Where is Mount Everest?” “Scotland” came the surprising reply from a group of 17-year-old students in what the United Nations has decreed the Year of the Mountain. They were on a visit to the Helly Hansen National Mountaineering Exhibition at Rheged, Cumbria, and it is unlikely they were under such geographical misapprehension when they left.

The same goes for the thousands of other students who have converged on Britain’s only permanent mountaineering display. For many, the experience is their first encounter with a mountain - some have never even seen one before.

The exhibition’s Mountain Day, which lasts between two and four hours depending on the content selected, takes students into the world of the mountain and the mountaineer, from the days of the Victorian “gentlemen climbers” to today’s technologically advanced expeditions.

It is both an exhilarating and an educational experience, with links to English, history, geography and science clearly spelled out.

I accompanied a group of 23 “gifted and talented” Year 7 students from Pennywell School in Sunderland. They were hooked from the moment they stepped into A Splendid Adventure - the exhibition’s circular, glass-domed room that features a Balloon Over Everest panoramic view of the Himalayas. As pupils make their way through the exhibition, they are given a questionnaire and asked to find the answers.

Following a time-line rope, hung with fast-fact tags, they make their way through six “camp sites” that cover topics including the golden age of alpine climbing, climbing on the doorstep, technical development and climbing today. They are accompanied on their journey by the Reluctant Mountaineer, in reality broadcaster John Peel, who provides the audio-visual commentary and talks with mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington.

There are graphic information panels and genuine artefacts from expeditions, such as Edward Whymper’s ice axe from his first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 and the goggles found in George Mallory’s breast pocket after his last ill-fated attempt on Everest. There is also fascinating archive film footage, not previously shown publicly, of mountaineering incidents.

Next is the Summit Theatre for a specially commissioned film in which George Band, the youngest member of the successful 1953 Everest ascent, recalls his experiences on the expedition. The theatre temperature can be lowered to simulate conditions at the “top of the world”. One or two degrees colder is sufficient to convince the visitors that they need the protection of the padded jackets and sleeping bags provided.

Education officer Heidi Stafford produces a small rucksack that could be taken on a Lakeland climbing trip, up Scafell Pike, perhaps. The pupils have to decide what should be put in the rucksack - there are plenty of intelligent suggestions from the group, indicating their understanding of what they have seen on their journey through the “camps”.

The highlight of the day for most of the students proves to be the film Everest, shown on Rheged’s giant screen. This brilliantly filmed evocation of a real Everest ascent offers up avalanches and hair-raising crevasse crossings by ladder, which the students watch in stunned silence. Another film, the equally atmospheric Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure, is also available to view.

Back in the education room, pupils are eager to dissect a genuine mountaineering rucksack, donated to the exhibition by Sir Chris Bonington, who took it on his ascent of Everest in 1985. The pupils try on the protective clothing, handle the equipment and talk enthusiastically about the day’s experience, but pragmatically decide that mountaineering, however exciting, is not for them. “I wouldn’t like going out in the cold,” says Amy, 11.

Neil, 12, who is the most eager to get involved in the day’s events and discussions, turns his back firmly on the mountains. “I’m going to be a footballer,” he says confidently. His comment is accepted philosophically by Heidi, who says the Mountain Day is not aimed at turning out mountaineers, but at encouraging children to challenge themselves.

Heather Scott, co-ordinator of the gifted and talented scheme at Pennywell, says she was particularly impressed with the reactions of the boys. “They have really taken it on board,” she says. “It’s really inspired them and will make a difference to what they do back at school.”

CONTACTS

The National Mountaineering Exhibition, open 10am to 5.30pm daily, is within the Rheged Discovery Centre on the A66 in the direction of Keswick. Schools can visit the exhibition only (pound;2 per child), the exhibition plus one film, either Everest or Shackleton, for pound;4.50, or both for pound;7.20. One teacher goes free with every 10 pupils.

There is an excellent education pack containing teaching resources and suggested activities for key stages 1 and 2 and for secondary pupils in history, geography, science, art and design, design technology and English. These can be downloaded from www.mountain-exhibition.co.ukTel: 01768 868000 for a free pack.

An Everest poster is sent when schools book on 01768 860021. The teacher’s guide to the Everest film costs pound;2.