A thousand reasons to say WOW on an Icelandic adventure

1. WOW! The Lava Centre

Watching young minds discover the extraordinary forces beneath their feet. Suddenly, plate tectonics wasn’t a diagram in a textbook. It was real, powerful and just a little frightening. Geography had come alive! The video… the interactive exhibition… the roof terrace… time for a coffee!

2. WOW! Skógafoss

Sixty metres of thunderous water. The sound, the spray, the sheer scale. I looked at the boys and thought: no PowerPoint presentation on Earth could compete with this. Oh… a first chance to get absolutely soaked.

3. WOW! Seljalandsfoss

Walking behind a waterfall! Sometimes the best geography lessons involve getting absolutely soaked (again). And, strangely enough, nobody seemed to mind. Memorable times to take photos!

4. WOW! Gullfoss

One of those places where nature reminds you who is really in charge. The enormous power of water and 30 boys watching something that no television screen could ever do justice to. Just imagine if this had been used as a location for a HEP station. In fact, this was considered to be WOW… WOW… WOW!

5. WOW! Þingvellir

Standing in a landscape where continents are slowly drifting apart. Millions of years of geological history beneath our boots. And the wonderful realisation that we were walking through a story much bigger than ourselves. And the view from the panoramic platform. WOW. The lake, the church, the scuba divers, the number of tourists.

6. WOW! Kerið

A volcanic crater, brilliant colours and a beautiful lake. Proof that even when volcanoes go quiet, they can still put on a spectacular performance.

7. WOW! Sky Lagoon

Warm geothermal water, cool Icelandic air and the Atlantic stretching towards the horizon. A chance to relax and absorb the experience. The boys, usually full of energy, life and nonsense… actually slowed down, soaked in the warm waters and actually chilled and chatted. Geography, I decided, definitely has its perks!

8. WOW! The Weather

Only Iceland could give us a practical lesson in atmospheric science while simultaneously attempting to remove our hats. Thank you, Iceland! Message received! OK… it was windy… it was wet… I think we saw the sun.

9. WOW! The Questions

The questions, the curiosity, the desire to understand. As a teacher, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing young people genuinely interested in the world around them. I usually award a little prize for the best question… and of course the worst! (Lots of contenders here!)

10. WOW! The Laughter

Thirty boys travelling together? Of course there was laughter! Banter, terrible jokes and the sort of moments that nobody plans but everybody remembers. Education should have joy at its heart. We were a group … a community… we cared for each other, just as the Icelanders had to do as their country was being populated.

11. WOW! The Friendships

Some of the most important learning on a school trip has nothing to do with geography. It’s about friendship, consideration, independence, confidence and learning to look after one another.

12. WOW! Our Driver

A special thank-you to the person behind the steering wheel, Andres. Icelandic roads, unpredictable weather and 30 enthusiastic passengers. A combination requiring patience, skill and possibly a very large coffee!

13. WOW! The Teachers

To the teachers who gave their time, energy and commitment to make this adventure possible: you are extraordinary. School trips demand so much, yet the rewards for young people are beyond measure. Thank you… Enjoy the rest of your holiday… You have earned it!

14. WOW! Rayburn Travel

A heartfelt thank-you to Rayburn Travel. You understand something fundamental about education: the greatest classroom in the world is the world itself. The planning, the organisation, the experiences and the opportunities to discover all combine to turn a school trip into something far more meaningful. You don’t simply help schools visit places. You help young people discover possibilities.

15. WOW! The Boys: My Greatest Highlight

And finally, to the 30 boys. You were the heart of this adventure.

Thank you for your enthusiasm, your humour, your curiosity and your willingness to embrace everything Iceland offered. I hope you remember the waterfalls, the volcanoes, the hot water and the extraordinary landscapes.

But more than that, I hope you remember how it felt.  How it felt to stand somewhere completely different. To witness the immense power of nature. To discover that the world is bigger, more beautiful and more fascinating than you ever imagined. And perhaps, just perhaps, one or two of you will look at the world differently because of this journey.

We talked about the mess that the world appears to be in these days. We discussed climate change, energy, migration, change, your role in the future, and what you can do.

One Final Thought…

When I think back on this trip, I won’t remember every mile we travelled or every geographical fact we discussed. I’ll remember the faces. The smiles. The excitement. The laughter. The curiosity. The wide-eyed wonder.

Because the real magic of educational travel isn’t simply the places we visit. It’s what those places awaken in the young people who visit them.

That is why I still love doing this. That is why Iceland still takes my breath away. And that is why school trips matter.

Thirty boys arrived in Iceland as visitors. I hope that they returned home as explorers with a little more confidence, a little more curiosity and a much greater sense of what is possible. To everyone who shared this remarkable adventure, thank you.

And to Rayburn Travel, keep opening those classroom doors to the world. Because somewhere out there is another young person waiting for that first unforgettable WOW moment.

Takk fyrir, Iceland. Until the next adventure!