The James Caird

Dulwich College is home to the James Caird, a 23-foot lifeboat in which Sir Ernest Shackleton (OA 1887-90) sailed 800 miles through Antarctic seas to get help for his stranded crew. Each year, 1,400 primary school children and hundreds of adults visit to learn about this extraordinary journey.

Resources

The College has produced a number of resources for learning more about the James Caird, including interior and exterior scans of the boat [with links], a pupil workbook and teacher resource pack, and a short film on Shackleton & the James Caird.

Shackleton & the James Caird

The James Caird in the James Caird Hall — Shackleton & the James Caird

View video

The College has produced scans of the interior and exterior of the boat, as well as a short film on Shackleton & the James Caird.

Schools can download a workbook for pupils and a resource pack for teachers (we recommend printing them as booklets)

Workbook for pupils

Teacher's resource pack

The James Caird Society

Dulwich College supports the work of the James Caird Society, a separate registered charity established in 1994 to preserve the memory and honour the outstanding leadership qualities demonstrated by Shackleton.

The Society holds two formal dinners at the College each year featuring expert lecturers, as well as producing its own journal and newsletter.