"I still remember the pin drop silence and hearing the ice melting; millions of drops of the purest water on the planet going into the freshest body of water that exists."

In this fourth episode of Greatest Classroom on Earth, host Geoff Green sits down with Abhay Singh Sachal, who took part in the 2016 Students On Ice Arctic expedition. Now a climate activist and co-founder of Break the Divide, Abhay speaks about his journey from a student in Surrey, BC, to an award-winning environmental leader who fosters international dialogue about climate change and mental health. He emphasizes the importance of connection, emotional resilience, and intergenerational cooperation in tackling climate challenges and building sustainable communities. The episode underscores the transformative impact of Students on Ice expeditions and the ongoing efforts of its alumni to promote climate justice and community building.

Abhay Singh Sachal is the co-founder of Break the Divide, a nonprofit organization that bridges gaps between youth in different communities, particularly Indigenous and non-Indigenous. His work resides at the intersection of climate change, eco-anxiety, mental health, and spirituality. He has been recognized as one of the top 25 under 25 environmentalists in Canada. Abhay is also one of ten Youth Council Advisors at Environment and Climate Change Canada. He is completing a master's degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Regina.

Music featured in this episode includes our opening theme, "Lancaster Sound" by Sarah Harmer, "Spirits" by Tim Harper, and "Breathe In" by Ian Tamblyn and Shawna Dicker. The last two songs were composed and recorded on the 2016 SOI Arctic expedition.

00:00 Introduction

00:47 Meet Abhay Singh Sachel

03:01 Abhay's Early Life and Influences

06:19 Journey to the Arctic

08:45 Experiences and Reflections in the Arctic

15:55 Impact of the Expedition

20:52 Abhay's Continued Advocacy

21:37 The Birth of Break the Divide

24:34 Expanding Connections Globally

26:40 Academic Pursuits and Research

28:31 Addressing Eco Anxiety

31:26 Building Resilient Communities

35:41 Reflections and Future Goals

40:53 Final Thoughts

Welcome to The Greatest Classroom on Earth — the Students on Ice podcast celebrating 25 years of inspiring educational expeditions to the Polar regions hosted by SOI founder and expedition leader Geoff Green.

In 1999, an idea was born. Imagine if we could bring youth to the Arctic and the Antarctic, the two cornerstones of the global ecosystem, and how that experience at the beginning of their lives might help to shape their perspectives and define their futures.

Incredibly, in December of 2000, Students on Ice made our maiden voyage, bringing a group of 50 youth on a journey to Antarctica. And the rest is history!

It’s hard to believe that Students on Ice is now in its twenty-fifth year!

Since that first expedition, we’ve taken more than 4,000 students on expeditions, together with teams of educators, elders, artists, researchers and leaders from over 55 countries!

Our mission to connect youth to nature, culture, and to themselves has remained steady in this changing world.

We now have a global network of alumni doing incredible things.

The Greatest Classroom on Earth podcast is part of a year-long celebration of Students on Ice.

A chance to reflect on the experiences, connections, and impacts, through conversations with the people who were there… getting their stories, in their own words.

New episodes drop the 3rd Monday of every month throughout 2025.

You can find ‘The Greatest Classroom on Earth’ wherever you listen to podcasts.

We hope you’ll join us on this journey!

To learn more about Students on Ice visit us at soifoundation.org and studentsonice.com

Greatest Classroom is produced by David McGuffin of Explore Productions.