World Expeditions Schools Blog

What is 'Regenerative Travel'?

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:53:36 GMT

Regenerative Travel is a relatively new term in travel circles that aims to go beyond sustainable travel practices. While sustainable travel focuses on minimising negative impacts and returning a net neutrality on the environment and local communities, Regenerative Travel aims to have a positive and transformative effect on those environments and communities.

Put simply, the core principle of Regenerative Travel urges travellers to have a positive impact by giving back more than they take from the destinations they visit.

The term was born during the Covid pandemic, when locations typically overtouristed began to see improvements in key indicators like air quality, and less pollution.

The question was soon posed - how can these improvements continue when travellers return? How can a destination benefit yet still incentivise the protection of natural and cultural assets AND still provide an enriching experience for the traveller?

Enter, Regenerative Travel.

A Regenerative Travel program involves travellers committing to activities such as actively restoring and regenerating ecosystems, supporting local economies, engaging in community lead initiatives, fostering cultural exchange and reducing their carbon footprint.

The benefits of Regenerative Travel are seen on many levels. This type of 'slow travel' seeks to create a net positive cycle, where travellers and destinations mutually benefit from the experience, leaving a lasting positive impact on the environment, building capacities for local communities, and an increased respect for cultures encountered during the journey.

When travellers support locally driven initiatives and businesses, the communities receive the resources they require to care for and protect their environment.

The demand for this style of travel also drives the local communities to engage in action supporting this regenerative approach and the traveller, sharing more meaningful experiences during their journey, is more driven to respect and protect the land and local communities while travelling.

From a school travel perspective this style of experiential travel encourages a more holistic approach to education by incorporating real-world experiences into their learning process. Students immerse themselves deeper in the local cultures they encounter and learn even more from the communities they visit. This helps students understand what it means to be Global Citizens, encouraging positive change, both in their communities and beyond.

Regenerative Travel in action

An example of this is our T-HELP Nepal Regenerative Travel Program, where students help to construct a greenhouse and worm farm (vermicomposting) to provide the organic fertiliser necessary to create strong cultivation outcomes for the local community.

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We have teamed up with a local NGO, T-HELP, to implement a service program and help train local female farmers in the techniques of vermicomposting. This is combined with a group trek through the Annapurna Range through small farming communities and villages, into the location of the service program, gaining an understanding of the local environment and terrain, as well as gaining incomparable views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.

Overall, Regenerative Travel offers students a unique opportunity to combine personal growth, cultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. It empowers them to become responsible global citizens who actively contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive world.

View our Regenerative Travel Programs for Schools

Will It Actually Help to Offset the Carbon Footprint of My Travel?

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 06:01:00 GMT

Carbon offsetting – the counter arguments

Offsetting carbon emissions from your trip with us is just one way we aim to address our carbon footprint. The first – and most important – step is to reduce the emissions produced by our student adventures to begin with.

In November 2019, our parent company World Expeditions launched the 100% Carbon Offset initiative. This means that we compensate for the carbon footprint associated with all school trips offered by many World Expeditions Schools.

When developing your educational adventure, ingrained into the process is an investigation of the least carbon intensive mode of transport or accommodation available on the ground. Once we have identified that option, and providing safety considerations are met, we use it. However, no matter how carbon conscious we all are, travel invariably has a carbon footprint – whether it be from road transport or electricity from accommodations. To help address this, we compensate for the remaining unavoidable emissions by financing emission reduction projects around the world.

We know that many people are unsure about the role of carbon offsetting in the bigger picture of global decarbonisation. Often this leads to scepticism. With assistance from the experts at South Pole, read on to find out how we address common arguments often made to discredit carbon offsetting.

#1: We should be reducing carbon emissions, not offsetting them!

Reducing emissions must be the first step in any responsible carbon offsetting programme. However, because we don’t live in a zero emissions world (...yet!) and some carbon is produced by almost everything we do, offsets can help bridge the gap between today and a low-carbon tomorrow.

Low-carbon alternatives to flying, electricity generation and other activities associated with travel and tourism are being developed. But for now, the two approaches – reduce and offset – must work together, not against each other.

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#2: By paying somebody else to reduce emissions, carbon offsets enable ‘guilt-free’ pollution

The argument here is that carbon offsets provide a ‘licence to pollute’ – allowing individuals and organisations that purchase them and carry on with business as usual without changing their emissions-intensive behaviours.

However, this is not true: accepting a price on carbon creates an incentive to reduce emissions to keep costs down. On top of this, there are many other benefits aside from emission reductions that carbon compensation projects create. We’ll come to those later.

#3: Carbon offsets remove the incentive to reduce emissions or decarbonise carbon-intensive activities, like flying

To offset unavoidable emissions, organisations can buy carbon credits. As more and more people, businesses and industries adopt emission reduction strategies, the price of carbon is driven up further. Pricing carbon helps incentivise emission reductions and drives innovations in low-carbon technology for emissions-intensive activities – like flying.

Speaking of flying, a new source of demand for carbon offsets is imminent as the aviation industry will be required to cap emissions at 2020 levels – as set out by the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA, learn more about that here). This will drive up the price of carbon even further, thereby encouraging the industry to develop low-carbon alternatives to flying.

#4: Carbon offsetting schemes do not work and emission reductions may have happened regardless

This argument is most commonly made about the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which was established by the Kyoto Protocol to allow countries to meet emission reduction targets by purchasing carbon credits – called ‘certified emission reductions’ (CERs) – from projects in emerging economies.

The CDM has been scrutinised because its actual effect on global emission levels is hard to prove. Some argue that the emission reductions claimed under the scheme would have occurred even without it. This is where the concept of ‘additionality’ comes in.

Additionality is a mandatory component for carbon offsetting projects. It ensures that emission reductions claimed by projects are actually ‘additional’ to what would occur in a ‘business as usual’ scenario. Moreover, the CDM and standards that have followed – like Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Gold Standard – have been subject to ongoing review for over a decade to ensure additionality is achieved. As a result, methodologies and verification procedures are continually improved.

What further is indisputable is the billions of dollars in investment that the CDM and carbon markets drive into climate action. The CDM has thousands of registered climate protection and renewable energy projects, which would never have been established without the finance created by the carbon markets. The CDM also provides a framework for continuing climate action; the Paris Agreement includes a similar mechanism that will allow countries to meet their nationally determined contributions using offsets: Article 6.

#5: Emission reduction projects are bad for local communities

It is unfortunately true that there have been reported cases where emission reduction projects have had negative consequences for local communities. However, not all carbon credits are created equal and these cases are the exception, not the norm.

The best way to ensure that carbon compensation does not affect communities negatively is by doing the research. Source for example carbon credits from reputable project developers with projects certified by robust, best practice standards.

World Expeditions Travel Group purchases carbon credits from leading sustainability solutions provider and project developer, South Pole. All of South Pole’s climate protection projects are certified under robust certification standards like the Gold Standard and VCS. Besides, community engagement is a key step in the project development process. First of all, projects must be approved by local stakeholders in both the development and implementation phases. On top of that community consultation is performed on an ongoing basis throughout monitoring and verification cycles. Not only do these projects reduce emissions – they also create real, positive co-benefits for the local communities in which they operate.

So, while we agree that carbon compensation is not the solution to climate change, it is an important step in the right direction. And it’s a step that we can take right now to drive finance into climate protection projects and help bridge the gap between today and a low-carbon future.

When you travel with World Expeditions Schools you can do so with the knowledge that we have calculated the emissions produced by your land arrangements. For every kilogram of carbon produced, we invest money on your behalf into projects that reduce or remove carbon elsewhere.

9 Tips on Responsible Gift Giving

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 04:15:00 GMT

After spending time with local communities and forging relationships with them in developing countries, students may want to offer a gift to express their gratitude. However, their best intentions can cause unintended issues in these countries.

Often, gift giving can result in locals becoming dependent on hand outs. It can create jealousy within communities and cause internal conflicts if some beneficiaries receive gifts while others do not.

At its worst, certain gifts can also result in health problems. For example, if lollies and chocolates are distributed to young children in an underprivileged region with limited or no access to oral healthcare, this will contribute to their development of gum disease and tooth decay.

“In some cases, material goods given are not something the community needs, and may end up being something members cannot use – such as a remote control race car that require batteries or an electronic device that requires regular charging,” says Donna Lawrence, Responsible Travel Manager at World Expeditions Schools.

While gift giving is a lovely gesture, it is important to be considerate and mindful of the presents your students offer to communities.

Here are nine tips to share with your students on how to give presents responsibly:

1. Don’t make assumptions about community needs. Plan ahead. If your students intend on giving to a school, hospital or organisation, contact them in advance to find out what items they need and purchase and hand deliver the products.

2. Avoid giving drinks or foods that are high in sugar, especially when it is clear that dental health care is not available. Poor nutrition is often worsened by consuming sweets. Instead, buy fruit from the local market, which will provide children with a nutritional treat and support local businesses.

3. Avoid giving directly to an individual; rather, give to the head of the community or the head master of the school so that they can distribute the gifts fairly. Don’t be offended if this occurs once you’ve left.

4. Don’t give gifts to children begging on the street. It reinforces the bad situation they are in. An alternative is to donate to a local charity that works to keep children off the streets and to stay with their family and in school.

5. Don’t give gifts that are broken or damaged, unhygienic, dangerous or which contribute to waste. Think of the waste your students' gifts will generate over time. Avoid donating plastic toys and choose pencils and crayons over pens. In more remote regions, there are no waste disposal facilities, so your presence will be around for much longer than you think.

6. Be aware of the limitations of a gift. For example, giving a gift that requires batteries that are not readily available to the recipient or are expensive locally. Instead, give manual or solar powered torches. Some houses do not have electricity at all or experience frequent power cuts.

7. Think practical over superficial items. In remote regions, communities have a huge need for basic necessities. Items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, sanitary kits, hairbrushes and hair ties are very practical.

8. Don’t give out medicine. Each country has different laws about the use of medical supplies and medications, and some pharmaceutical drugs are not permitted. Instead, consider practical supplies such as bandages, thermometers, gauze, as well as hygiene products and re-usable sanitary items to help prevent the spread of disease. You can also consider donating to charities or organisations that support local hospitals or medical centres.

9. Share your time and skills instead of a material gift. You can join a community project to help make tangible change in underprivileged areas, such as completing grass-root construction projects in villages of Cambodia, Romania and more.

If you are unsure of an appropriate gift, ask your travel company or the school, hospital or organisation you are helping.

Want to learn more about how to travel, give, grow with your students? View our current community projects and read our latest The Thoughtful Traveller e-book.

10 Good Reasons to Join the ‘10 Pieces’ Litter Collection Movement

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 01:42:00 GMT

Brazilian poet and writer, Paulo Coelho, once said “It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary”.

Imagine if you could do something extraordinary for the planet by simply picking up 10 pieces of litter on your travels.

With our 10 Pieces, you can.

World Expeditions Schools partners with a simple but effective litter collection initiative that harnesses the collective power of travellers to keep wilderness trails free of litter.

Put simply, it encourages travellers to pick up 10 pieces of litter each day on its guided treks in Nepal, Bhutan and Peru and on Mount Rinjani and Mount Kilimanjaro climbs.

Here are 10 good reasons why you should consider joining the “10 Pieces” movement:

Impact: less litter on wilderness trails brings benefit to animals and humans. Not only is litter unsightly and capable of ruining our experience in nature, it also poses danger to animals that may ingest it. Often litter on a trail ends up in a river and we all know where our rivers lead! By removing litter from mountain environments, we are ensuring that it doesn’t end up in our oceans.

Scale: 10 pieces sounds like a nominal number, but it’s scaled immensely when the collective power of a group of travelers joins in. With a group of just 20 travelers, the 10 pieces quickly turns into 200 pieces of litter each day. And if there’s another group of 12 travelers at the same place the next week that’s another 200 pieces of litter. It soon adds up.

Ease: 10 pieces of litter can be collected in under 60 seconds, anyone can do it, it costs nothing, and World Expeditions Schools manages the responsible disposal of all litter collected.

Safety: we provide participants with our reusable litter collection bags. Participants bring their own protective gloves and hand sanitizer, and are asked to only paper and plastic litter; no hazardous litter.

Our planet’s future: as more travelers enter mountain environments, so does infrastructure and therefore non-biodegradable waste. Litter control programs are therefore critically relevant for future generations.

Leading by example: The communities we pass through along trails in Peru, Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia and Tanzania may not have been exposed to litter education programs, but when they see visitors to their home collecting litter it encourages them to be responsible about their waste disposal. With this understanding they can lobby for better litter disposal methods for their communities and they also become less likely to throw litter into their environment themselves.

Leaving No Trace: we are all accustomed to the phrase “take only photographs, leave only footprints”. Well we have expanded the “Leave No Trace” concept to “take only photographs and 10 pieces of litter, and leave only footprints”

Forward planning: there’s no point in collecting litter if it’s disposed of incorrectly. Before offering 10 Pieces on a trek we ensure that we can dispose of litter responsibly. In some cases, this means transporting it to the nearest city to be delivered to a recycling plant and in other cases it’s the clean and thorough incineration of the litter at our campsites.

Inspiring others: we encourage the travellers everywhere and the travel industry to join the 10 Pieces movement, turning this into a collective movement that is propelled forward by travelers globally

And finally, because 10 Pieces helps make the world a better place!

Over the months of September to December 2017, over 100 students from five different Australian schools will be participating in 10 Pieces in Nepal. When we do the math, we figure that’s over 7000 pieces of litter collected from Nepal’s wilderness trails. Awesome eh?!

Want to learn how your school can be involved? Get in touch with one of our Youth Adventure Experts.

Why we say NO to Orphanage Tourism

Mon, 26 Oct 2015 03:36:00 GMT

Everyone wants to be helpful, but when could your help be doing more harm than good?

Child Safe Tourism is an initiative that World Expeditions Schools actively supports and promotes. We choose not to operate school trips that want to take part in orphanage visits and strongly encourage you and your school to follow suit.

Children working and living in tourist areas are especially vulnerable to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Too often orphans bond with western travellers only to see them leave. While you might feel good for a moment, what impact are you leaving on the orphan?

Travellers have a part to play in creating a safer tourism environment for children - our small actions can make a big difference to help protect children from abuse and exploitation.

When you travel we encourage you to take the following actions that have been put forward by World Vision:

ACTION 1: If you are concerned about the welfare of any child, tell your tour guide immediately.

ACTION 2: Instead of giving money directly to children begging or selling food or souvenirs, support their families and communities or donate to reputable children’s charities.

ACTION 3: Treat children like you would in your home country. Before taking photos of children, always ask for their permission.

ACTION 4: Never take a child anywhere without the supervision and permission of their parents or guardian.

ACTION 5: Before visiting or volunteering with vulnerable children, research the organisation to ensure they have standards and procedures that protect children’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Please don’t support ‘orphanage tourism’.

ACTION 6: Spread the word about Child Safe Tourism. Share this information with your friends and family while you travel and when you return home.

Visit www.childsafetourism.org to learn how you can protect vulnerable children.

Learn more about World Expeditions Schools’ Responsible Travel Policies here.