Wildlife Monitor Pete reflects on this year’s Wildestan Antarctica programme, where five live sessions from Port Lockroy connected young explorers with life, wildlife and science in Antarctica.
For the second year running, the Wildestan Antarctica programme brought young adventurers closer to one of the most remote places on Earth. Delivered in partnership between the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) and the British Exploring Society (BES), the programme connected young people aged 14–17 with the team living and working at Port Lockroy through a series of live, interactive sessions broadcast directly from Antarctica. They also heard from BES experts on the basics of camp life and skills fundamental to setting up a base from the Cairngorms to Antarctica.
Across five weekly Zoom sessions between January and February 2026, participants tuned in to meet experts in the UK and the Port Lockroy team, explore life on base, learn about Antarctic wildlife and science, and discover why protecting this remarkable environment matters.
Download the Wildestan Antarctica brochure to explore this season’s journey, discover what participants experienced, and find out how to get involved next time.
Hosted live from the island by Port Lockroy postmaster George, with roaming updates from me, the sessions offered a rare window into life at 64° South, complete with plenty of appearances from Port Lockroy’s biggest stars: the resident colony of gentoo penguins.
Bringing Antarctica into the classroom
Wildestan Antarctica is a virtual adventure programme designed to connect young people with wild places and the skills needed to explore them.
Through live, interactive sessions, participants gain unique access to some of the most remote environments on the planet. This year’s programme encouraged young explorers to think about the connections between their own surroundings and the vast wilderness of Antarctica, highlighting how curiosity, exploration and environmental awareness can begin close to home.
Running in January and February 2026, the programme brought together young adventurers from across the UK for five 90-minute sessions hosted live from Port Lockroy.
A live window into life at Port Lockroy
Each week followed a lively and interactive format designed to bring the realities of Antarctic life to life for the participants.
George anchored the sessions from inside the base, introducing each topic and answering questions sent in by the young explorers. Meanwhile, I regularly headed outside with a camera to share roaming updates from around the island.
Participants were encouraged to take part throughout, with quizzes, scavenger hunts, live demonstrations and plenty of opportunities to ask questions directly to the team.
One particularly popular feature quickly became a weekly favourite: Penguin Watch, a live update from the gentoo penguin colony that nests around the base.
Session 1: Meet the team
The opening session introduced our team, who spent the Antarctic summer living and working at Port Lockroy, as well as the wider work of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust.
Participants discovered the variety of roles needed to run the historic site, from wildlife monitoring and conservation carpentry to managing the gift shop and operating the world’s southernmost post office.
Through team introductions and a live Q&A, the young explorers learned how people from a wide range of backgrounds and career paths came together to work in one of the most extraordinary places on Earth. This prompted many questions about the minimum age to apply!
Session 2: Base life
Week two took participants on a tour of daily life at Port Lockroy.
Through a live walkthrough of the base and surrounding island, we shared what it’s like to live in such a remote location, from sleeping in shared bunkrooms to cooking meals together and managing with limited power and water.
A virtual scavenger hunt encouraged participants to spot unusual features around the island while learning about the realities of life on base. The session also introduced the first Penguin Watch update, bringing viewers face-to-face with Port Lockroy’s famous neighbours.
Session 3: Wildlife
The wildlife session shifted the focus to the remarkable animals that share Port Lockroy with us.
I explained my role monitoring the gentoo penguin colony and why careful wildlife observation is so important in Antarctica. Participants also took part in a wildlife sound quiz, trying to identify the calls of whales, seals and seabirds before heading outside with me for a live wildlife tour of the island.
Along the way, the group learned about penguin nesting behaviour, Antarctic predators and the delicate balance of the polar ecosystem.
Session 4: Climate and science
Session four explored the scientific history of Port Lockroy and its role in early Antarctic research.
Participants learned how scientists at the base historically monitored weather and atmospheric conditions, and how modern technology is used today to track Antarctic weather patterns. It was fitting that this week had me in all my waterproof gear as the weather had also tuned in for this instalment.
The session also highlighted the conservation work currently taking place at the historic site, with specialist carpenters and engineers helping protect the buildings from the increasingly challenging conditions brought by a changing climate.
Session 5: Environmental protection
The final session focused on environmental protection and the steps taken to safeguard Antarctica’s fragile ecosystems.
Participants learned about the strict biosecurity measures used to prevent the introduction of non-native species, as well as the importance of wildlife monitoring and international cooperation in protecting the continent.
The session reinforced a key message of the programme: that protecting wild places requires awareness, responsibility and collective action.
Another successful season
Once again, Wildestan Antarctica proved to be a huge success.
Across the five sessions, the young explorers were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions, taking part enthusiastically in activities, and clearly relishing the opportunity to connect live with Antarctica.
For many, the weekly Penguin Watch updates were a particular highlight, as participants followed the lives of the gentoo penguins nesting around the base.
The programme left participants with a deeper understanding of Antarctic life, science and conservation, and with plenty of inspiration for their own future adventures.
With such enthusiasm from this year’s cohort, we’re already looking forward to the next group of virtual explorers we can welcome here at Port Lockroy next year.
If you love a place, protect it
UKAHT is committed to making Antarctica, its heritage and its stories accessible to everyone.
Eighty years in Antarctica have left their mark on this beloved site. Now, Port Lockroy urgently needs restoration to protect its future. Please donate today.
Adopt a penguin
follow a unique colony at the end of the world
Your adoption directly supports on-site colony monitoring and conservation at Port Lockroy. Funds go directly to paying for a wildlife monitor to travel to Antarctica and study the penguin colony at Port Lockroy for the austral summer.
