PERSEVERANCE A sailing vessel in service of the Earth In the footsteps of the great explorers… from Recey-sur-Ource to Antarctica
Damien’s face-to-face meeting with the middle school students
A bond forged between the adventurer and the teenagers.
Damien’s face-to-face meeting with the middle school students
A bond forged between the adventurer and the teenagers.
After more than six weeks of fascinating exchanges with Antarctica, the 6th- and 7th-grade students at Henri Morat Middle School were finally able to meet “in person” the man who took them on a journey to the ends of the Earth: Damien Leclerc. A member of the crew of the polar expedition Persévérance, he had, over several weeks, brought the students along on an extraordinary human and scientific adventure in the heart of Antarctica. Through regular video conferences, the students discovered extreme landscapes, the explorers’ living conditions, as well as the scientific and environmental challenges linked to this exceptional mission. This educational programme, led under the impetus of Sophie Schembri and Léa Clamme, French teachers, enabled the students to work on numerous projects combining writing, research, artistic creations, and reflection on the polar world. A concrete and engaging way to open young people to new horizons while developing their curiosity and imagination. Damien Leclerc’s visit marked the culmination of this collective adventure. In a particularly warm atmosphere, filled with emotion, the students were able to continue the discussions, ask new questions, and discover previously unheard anecdotes about this remarkable scientific expedition. Highly committed throughout the project, they also presented their guest with the work completed in class during these weeks of remote exploration. A powerful moment, marked by the students’ pride and the sincerity of the exchanges. Through this meeting, Damien Leclerc was above all a true “weaver of connections” between Antarctica and the Recey-sur-Ource middle school, inspiring in the students wonder, reflection, and a desire to explore.
