrules.htm
Altitude dangers
http://www.mounteverest.net/expguide/altdangers.htm
Frostbite and hyperthermia
http://www.mounteverest.net/expguide/frostbite.htm
Snow blindness
http://www.mounteverest.net/expguide/snowblind.htm
A little cure-it-all
http://www.mounteverest.net/expguide/cure.htm
Exposure
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/exposure/

Challenge 3

Create a table with the following columns: Hazards on Mt Everest: Effects on climbers: What to do.
Use the information above and from other places to fill in the table. Which hazard on Mt Everest would you find the worst and why?

Challenge 4

Use a measuring stick to mark out 30 metres. Imagine what it would be like to fall into a crevasse this deep.

Challenge 5

Research the medical effects of high altitude on climbers.
http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com/ams-medical.html

Everest: Sir Edmund Hillary Challenges

Challenge 1

Find out more information about Sir Edmund Hillary and create a time line that shows milestones in his life and his achievements.

These websites will help you.
Sir Edmund Hillary- from beekeeper to mountaineer
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/hi10bio-1
Sir Edmund Hillary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Hillary
Sir Edmund Hillary
http://www.answers.com/topic/sir-edmund-hillary

Challenge 2

Write a local newspaper report on Sir Edmund Hillary and his work in Nepal.
Prepare a list of questions that you would ask so you can complete your article.

Everest: Regulations Challenges

Challenge1

Make a list of all the things an expedition leader needs to do before he can take a climbing party to Mt Everest?

Challenge 2

What questions do you think the government of Nepal asks climbers when they apply for a climbing permit? Create your own permit form for people to fill out.

Permit and paperwork
http://www.mounteverest.net/expguide/permit.htm
Mountaineering in Nepal
http://wwwexplore-himalaya.com/nepal/mtneringprocedures.php
Typical costs
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/everest/

Everest: Search and Rescue Challenges

Challenge 1

Research the Himalayan Rescue Association and report on its aims and functions.
This website will help you.
http://www.himalayanrescue.org/hra/about_us.php

Challenge 2

List the requirements for a rescue machine of the future that will be capable of rescuing climbers at any altitude level.
Use your imagination to sketch the machine.

Everest: Litter Challenges

Challenge 1

Research the ways climbers and Sherpas are helping to clean up Mt Everest.

Challenge 2

List the reasons why is it difficult to remove rubbish at high altitudes.

Challenge 3

Write a short article for a trekking magazine on how to look after the precious Mt Everest environment.

E V E R E S T B A S E C A M P

Everest Base Camp: Getting There Challenge

Follow Jennifer on her trek to Base Camp on her website and indicate on a map the places she visited.
http://www.triplecitizen.com/Nepal

Check out the photos and comments from another trekking trip in the Khumbu Region at this website:

http://www.ericbolz.com/thumbnails.html

Everest Base Camp: Equipment Challenge

Draw a picture of a climber and their climbing equipment.

Label all their equipment.

Everest Base Camp: At the Camp Challenges

Challenge 1 'My Camp'

Design a Base Camp by drawing a plan of your community showing the tents you might set up. Add labels to show what you would use each tent for.

Challenge 2 'Panorama'

Go to this website, click and drag on the picture of Base Camp and get a 360˚ view of the actual camp.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/climb/basesouth.html

Everest Base Camp: Clothing Challenges

Challenge 1 'Mountaineer'

Draw a picture of a mountaineer dressed in the required clothing with labels showing what each item is.

This website will help you

http://www.triplecitizen.com/Nepal/gear.htm

Challenge 2 'My Gear'

Kathmandu is a New Zealand company that sells clothing for adventurers. Go to their website, http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/ and choose some gear that would be suitable for climbing Mount Everest. Make a list and see how much it will cost?

Challenge 3 ' Layers'

Go to this website to select different layers of clothing needed at different altitudes on Mt Everest.
Mountain gear:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/exposure/gearnow.html

Everest Base Camp: Communication Challenge 'Progress'

Research how communications equipment has changed from Sir Edmund Hillary's summit in 1953 to today's expeditions.
These websites will help you.
Modern technology on the mountain
http://www.humanedgetech.com/
Read John Hunt's account of how they communicated their success at:
http://classic.mountainzone.com/news/hunt.html
See paragraph: Carrying 50 and 60lb packs on.....

Everest Base Camp: Food Challenges

Challenge 1

Create a menu for a week at Base Camp. Meals should include breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

Challenge 2

Find out about kilojoules at these websites.
http://www.formulaforlife.com.au/asp/healthyliving.asp?section=nutrition&subsec=calories&pg=index

http://health.ninemsn.com.au/tools/default.aspx

1) What are they?
2) What do they do?
3) How many do you need?
4) How does exercise affect kilojoules?
5) How many kilojoules were there in the lunch you ate today?

M A C H I N E

Machine: Conditions To Overcome Challenges

Challenge 1 'Experience'

Do some research on 'virtual reality' and describe how this system allows us to experience a building or machine before it is even built.

Challenge 2 'Sonar and Radar'

Group friends in a circle and, using a compass, find out who is standing to the north of the circle. Stand in the middle of the circle blindfolded and face north. Turn clockwise calling out 'lost' until a target person responds. Remove the blindfold. What is the compass bearing? Use a protractor to find out the angle you turned through in degrees? Was the angle acute (0 to 90), obtuse (90 to 180) or reflex (180 to 360)?
In a dark room experiment with a torch and reflective clothing on the target person and try the exercise again.
Find out what methods of detection these exercises are similar to?
What sport uses compass bearings?

Find out what sport uses compass bearings at this website.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orienteering

Find out how whales find their food at this website.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/theworld/sonar/sonar.html

Machine: Flying to the Rescue Challenges

Challenge 1 'Reaching Out'

Design a system for reaching out, attaching and placing an injured climber on board a helicopter.

Challenge 2 'Westpac'

Answer these questions by using the information on these websites.

What machine does Westapc rescue use?

What special features does it have?

http://www.rescuehelicopter.co.nz/The%20Helicopter.aspx

What do staff have to consider before each mission?

http://www.rescuehelicopter.co.nz/SOP.aspx

Look at the equipment used by the Westpac Rescue helicopter. Which pieces of equipment might be useful on a helicopter in the Himalayas and why.

http://www.rescuehelicopter.co.nz/Training%20Equipment.aspx

Challenge 3 'Flying Shapes'

Research aerofoil shapes. These websites will help you.
www.aka.org.au/kites_in_the_classroom/chap3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/aerofoil
www.diracdelta.co.uk/science/a/e/aerofoil/source
Draw diagrams of some aerofoil shapes, showing the way air travels around an aerofoil. Mark on the diagram where the high and low pressure is and the direction of the lift.

Challenge 4 'Flying rotor'

Make a flying rotor out of an ice cream stick and a pencil. Soak the stick in water and then twist it into a propeller shape. When it is dry, tape it to a pencil and spin it between your palms. Experiment with how you can improve its flight. How could you make a flying aerofoil-shaped rotor out of paper?
Try using more than one rotor blade.

You can find further information on these websites.
Anatomy of a helicopter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/helicopter
Helicopters, engines, flight, aerofoils, cabin pressurization.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Machine: Design Challenges

Challenge 1 'Rotor speed'

Swing a length of rope with a knot at one end around your head to calculate the knots speed.
Measure:

(a) in seconds the time it takes for the knot to revolve ten times.
(b) the distance of the rope from your hand to the knot in metres.
Divide the distance by the time and multiply by 22.
Speed(km/hr) = distance(metres)/ time(seconds) x 22
This will give the approximate speed of the knot in kilometres per hour (km/hr). See who can make it go the fastest.
The speed of cars is measured in km/hr. Aircraft speed is measured in knots.
How many knots is a helicopter travelling at if its speed is 180km/hr? (1 knot equals 1.8532 km/hr)

Challenge 2 'Centre of gravity'
Side view of a helicopter with enlarging grid on it

Draw the shape of a helicopter on a thick piece of cardboard. Hang it from the position of the main rotor.
Make holes along the length of the body. Through these holes hang weights representing the parts and loads of the helicopter. Check with a builders level to make sure the helicopter stays level. Work out ways to determine how level the helicopter is, when a builders level is not available.

Challenge 3 'Joystick'

Cyclic control (joystick) of a helicopter Use clay to make a joystick to fit your hand. Make buttons that you can press easily around the joystick. Let others try your design to see if it suits their hand too. What modifications would you need to make so it will fit the hands of most of the class? How could you make a dummy joystick that moves in all directions, like a real one?

Challenge 4 'Range'

In the bottom of a container that has a handle, make two small holes. Block the holes with plugs, like golf tees, from the outside. Place a ruler down the inside of the container and secure with tape. Fill the container with sand. This is your fuel tank and the sand is your fuel. Set off on a mission in a park or lawn area. When you walk open one hole, if you run open both holes.
Remember to leave enough fuel for the return trip.
What is the range of your fuel tank in time and distance?
Set up a course with a range of obstacles to perform a mission.
Why did you need to open both holes when running to get a better comparison with a normal engine?

Challenge 5 'Racing cars wings?'

To discover why racing cars use the same shape wings as aircraft. In what way are they used to hold the racing car down on the track.
See Aerodynamics at:
http://wikipedia.org/wiki/formula_one_cars

Challenge 6 'Control'

Research Helicopters to find out what the three main controls are.
These websites will help you.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/helicopters
http://www.helis.com/howflies/ Flying a Helicopter

Machine: Production Challenges

Challenge 1 'Control'

Draw up a plan of a simple toy and get another person to make it. Then check the feedback from the maker. Did it turn out exactly as you thought it would?

Challenge 2 'Moulding'
Computer generated image of TGR's Wasp Medivac UAV

Make half a helicopter out of clay, wood or plaster. Smooth the surface and cover with coats of polyurethane. Brush on vaseline as a release agent.

Cast a mould out of plaster or papier mache. When the mould is dry, coat the inside surface with coats of polyurethane to seal the surface. Once dry, use papier mache or paper pulp to make a half shell.( Remember to use the vaseline again.)

Mount it on a board as a half model. Add rotor blades, skids and paint.

Or make another half shell and join the two parts together to make a complete helicopter body.

Challenge 3 'Engineering'

Do some research on Aeronautical Engineering, to see the range of careers available in aircraft manufacture. This website will help you.
http://www.tryscience.org/

http://www.careers.govt.nz/default.aspx?id0=103&id1=J28360

Challenge 4 'Glossary'

Do some research on CNC machines, containerisation, kevlar, carbon fibre, brainstorming and ergonomics. Write a short explanation on each. This website will help you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Challenge 5 'Boxed up'

Design a package to contain books that are being donated and sent to the children of Nepal. Collapse the cartoon out flat and paint on a design that shows aspects of NZ life. When your work is dry, re-assemble the package for display. Your school could send the best one to a Nepal school.

Challenge 6 'Damage control'

Make a package for a fragile object like fruit or an egg. Decide on a series of tests for your package. Hold a competition to see whose object remains unbroken through the tests.

Challenge 7 'Containers'

Find a carton that is the same shape as a shipping container. Then find or make a series of smaller boxes of different shapes and sizes. Mark some 'Fragile do not Crush'. Hold a competition to see who can fit the most boxes into the container shaped box making sure the fragile ones are on top. (hinging the top of the carton will help)

F U N D S

Funds: Sponsors Challenges

Challenge 1 'Media'

Assemble lists of all the possible types of media that you could attract on your mission, using these headings:
1. Before the mission
2. During the mission
3. After the mission

Challenge 2 'Sponsor'

Brainstorm all the possible sponsors who could be interested in your mission.
Prepare a presentation for a possible sponsor looking at a range of possible presentation methods eg folders, posters, PowerPoint, video etc.

Funds: Organisations Challenges

Challenge 1 'Wages'

Find out what the average wage is in your country and compare it to Nepal?
On this average wage how much would it cost to employ ten people for a month at the base in Nepal?

Challenge 2 'Westpac'

Go to the Westpac Trust Rescue Helicopter website http://www.rescuehelicopter.co.nz/ List their sponsors and find out which organisation runs this service.