In March 2008 husband and wife team Julie and Colin Angus begin a 7,000 kilometre (4,300 mile) expedition travelling from the northern tip of Scotland to Syria entirely by human power. The route will connect their ancestral homelands. The duo is using unique amphibious boats with the capability of travelling on canals, rivers, seas, roads and pathways.  An adventure learning program has been designed in conjunction with the expedition and it is freely available to educators around the world.

The structure of ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ is a unique concept where, instead of being passive observers, students are a part of the team, making important logistical decisions and collectively contributing to the success of the endeavor.

• Encourage active living, environmental stewardship, and acceptance of diverse cultures.
• Promote decision making and research skills through active learning.  

• Phase I: March 2008 – June 2008
  ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ program with live expedition updates, interactive on-line events, and corresponding curriculum.
• Phase II: September 2008
  Expedition conclusion and review with live expedition updates, interactive on-line events, and corresponding curriculum.
• Phase III: September 2009 – December 2009
  In-school presentations by Colin and Julie.

Weekly real-time updates Each week an expedition update will be posted on the student page.  Photos, video and an interactive map will illustrate the update. Discussions will include expedition challenges, people, landscapes, animals, and logistics.
 

Choose your own adventure.  Students will be involved in the decision-making process for the expedition.  Each week a logistical challenge will be presented to the kids (ie. route-making decision, logistical challenge, etc.).  Involvement will help create interest and promote independent research to solve the problem.  Decisions will be made through group consensus.

• The question posed will regard to a decision to be made the following week.
• Students will have seven days to vote.
• Voting will be on an individual basis.  (Note: a different IP address is required for each vote.) 
• The decision will be posted online along with the results of the choice.
• Sample Questions

  Route Selection
  Should we follow the congested shipping canal or the hilly road?

  Equipment Decision
  Our satellite phone is broken. Should we wait in a large city for a replacement part or continue without one?

  Provisioning Decision
  Should we buy freeze-dried food or canned supplies?  How much food should we take? What is the risk of not being able to replenish food later versus moving slower because of the increased weight?

   

Teachers’ Curriculum  

Curriculum is designed to prepare students for the weekly online update, provide background information, and aid in the decision making process.

Teacher’s Corner

This page provides information on how to use our school program and details information and projects for educators and parents. 

School Presentations by Colin and Julie

Following the expedition Colin and Julie will speak to schools. The school speaking events will be designed in conjuntion with their Fall 2009 film/book tour allowing Julie and Colin to reach schools across Canada.  Details will be available following the expedition.