Above: (L-R) Veterans and keynote speakers Dan Smith and Matt Smith, Dame Allan’s Principal Mr Will Scott, award-winning OLED students Adam Jackson, Ellie Price and Ethan Carter
Army veteran and adventurer Dan Smith enthralled school pupils as he revealed his epic plans to canoe along the wild waters of Canada’s rugged Yukon territory for charity during a special awards ceremony celebrating outdoor education.
Pupils at Dame Allan’s Schools, in Newcastle, were captivated by details of Dan’s intended solo journey along an untamed 350 km stretch of three rivers in wilderness inhabited by black and grizzly bears.
The former Army Sergeant, who served in Afghanistan, unveiled his Yukon Solo challenge while speaking at the independent school’s Outdoor Leadership and Education (OLED) Awards on Wednesday.
The awards ceremony, held at Wylam Brewery Palace of Arts, celebrated the achievements of Senior School pupils who access Dame Allan’s’ broad co-curricular programme of outdoor opportunities, from climbing clubs, the Combined Cadet Force and the John Muir Conservation Award scheme, to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and World Challenge. More than 300 pupils received an award.
Dan, who co-founded residential fitness business Outdoor Bootcamp and activity provider Northern Outdoor with his wife Caroline, said: “Outdoor learning and adventure is not only enjoyable and challenging, but it can also really help to build confidence, encourage teamwork and develop transferable skills.”
He told pupils that his Yukon Solo voyage, which is scheduled for July 2025 and will see him canoe along stretches of Stewart River, Hess River and Keele Creek, will raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families.
He said: “The charity resonates with me; they provide invaluable support to our Forces and veterans in times of need, and it’ll be my honour to contribute to their incredible work. I was ready to take on a new challenge and this is going to be very physically demanding and, at times, dangerous. It’ll certainly be a test of endurance and strength!”
It is not the first time Dan, who joined the Army at the age of 18 and rose to the rank of Sergeant in the Royal Artillery, has undertaken a gruelling challenge in aid of a veteran charity.
In 2018, he kayaked the length of Great Britain, from Durness in Northern Scotland to Littlehampton in Southern England, to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. He raised £25,000 for the Royal British Legion.
At the Dame Allan’s event, Dan was joined on stage by fellow veteran and avid outdoor adventurer Matt Smith, a qualified SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) Instructor who is also trained in Arctic survival. He founded S.O.E. Expeditions and delivers endurance-based adventure expeditions across Europe, Asia and North Africa.
Ethan Carter, a Year 13 student at Dame Allan’s Schools, was awarded the Senior Award for Contributions to Coaching. Speaking about the event, he said: “It was a brilliant expansion of a much beloved awards evening, celebrating the whole department’s achievements over the last academic year.”
Above: Trophies from the Dame Allan’s OLED Awards
Dame Allan’s has seen a marked increase in the numbers of pupils taking part in outdoor activities. The school has one of the highest rates of uptake for the DofE award scheme in the North and last year record numbers of pupils completed the Bronze Award.
Head of OLED at Dame Allan’s, Mrs Colette Cookson said: “It’s been wonderful to listen to the pupils reflecting on the skills they have developed through their adventures this year and the very special memories they have made.
“The outdoor environment provides fantastic opportunities for developing independence, resilience and a positive mindset. It can also improve pupils’ listening and communication skills, leadership and team working, as well as being beneficial to their mental health and social integration.”
More than 150 pupils and their parents attended an afternoon ceremony at Wylam Brewery, followed by a further 400 older pupils and their families in the evening .
Will Scott, Principal at Dame Allan’s Schools, said: “I’m exceptionally proud of the outdoor opportunities we offer all our pupils, from the fantastic outdoor learning programme at the Junior School through to the vibrant co-curricular timetable at our Senior Schools.
“Pupils were enraptured by both Dan and Matt’s inspirational talks and, following a very empowering awards ceremony, felt a great deal of pride in their own achievements.”