Before you are allowed to travel to Antarctica, you must undergo a training programme.

Two days are spent at Canterbury University with everybody who will be going to Antarctica this season. You listen to interesting talks about New Zealand's changing role in Antarctica, environmental issues, science projects, and how to survive in a cold and dangerous environment. Then there are some practical sessions including fire fighting, first aid, radio communications, tent pitching and cooking.

Trainees learning to use a radio.

After that, everyone goes off to Flock Hill (a 2 hour bus trip from Christchurch) for 3 days of intensive training.

The lessons cover:

• more first aid
• looking after the environment
• waste management and what to do with rubbish
• risk management or how to keep safe
• learning to use the red flight survival bags
• helicopter training
• glacier travel
• crevasse rescues

Trainees practise camping on a mountain top in polar tents and building snow mounds. They cook their food on primus stoves, just like they would need to do if away from Base Camp in Antarctica. The tents are special ones that cope with strong winds and extreme cold. They are not able to cope with rain though, because it seldom rains in Antarctica.

It is very important to know how to deal with fires, because there is little water in Antarctica. Lots of ice, but that isn't much help putting out a fire! Fire is a big danger, and there are frequent fire drills to practise evacuation of the buildings.