FOR most teenagers the summer is a time for relaxing in the sun, chilling out with friends and overindulging.

But for one 19-year-old from Stone-in-Oxney, near Ashford, this July will be the complete opposite.

Patrick Ingle-Finch is taking part in a four-and-a-half-week expedition to the arctic, which will test him physically, mentally and nutritionally. He will be swapping his home comforts for a month of freezing cold weather, sleeping in a tent and eating ration meals.

Patrick is one of 48 young explorers taking part in the BSES Expeditions, formerly the British Schools Exploring Society, trip to Svalbard, an area that will have 24-hour daylight during the visit.

He said: "I am looking forward to it but it can be quite a dangerous place with the polar bears. They can smell the food cooking so we're only encouraged to cook for about 10 minutes at a time.”

"Our primary objective on this expedition is to study this ecosystem closely in a region, which is described as Europe's last wilderness. I've always wanted to do an expedition and always wanted to go to the arctic."

The young explorers, led by John Ramwell, will be split into groups to study different aspects of the area.

Patrick is in the glacial geomorphology group. He explained: "It's basically about the interaction between rock and ice. We'll be studying the glaciers to see how that area is different to places in Scotland where they used to have glaciers."

As well as carrying out the research, Patrick will also learn new skills including cross country skiing and mountaineering.

To prepare for the expedition, he is using the gym every other day and has been walking in Stone with a backpack filled with 25kg of weights.

BSES Expeditions ask that each of the young explorers raise £3,150. He raised £600 when he took part in the Hastings half marathon in March. He has also been sponsored by a shop in London and given £150 by the Tenterden Rotary Club.

The population of Svalbard is about 500, which Patrick said is fewer people than live in Stone.

He said: "There is one restaurant there, which is a restaurant, café, pub and tourist information centre, all run by the same person.”

Patrick is grateful for the support he has had from his former headmaster John Speller, at Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford, and is planning to write a report for the school when he returns.