If I were queen for the day I would send children into the wilderness

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/12/queen-for-day-children-wilderness-lizzy-yarnold

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If I were queen, I would send schoolchildren off into the wilds. They need to break out of our cosy world of convenience and instant access to digital everything, and get active. I imagine that it would be tough to fit in more time in the national curriculum for sport, activity and expeditions. But I’m queen, right? So my rules apply.

I would point sceptics to the original meaning of the word “school”. It comes from the Greek word schole, which doesn’t mean “years sitting in enclosed spaces preparing for exams”. It means “leisure”: the time people spend on finding out new things, having the freedom to get out and learn about themselves.

Parents will have to trust the royal decree, and be ready to pack their children off with a kiss and a bag of essentials (mobile phones are not allowed). I’m not a parent myself, but I imagine that most parents want their children to be happy, independent and strong, which might mean batting away any immediate threats to their safety. But they will also recognise the importance of experiences that are character building – at least, that is what my parents tried to instil in me.

I spent a month of my school holiday one year on a World Challenge trip, trekking across the Mexican desert, climbing to the top of a volcano, picking our way through Guatemalan jungle. We spent time living in a village in the middle of nowhere, helping to redecorate the local school and getting to know how the locals lived.

I learned a great deal about leadership from my adventure, including how to find drive, and the importance of working as part of a team. Travelling gives you a different perspective on what you have, what is valuable, what’s not. It can also teach you to follow your own path, take a few risks, and be ready for whatever might be around the next corner.

This may sound exotic and a bit risky – but it isn’t really. An organised expedition means gaining a new perspective, learning to be self-reliant with some boundaries, and the importance of having a safety net somewhere out of sight.

I wouldn’t be a scary, dictatorial queen about it; nor would children would be given a free rein. Just an atlas, a budget, and the freedom to explore.