Flat Stanley arrived in St. John's and began to prepare for his ascent of Everest. He accompanied TA's outdoor activities class on their winter overnight. He helped dig a quinzhee (a snow shelter), cooked over a camping stove, and spent a warm night in his new sleeping bag. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more of Stanley's training and adventures.

Flat Stanley came to me from a Grade Three classroom in Central Newfoundland. Their teacher heard I was in Grand Falls-Windsor and approached me about taking Flat Stanley along to Everest. They found an artist to make a unique Newfoundland version of Flat Stanley in a yellow climbing suit like mine. He'll ride along on my jacket. I'm hoping that Flat Stanley will send a few pictures and make a few blog entries from his climb on Everest. After the expedition, Flat Stanley and I will go to visit the Grade Three class and tell stories.

One of the many advantages of being flat is that Flat Stanley can visit his friends by travelling in an envelope. The Flat Stanley Project is a group of teachers who want to provide students with a meaningful reason to write. Students' written work goes to other places by conventional mail and e-mail.

Students making paper Flat Stanleys and begin a journal with him for a few days. Then Flat Stanley and the journal are sent to another school where students there treat Flat Stanley as a guest and complete the journal. Flat Stanley and the journal are then returned to the original sender.

Students can plot his travels on maps and share the contents of the journal. Often, a Flat Stanley returns with a pin or postcard from his visit. Some teachers prefer to use e-mail only. Especially creative hosts send the Flat Stanleys back with pictures, souvenirs, stories and reminders of the visit.

The Flat Stanley Project is a penpal activity - but it's far more than that, too. By sending a Flat Stanley it's as if the senders and the recipients have a mutual friend - a little flat guy they can both talk about.