Meet Ben Parker, Director of Outdoor Education and Head of Climbing at The Perse School Cambridge.

In this conversation, Ben reflects on his journey from a childhood passion for the outdoors to leading world class expeditions to places like Ladakh and Bolivia. Ben shares the profound impact outdoor education has had on his own life, as well as on the thousands of Perse students who have taken part in the many adventures he's led over the years.

Ben and Claire Ziwa discuss a range of topics including:

Personal growth through adventure.

The wide range of lifelong skills and leadership qualities students gain from taking part in outdoor pursuits.

Embracing failure.

The importance of children 'unplugging' from the digital world.

Developing self-worth in children.

Preparing students for high risk expeditions.

The longer term positive impact of taking part in Perse Outdoor Pursuits.

The importance of giving children an adventure and learning by having fun.

The experience young people need of making difficult decisions and accepting their consequences.

Being brace enough to trust your gut.

Perseverance as a crucial lifelong skill.

A mentoring leadership style.

Being brave and taking risks.

So, if you've been one of the students who’ve taken part in PES, or if you're motivated by outdoor adventures – this podcast is for you.

You can also watch this podcast on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/v1vxAeHrkrM

Production Credits:

Host and Executive Producer: Claire Ziwa

Film Editor: Adam Crossland