The Week Junior - UK (2022-03-05)

5 March 2022 • The Week Junior 19

Wellbeing

The spirit of adventure

Getting out of your comfort zone can make you feel happy and confident.

In January, 19-year-old pilot

Zara Rutherford became

the youngest woman to fly

solo around the world. She

crossed five continents and 52

countries on her five-month

journey. “It’s a dream I’ve had

my entire life, to fly in a plane

around the world,” she said.

“It was just a crazy idea and

I always thought it would

be impossible.”

“It was just a crazy idea”

National Geographic’s tips

for outdoor adventures

Wear the

right clothing

Lots of layers in

cold weather and

waterproofs in the rain.

Know when to stop

Accepting things you

can’t control, such as

the weather, can be the

most challenging part

of an adventure.

Travel safely

Watch out for

dangers like busy

roads and always tell

a trusted adult where

you’re going.

Fuel up

Eat healthily and

carry plenty of water,

plus snacks.

Leave no trace

Respect your

surroundings and take

all your rubbish away

with you.

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ow does it feel when you try something new? Whether

you love the buzz of a new experience or are just curious

to try something different, being adventurous can help you

feel brave and learn what you’re capable of.

What does being adventurous mean?

Being adventurous means exploring and

discovering new things. It’s challenging

yourself to have a go at something,

even when you’re not sure what the

outcome will be. You don’t have to

climb a big mountain or trek through

jungles to have an adventure; they

can be all around you. Exploring

your neighbourhood and discovering

new places is an adventure; or

tasting a different type of food can be

adventurous if you’ve never tried it before.

The Week Junior reader Ronnie, aged 13, says,

“When I go on walks I like to look for trees to climb

or things to play around because I find it exciting and it

makes me happy.”

Why is being adventurous good for you?

Belinda Kirk is an adventurer and author of the book

Adventure Revolution. She has crossed a desert in China in

search of camels and discovered ancient rock paintings in

southern Africa. Kirk says that being adventurous can make

you feel free, more confident and help you understand

yourself better. “When you’re halfway up a

mountain you get this natural high and a feeling

of extreme empowerment,” says Kirk. “You

become more brave and confident, and

you think, ‘What else can I do?’”

Exploring outdoors can also mean

getting active and spending time in

nature. Both are great for boosting

happiness and reducing stress.

How can you be more

adventurous?

Kirk says adventures can be found

everywhere, including camping in the

garden, climbing a tree, or even just wrapping up

warm and going for a walk in the cold. Trying new hobbies

or cooking new recipes are also great ways to be more

adventurous. “When you push yourself out of your comfort

zone, that’s when you learn who you are and what you can

do. It’s where the magic happens,” says Kirk.

Trying different things helps you

to learn new skills and hobbies.

Ronnie enjoys

climbing trees.

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Zara

Rutherford