Welcome aboard, and thank you for booking your young leader onto our this journey. Just like Shackleton’s crew stepping onto the Endurance, your child is joining a voyage built around courage, curiosity, and growth. This pack will guide you through what to expect and why our approach blends adventure, leadership, and wellbeing.
Why Shackleton? The Power of Purpose in Stormy Seas
Shackleton’s expedition is widely recognised as one of the greatest case studies in leadership and resilience under extreme adversity. His ability to maintain morale, protect his crew, and adapt rapidly to changing conditions is still used today in leadership development programmes worldwide. Shackleton’s story shows young people that leadership is not about being the strongest or the loudest, it’s about staying calm, staying kind, and staying purposeful when things get tough. During the 1914–1917 Endurance expedition, Shackleton reframed the mission from exploration to survival, prioritised wellbeing, maintained routines, and projected unwavering optimism. These behaviours kept his team united and psychologically strong despite isolation, fear, and uncertainty .
Building Young Leaders: Shackleton’s People‑First Model
Shackleton’s leadership was “people first,” he protected morale, managed team dynamics carefully, and led by example. Modern leadership scholars highlight that his pivot from ego driven ambition to values based servant leadership was what ultimately saved his crew. We use this model to help young captains learn, to lift others rather than compete against them, to communicate clearly under pressure, to model the behaviours they want from teammates and to understand that leadership is a choice, not a title These are the same qualities Shackleton used to guide 28 men safely home.
Creating Critical
Thinkers:
Calm Minds in Cold Conditions
Shackleton succeeded because he could analyse situations, anticipate problems, and make bold decisions. His ability to redefine priorities quickly, such as shifting from exploration to survival, was essential to keeping his crew alive
Critical thinking is not just an academic skill; it is a survival skill. When children learn to pause, assess, choose wisely and adapt their plan. They are practising the same cognitive skills Shackleton used on the ice. This aligns with modern resilience research: young people who develop problem solving skills and reflective thinking show stronger emotional regulation and better long term wellbeing.
Physical Wellbeing: Strength for the Voyage Ahead
Shackleton understood that physical fitness and morale were deeply connected. He maintained routines, duties, and even moments of recreation to keep his crew mentally strong. Research supports that physical activity is strongly associated with better mental health and greater resilience in adolescents, with resilience acting as a key mechanism for wellbeing. This is why physical wellbeing sits at the heart of our programme: movement builds confidence, emotional stability, and the ability to bounce back, qualities Shackleton relied on every day
Purpose: The Compass That Guides Every Young Captain
Shackleton kept his crew united by giving them a shared mission. Even when the Endurance was crushed, he ensured every man knew the goal: “We live together, or we die together” Purpose gave them direction when the world around them collapsed.
We aim to help your young captain discover: what drives them, how they contribute to a team, and how they can inspire others through their actions.
CAPTAINS SET SAIL
When:
3 - 7 August rd th
Location:
The Greenyards, High St, Melrose TD6 9SA
Drop Off: 09:00 - 09:30
Please drop off at Greenyards car park. Register your child in with one of the coaches. If you need to discuss any Medical conditions on Day 1 – please come and discuss with Roddy Deans.
Pick Up: 15:15-15:30
Greenyards car park. Please sign out your child with one of the coaches. Coaches will be on hand to speak to any parents. Players aged 16 are ok to make their own travel arrangements.
PLEASE NOTE FRIDAY PICK UP - 13:30
Other:
Any delays, illness or injuries - Please call Roddy Deans 07999082537
Location:
Drop Off/Pick Up: The Greenyards, High St, Melrose TD6 9SA
Training Grounds: St Marys Road
WHAT DO I NEED FOR THE VOYAGE?
Kit Bag:
Note Book & Pen
Rugby Kit
Rugby Boots
Mouth guard
Water bottle (marked with name)
Packed Lunch & Snacks
Trainers
Tracksuit
Wet & Warm weather clothing
Sun Cream
We would highly recommend players don’t turn up with brand new boots – it’s vital for boots to be worn in before arriving as we have witnessed sore blisters in the past
Food:
Packed Lunch
Plenty of Snacks - to fuel a whole day of activity
Refillable Water Bottle
We operate a Nut Free policy. The following items should not be brought in: Packs of nuts. Peanut butter or Nutella sandwiches. Fruit and cereal bars that contain nuts. Chocolate bars or sweets that contain nuts. We appreciate your support in maintaining a safe environment for all athletes.
Medication:
Parents are responsible for full disclosure of any health condition, or any other issue, which could affect their child during the camp. Please label any medications clearly with your child’s name and full instructions and pass to camp staff on Day 1. (Drop off). If your child uses an inhaler/EpiPen they may retain this themselves but it should be clearly labelled and highlighted to Staff.
If you need to discuss any Medical conditions on Day 1 – please check in with Roddy Dean. We will be situated in the tent.
RESPECT EACH AND EVERY WARRIOR
Code of Conduct:
All athletes are expected to follow the Code of Conduct for the camps:
‘Respect the other participants and all staff and show courtesy and good manners at all times; be as caring and considerate in dealings with others as they would wish others to be towards them; show respect for the School facilities and the property of others; and take care not to disturb others by unnecessary noisy or rowdy behaviour.’
Safety and Staffing
The camp leader is Roddy Deans (07999082537) should you need to contact him during the camp.
Please note that there is no locker storage for keeping personal valuables and we take no responsibility for breakages or loss.
The safeguarding of all participants is of our paramount importance. All our activity camps are led and supervised by experienced qualified staff. Every member of staff has been checked through Disclosure Scotland to ensure your child’s safety. Qualified first-aiders are on hand at all times. The local doctors’ surgery is based at Neidpath in close proximity to the pitches.
All training is provided under strict professional supervision. Totum and its employees undertaking training are not liable for injury due to misadventure on the part of the participant.
TOTUM CREED
FORGED BY SPORT. BUILT FOR LIFE.
Everyone is invited.
Everyone is welcome at Totum. Our athletes embrace each other, and our coaches strive to feed the hungry encouraging all who show up to grow. Belonging is our baseline, and it starts with how we welcome people.
We are all built different – chase your highlights. We see difference as strength. At Totum, we help you celebrate your edge, play your way, and own the qualities that make you unique. Your difference is your superpower.
Learning is non-negotiable.
We can’t always control what happens, but we can control how we respond. We stay curious, reflect deeply, and aim to fail better every time. Progress over perfection, always.
High performance is a choice. "That'll do" won't do. Excellence isn’t accidental it’s built through effort, intention, and integrity. We pursue better, rep by rep, moment by moment. Effort is expected; excellence is earned.
Choose action.
We don’t just speak our values we live them. We do the hard thing when it’s the right thing. With courage, clarity, and care, we lead from the front and move with purpose. We choose to win the moment in front of us.
This is your journey – own every step. No passengers. No excuses. At Totum, we take full responsibility for our choices, our mindset, and our growth. This is your story. Write it boldly.
TOTUM is not just a name. It’s a way of being. Show up with pride. Stand tall under pressure. And always bring others with you.
