FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5 April 2024

In light of media reports this week in relation to the tragic death of a student on a Vietnam trip, World Expeditions Schools wishes to address our partners directly during this difficult time.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the student’s family and the wider school community affected by this tragedy.

We wish to clarify that the trip in question was organised by a UK company with a similar name to ours, World Challenge, which operates independently and is in no way affiliated with World Expeditions Schools. 

Following the revelations made at the Coroner’s Inquest, we have undertaken a comprehensive review of our risk management strategies and safety protocols. We are reassured that the stringent measures we have in place would prevent such an incident on any expedition under our management.

World Expeditions Schools’ commitment to safety is unwavering and forms the cornerstone of our values and operational protocols. We believe that an exceptional travel experience is not only about the wonders that students and teachers will see or the cultures they immerse themselves in, but equally about their safety, security and well being from the moment they embark on their service learning journey with us to the moment they return home. 

World Expeditions Schools is Australian owned and operated and employs stringent processes to assess and mitigate risk, in our rigorous selection and training of partners in country and continuous monitoring of safety standards. 

All students and staff are required to complete a detailed and thorough medical questionnaire, the results of which are recorded in a ‘Teachers Companion’, a resource shared with all involved parties for every trip.

Our dedication to safety is more than just a policy; it is an integral part of our culture, ensuring that we can offer not just transformative travel experiences, but also peace of mind.

LEARN MORE ABOUT RISK MANAGEMENT

You are invited to attend our Risk Management Workshops with our Head of Risk, which will be held in Sydney on Tuesday 13 August and Melbourne on Thursday 15 August.

Our experienced team love talking to teachers about incredible travel opportunities. It is rewarding and exciting to know that the students who join our experiential journeys are loving the opportunity to #travelgivegrow. 

So, with 2024 just around the corner, where are schools travelling to, and where are some extraordinary gems waiting to be discovered again? 

NEPAL

Our Number #1 destination for Schools in 2024 is the Himalayan wonderland of Nepal. 

Nepal offers a mesmerising blend of scenic beauty, rich heritage, physical challenge and warm hospitality. Trek, challenge, cultural immersion and service-learning opportunities abound as students immerse themselves in the unique traditions of this enchanting country. 

The Himalaya is where our company started way back in 1975 and remains one of our most popular areas for school groups thanks to our experience and variety of options. 

ASIA

Easily accessible from Australia, the rich tapestry of historical treasures and diverse culture has also been a very popular reason why Vietnam and Cambodia are a top choice. Students can discover the bustling streets of Hanoi and Phnom Penh, cruise through the stunning limestone pinnacles of Halong Bay, build a house for a family living in a remote village outside Siem Reap, complete a trek and service program in Vietnam’s hilltribe area and cycle around the ancient temples of Angkor Wat. 

Japan with its blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge technology creates a fascinating tapestry of experiences for students. Walk through the dynamic streetscapes of Tokyo, witness the serene beauty of Kyoto's temples, come face to face with history in Hiroshima, soak in natural hot springs in Hakone all the while experiencing the mouthwatering cuisine that Japan is famous for. 

The tropical warmth of the Philippines is another Asia destination that has piqued some of our Schools’ interest. Visiting Manila for mega-cities, island hopping, regenerative service programs and exploring different landscapes has been top of the list. 

AUSTRALIA

Exploring our own backyard continues to develop students’ understanding of the ancient wisdom and culture of Indigenous Australia. Our Australian programs travel to every state in the country and have a very unique mix of cultural immersions with local indigenous mobs, physical challenge, conservation and humanitarian service and importantly, loads of fun activities for students to experience. 

These destinations will continue to captivate our schools as they have done for decades with the safe and authentic programs we offer. 

But what are some emerging destinations that our Schools are looking into? 

MALAYSIAN BORNEO

Borneo, with it’s untamed wilderness including rainforest, mountain peaks and diverse wildlife is at the forefront of our new programs. Here students have the opportunity to gain unique insights into biodiversity and conservation, complete service programs with local tribes and world class conservation groups, trek through lush jungle, encounter orangutans in their natural habitat and witness breathtaking landscapes, a world away from the confines of the classroom and school yard. 

FURTHER AFIELD, PERHAPS?

A little bit further afield, Tanzania with it’s vast savannas and abundant wildlife paired with well-established community service learning programs provide the quintessential African school experience. 

One destination which was very popular going back a number of years is South America. Ecuador is a fantastic destination for conservation service and has just been voted on the 2024 Lonely Planet Hot List or the best destinations to travel to next year. Peru has long been a favourite amongst our schools with trekking along the many Inca Trails and the history of ancient civilisations being the main drawcards. 

If it is more of a STEM program you are after then Europe is now more popular than ever. History, the arts, culture, cuisine with more flight schedules now on offer, the cost for our Europe programs are more value for money than ever before. 

With so many opportunities, the important message is to take the time to discuss your learning requirements with our team. With the hunger and passion for travel reignited across the world, we are seeing flights, accommodations and other services book out exceedingly far in advance. 

Contact our team now to discuss your next learning adventure to ensure the best possible price and overall experience for your School.

As many schools look to lock in their overseas educational journeys for the coming years, one of the questions we are often asked is “What is the best destination for senior school students to travel to from a service perspective as well as to encourage self-growth?” 

Our answer every time? Nepal.

Nepal itself is a destination of immense beauty and diversity. Home to 8 of the world’s 14 – 8000m peaks, treks often start in lush rhododendron and magnolia forests and lead up along ridges to the very basecamps of the mountains themselves. 

Combine this with huge valleys kilometres deep from the top of the mountains to the thundering rivers below makes the trails in Nepal some of the best trekking trails in the world. 

Trekking in such wilderness areas encourages a real respect and deep appreciation for the environment students travel through as well as allowing young people to disconnect with screens and re-connect with the natural environment.

But it’s not just the mountains and scenery that makes Nepal one of the truly great destinations in the world for people of all ages.

There are ancient, medieval villages, steeped in history, sacred sites and mystical temples just begging to be explored. 

From a cultural perspective there is a rich melting pot of cultures in Nepal, with many ethnic groups influenced both from Tibet to the north and India to the south.

Groups trek through small remote mountainous villages along the old trade routes and pilgrimage trails locals have been walking and trading goods along for centuries.

The real focus of many school programs to Nepal is the regenerative service project element. To join with members of the local community and work side by side in locally identified projects that help improve the livelihoods and capacities of the local community in a sustainable, regenerative, and far-reaching way, is a transformative and often life-changing for many students.

And, finally, it is the people of Nepal that often leave a lasting impact on a student’s journey. The strong, humble, resilient, and welcoming local people that you meet and interact with along the way enables students to learn and deepen their understanding of another’s culture and customs - a rare privilege. 

Nepal is also one of the most affordable destinations for school groups, compared to other destinations in Asia, and the world.

When you weigh everything up, no other destination can quite compare to Nepal. It provides an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, face new challenges, and develop resilience, self-reliance, and confidence.

Contact us now to learn which part of Nepal is best for your school, or to arrange a meeting to discuss your schools’ international programs for next year.

Australia has an unfair reputation when it comes to our wildlife. Are the animals really that bad? The answer is an emphatic no. We dug into the stories and found some science refuting many of the myths.

1. Myth - Australia’s Snakes Will Kill Me

Reality

Venomous snakes live across much of Australia but—as with most wild animals—they live mostly in bushland areas. Occasionally red-bellied-black and eastern brown snakes are found in urban areas, but these encounters are rare, and snakes tend to shy away from humans.

The numbers are telling. Every year, worldwide snakebites kill between 81,000 and 138,000 people and cause long-lasting disabilities in another 400,000 people, according to research published in the Lancet. But those people are primarily in Africa and Asia. One reason for these numbers is that many residents of Africa and Asia live in prime snake habitat and they lack access to anti-venom treatments.

Only two people per year die in Australia from snakebite, according to The Australian Snakebite Project. 

Five to ten times more people die while riding horses than from snake bites, according to Safe Work Australia. And the cause for deaths that do occur is often people showing off and handling venomous snakes or people reaching into holes.

Also, snakes are shy retreating animals, and they’ll slither away from you as quickly as possible when you approach. The most important thing you need to do when there is a snake around is stand still until it has passed, then slowly move away from it—it’s that simple.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

2. Myth - Australia has Deadly Sharks Everywhere

Reality

Certainly, sharks are found throughout the world’s oceans. But when it comes to getting bitten by a shark, Australia is not one of the top places. In fact, Florida in the United States leads the world—by a long shot—in terms of shark bites.

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), in 2019 there were only 73 unprovoked attacks worldwide and 39 provoked attacks. (See below for definitions.)^*,**

“For decades, Florida has topped global charts in the number of shark bites, and this trend continued in 2021”, an ISAF report said. “Florida’s 28 cases represent 60 per cent of the U.S. total and 38 per cent of unprovoked bites worldwide. This is consistent with Florida’s most recent five-year annual average of 25 incidents.” During the same time period (2019), Australia saw a total of 12 unprovoked attacks—resulting in three fatalities. (Surprisingly Florida had no fatalities.)

Additionally, Australia has a robust programme of shark-spotting from the air as well as offshore netting that thwarts sharks’ attempts to get close to popular swimming areas. According to Time magazine, there has not been a fatal attack on a netted beach in Queensland since nets were introduced in the 1960s.

*“Unprovoked bites”—incidents in which a bite on a live human occurs in the shark’s natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark.

**“Provoked bites”—when a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way, including harassing or trying to touch sharks, bites on spearfishers, bites on people attempting to feed sharks, bites occurring while unhooking or removing a shark from a fishing net and so forth.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

3. Myth - Most Australian Spiders (Which Are Everywhere) Could Kill Me

Reality

This myth is truly off the mark. There are an estimated 10,000 species of spider in Australia, but two species get all the credit for being scary: the redback and the funnel web. However, encounters with those species are few and far between.

According to University of Newcastle researcher Dr. Geoffry Isbister, “In Australia and the USA, bee and wasp stings account for many more deaths than spider bites. A recent review from Australia identified 45 deaths from bee and wasp stings during a 20-year period (1979–98). During the same period there were no deaths from spider bites. In fact, only 26 deaths from spiders have been recorded in Australia in the past century.”

Another study, undertaken by Dr. Ronelle Welton of the University of Melbourne and her colleagues, looked at records from hospital admissions and coroners from 2000 to 2013. The study found horses were responsible for 74 reported deaths between 2000 and 2013, while bees and other stinging insects were blamed for 27 deaths. Snakes were responsible for 27 fatalities. Not a single death was linked to spiders.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

4. Myth - Crocodiles Can Catch Me Even if I’m Running

Reality

Wrong! Crocodiles running at their top speeds have been recorded in various research efforts and according to researchers, “They top out at about 12 mph [19 kph] on land, and they can only do it for a really short period of time—for maybe 20 or 25 metres”, noted crocodile scholar Evon Hekkala of Fordham University.

A very fast human walker can reach speeds of about 18 or 19 kilometres per hour on land. So, even a fast crocodile cannot keep up with the much faster human. 

However, in the water it’s a different story. Crocodiles have been recorded moving as fast as 32 kilometres per hour in the water. Humans are much slower in water, obviously.

There are a few basic rules to keep yourself safe if you travel to croc country:

• Never swim in water where crocodiles may live even if there is no warning sign. Only swim in designated safe swimming areas.

• Obey all crocodile warning signs—they are there for your safety and protection.

• Always keep a watch for crocodiles. They will see you before you see them.

• Never provoke, harass, or interfere with crocodiles, even small ones.

• Never feed crocodiles—it is illegal and dangerous.

• Be extra vigilant around water at night and during the breeding season from September to April.

4a. Myth - Crocodiles Are Dumb

Reality

Researchers have found that crocodiles have complex social systems and can be trained like a dog. Using a clicking device, researchers trained crocodiles to come when they need veterinary treatment and food.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

5. Myth - If We Swim in the Ocean We Will Be Killed by Box Jellyfish

Reality

There are about 50 species of box jellyfish. And yes, one species of box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) has the most toxic venom of all the creatures on Earth. They do live in waters off Australia’s northern coasts—typically north of Geraldton, Western Australia and Bundaberg in Queensland (majority of visitors to Australia visit destinations south of these places). And they are present in the water more during October to May. People have died in northern waters due to box jellyfish stings, but deaths are uncommon.

When a box jellyfish’s tentacles drag across skin, fish scales, or other types of living surfaces, the venom-filled stinging cells are automatically activated. When the same tentacles are dragged across synthetic materials, the activation doesn’t occur. So, the best way to avoid being stung by a box jellyfish is to dress for it. Lycra and neoprene (wetsuit material) can protect swimmers from being stung should you encounter a box jellyfish. These suits are called ‘stinger’ suits.

Prevention is always better than the sure. Avoid areas where box jellyfish are known to be. Talk to locals, watch for warning signs. Swim only at beaches where there are lifeguards who might be able to help you if you are stung. Wear shoes. And consider bringing medical emergency materials just in case—notably a bottle of vinegar.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

6. Myth - Magpies Will Peck out My Eyes

Reality

Magpies do swoop and can injure humans. A five-month-old girl died when her mother fell while being swooped in 2021 and a cyclist crashed his bike and died while being swooped in 2019, but only in rare instances have magpies actually hurt someone.

The reason for swooping? In a study, researchers from Griffith University studied the behaviour of 10 aggressive (male-female) pairs of magpies with the behaviour of 10 non-aggressive pairs of magpies under three hypotheses: territoriality, brood-defence, and testosterone. The birds studied were in southeast Queensland.

“Behavioural observations strongly supported the contention that attacks on humans resemble brood-defence and did not support an association with territoriality”, the researchers wrote. In other words, it’s because the birds have chicks in a nearby nest. Since nesting sites for magpies are apparently a rare commodity, they are often used over and over again for years. So, defending that nest is part of the job for parent birds.

The best thing to do if you encounter a swooping magpie is to walk slowly away from the area. Magpies have been found to more readily attack you if you move quickly because they perceive a fast-moving creature as a greater threat. That’s why cyclists and runners are more often targeted.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

7. Myth - If the Box Jellyfish Doesn’t Kill Me a Blue-ringed Octopus Will

Reality

Despite their lethality and their often proximity to humans, blue-ringed octopus bites are extremely rare. According to a report in Clinical Toxicology, only three deaths have ever been reported worldwide, two in Australia and one in Singapore.

Blue-ringed octopuses are highly venomous, and a bite has enough venom to kill 20 people or more within minutes, but the blue-ringed octopus is one of the smallest threats humans face in the ocean.

One problem with blue-ringed octopuses is that they tend to live in tidal pools where children often search for tidal creatures like small fish and crabs. But, although they live in the neighbourhood, so to speak, blue-ringed octopuses are shy, retiring creatures and they are reportedly not particularly aggressive. Bites can occur when the octopus feel threatened.

The best way to avoid them is to avoid putting fingers and toes into small niches and holes in rocks where they like to hide. Blue-ringed octopuses are extremely small—just a few inches in size—and they like to keep hidden.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

8. Myth - Drop Bears Will Attack From Above

Reality

One myth that seems to get a lot of play is that of the mysterious “drop bear”. In one telling, drop bears are a carnivorous sub-species of koala bears that hang out in native Australian trees and attack humans by dropping onto their heads. They then haul their catch back up the tree and eat it there.

There is no such thing as a drop bear.

These supposed dangerous animals are described by the Australian Museum thus: “Around the size of a leopard or very large dog with coarse orange fur with some darker mottled patterning (as seen in most koalas). The creature is told as a heavily built animal with powerful forearms for climbing and holding on to prey. It lacks canines, using broad powerful premolars as biting tools instead”.

The museum states that drop bears can grow as big as 120 kilos and as long as 130 centimetres. And research has shown they only attack foreign tourists. One researcher described the drop bear habitat as “primarily … in the nightmares of tourists in Australia”.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Kangaroos, wombats, koalas - these are the animals you are most likely to encounter on our Australian adventure trips. Don't let the myths hold you back from exploring some of our greatest wilderness regions.

They may be blue, but they are not much more than a thousand metres high and they are not even mountains! 

In the language of science, the Blue Mountains are really a dissected uplifted plateau.

It is this incredible dissection of deep valleys and gorges surrounding stubborn peaks that helps make the Blue Mountains the amazing World Heritage-listed place they are. The magic lies not in their heights but in their depths - the amazing places that have been carved into its sandstone soul. 

And there is no better way for young people to experience the magic of these depths than to go canyoning.

To venture into the deep, dappled, cold, wet, narrow slot canyons like Serendipity, Whungee Wheengee, Butterbox, Claustral, Empress Falls or Rocky Creek is to not only experience an adrenaline-filled physical challenge full of breath-taking beauty and biodiversity but to travel in a time machine to a hidden and ancient world that helps you fully comprehend why UNESCO deemed this dissected plateau to possess universal values important for all of humanity when it granted it World Heritage status in 2000.

It was only in 1994, for example, that an abseil into a Blue Mountains canyon led to the discovery of the famous Wollemi Pine, a tree from the time of the dinosaurs that was thought to have been extinct for millions of years. This “pinosaur with Jurrasic bark” made headlines around the world.

The ancient canyons have been known to the Aboriginal people of the Blue Mountains for thousands of years, but canyoning can trace its modern beginnings back to the early attempts by white settlers to find a way across the Blue Mountains. It was explorer George Caley who, in 1804, stumbled into what is now Claustral Canyon in the Blue Mountains and named it Dismal Dingle as he became one of the many to be defeated as he sought a way across this dissected labyrinth that compensates for a lack of height with an outrageously rugged landscape.

But it was bushwalking clubs looking for fresh challenges after World War II that really pioneered canyoning as a recreation.

What Caley called “dismal”, modern visitors call enchanting, breathtaking and unforgettable.

World Youth Adventures can assist schools with experiencing the magic of the Blue Mountains' canyon. Talk to our team to learn more.

---

Adapted from an original blog written by Dan Lewis for the Blue Mountains Adventure Company.

The world is opening up again, with many popular destinations ready to receive travellers once again. However, it is a completely different travel landscape from what it was pre-pandemic. 

One thing that hasn’t changed is the importance of consulting with those in the know. The expertise of educational travel professionals and travelling with financially sound organisations is more critical now than it has ever been to ensure you offer your students not only a rewarding experience but a safe and well managed one.

If you’re planning a return to overseas educational experiences for your school, or perhaps looking to venture on your first foray into this exciting world, it is essential to consider these five key points so that your return is a smooth and safe one.

1. Where can you go? 

Which countries are open? Which countries require testing? What is their testing procedure?

As we’ve all learned during the pandemic, the goalposts keep moving, and they can move quickly. It’s a cumbersome task for most people to stay up to date with the rules and regulations of their own country let alone those overseas. 

Choosing a destination is often the first step for most school travel organisers. This is where you would benefit from dealing with an organisation who have experts to monitor such things on a daily basis and can utilise their extensive network of overseas contacts.

Get in touch with our experts to learn where you can, or cannot, visit right now.

2. Dealing with a Covid case while on tour

Risk management strategies need to be updated to cater for Covid cases. 

School travel organisations that have carefully navigated through the pandemic should have updated and strengthened risk management plans to deal with a potential Covid case before and during a trip.

World Expeditions Schools have been fortunate enough to assist some schools with educational experiences within Australia during 2021 and 2022. We have successfully managed Covid cases that occurred. 

Benefit from our experience and talk to our experts on how we would manage a situation on your itinerary. 

3. Protecting your communities funds

Some of the largest school trip providers were not able to financially manage their way through Covid. When researching who to use, it is important that you query any provider about how they plan to keep your monies safe. What is their policy? 

Pre-pandemic, some experienced school travel organisers felt comfortable dealing directly with smaller local companies in their destination to save some money. Such a scenario offers zero financial protection and the pandemic highlighted what a risky move it is.

Working with an established organisation within your own country, that has a transparent policy on how they will protect your funds, removes a number of key obstacles, reduces stress and gives you peace of mind that you are providing the best possible scenario for your students and their families.

Talk to our team about how we will protect your monies.

4. Be ready to be flexible with services

Many service providers (hotels, transfer services etc) are not as resourced as they were pre-pandemic. It will take time for the world to build up capacity again, especially in some developing countries.

There is a large staff shortage in many areas and last minute changes may occur. Flights can be cancelled at short notice, baggage lost and hotels overbooked.

Expert travel companies have back up plans for their back up plans as per their risk management. Having a good experienced guide and team behind you plus 24 hour support in your destination of choice is incredibly important in the current environment. Be sure you organise your school program through a reputable company that offers all the support you need.

For the best chance of a smooth experience it is important to start planning now to ensure the program and service you want to provide your students can be achieved and fulfilled. 

Post-pandemic planning requires advance consideration and meticulous planning. If you are considering a return to international travel in 2023, start the conversation with an expert today.

5. Talk to an Educational Travel Expert

There’s so much more to consider now than there was pre-Covid. You’re busy enough dealing with the situations that arise at your school courtesy of Covid.

This is where organising a student’s once-in-a-lifetime experience simply cannot be left to chance. Speak to an expert for the best knowledge and travel with a company that has stood the test of time and that can comfortably answer all of the above considerations to you comfortably for your added protection.

This article was written by Scott Pinnegar, General Manager of World Expeditions Schools. Get in touch with Scott.

Horizons will be broadened closer to home.

Many of us are guilty of thinking that overseas destinations offer more unique experiences but tell that to the 9.5 million tourists that visited Australia in 2019. They weren’t coming all this way because there wasn’t much to see or do here. 

There will be a requirement for greater financial protection

Build a Covid column into your risk management plans

Travel where social distancing comes naturally

There is never a 'better' time 

International school trips won’t be going ahead as planned for the foreseeable future, but that’s ok because there is a plethora of diverse learning outside of the classroom experiences to be had right here in Australia.

PRICE

A two-week trip in Nepal for AUD$4k with flights is very possible. Getting the same length of trip for the same price in Australia, at the same level of quality, will be harder. Internal flights are already on the higher end when compared with cheaper flights to Asia. Wages for experienced Australian guides and staff are much higher than in developing countries. As can be National Park fees and permits, accommodations and the cost of nearly everything to operate a trip, from the muesli in the morning to fuel in the tank. 

It costs more to operate quality wilderness programs in Australia. Your existing budgets are likely to go a lot longer if you can reduce the length of trip.

GROUP SIZES

The Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania only permits 10 paying walkers per group. That’s a little awkward when you have a group of 25-35 kids you want to take away. 

Many of our National Parks or places worth protecting do come with some rules and regulations that you may not see abroad; however, they are in place to minimise the impact of popular places so they can be enjoyed by everyone. Before you get too excited about a destination, check the National Park commercial group size allowance.

SEASONALITY

As good as the weather is in Australia it certainly pays to choose the right season when choosing to take students into our wilderness. Many schools get the advantage of the warmer weather in the northern hemisphere with mid-year trips however that is the Aussie winter, which is ideal if you're headed out to the desert.

Here's a quick glance at the best times to visit some of our most popular places. 

• Tasmania: ideal for October to March, the warmer summer months with typically less rain. It can rain and temperatures can drop at anytime during summer.
• Darwin and Kakadu: Outside the wet season, June to August is coolest with least humidity
• Alice Springs and Larapinta: May to September are the coolest months, winter nights can be freezing
• Flinders Ranges and Kangaroo Island: The winter months June to August are the coolest times, however it is also rainy season on Kangaroo Island
• Ningaloo Reef and Karijiji National Park: Between May and September, the milder, drier months. Average winter temperatures can still be warm, mid 20C.
• South West Australia: Most of the year really. Cooler to walk during winter although swimming might not be in the itinerary.
• Daintree Rainforrest and Cape Tribulation: 
• New Zealand: Late September it begins to warm up for a typically mild summer before autumn brings the changing of the leaves and the lower temperatures again. It can rain and temperatures can drop at anytime during summer.

SERVICE LEARNING 

Our wilderness is iconic and helping to clean and protect it is of valuable need and instils a long-standing ethos of respect between the student and our native landscapes. There are some wonderful and highly beneficial conservation service learning programs all around Australia and New Zealand. You can join a hands on project studying species, helping with landcare management, caring for bushfire affected areas or perhaps studying the impact of microplastics in our river systems.

Australia offers a robust network of social programs to help support those in need. Unlike developing countries, where there is essentially little to no government or third-party assistance for the poor, the government and many charities have programs in place at home assisting where required. While they are more limited here than you would find abroad, humanitarian service-learning programs are still possible within Australia. 

EXPERIENCE IS EVERYTHING

Australia is a vast, remote land. Our landscapes are beautiful but can be dangerous is you are not experienced with the terrain. During this time many school group operators will scramble to provide product in Australia, except us. Our parent company, World Expeditions, has pioneered many classic Australian adventures and has been rewarded for our sustainability initiative. Before swapping your international student trip to a domestic one, ensure your local operator has the ‘runs on the board’ and can offer a high quality, safe educational learning experience in Australia.

USING KNOWLEDEABLE GUIDES

While using a local guide is obviously going to be more expensive than leading a local tour yourself, don't be tempted too quickly by the saving. For a world class, safe experience only a guide can bring stories of local history and flora, be familiar with the weather patterns and add an extra element of comfort, knowledge and safety into your school tour. It's tempting to lead a trip even with experienced outdoor staff but to truly get the most out of an experience you spend time organising why not get the most out of it.

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.

#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.

Meet Us at the European Education Festival 2020

How a school trip abroad can help bring back real communication

What are we teaching our next generation? 

Unplug to unwind. Tune out to tune in. Disconnect to connect.

The initial reason, given to us during our original staff training, was partly due to the poor signal in many of the parts of the High Atlas Mountains. On top of that, it is essential that if there is a difficulty or even an emergency that students have to deal with, that they are able to do so without feeling the need to immediately text parents back at home. Students need to work as a team, support each other, react to the situation at hand and learn from the experts. Our local guides had both the equipment, and more importantly, the knowledge of the surrounding area to get messages through if required. Broken and confused messages received by worried parents who are unable to help cause unnecessary angst. Besides, a student who has successfully overcome feeling unwell, upset, homesick or just simply exhausted comes back from their school trip abroad as a far stronger and independent person.  

There was no pressure to pose for selfies

Entertainment had to be technology free

Communication was real. Individuals had to pick up whether members of the group needed help, support, distraction or time alone. Their soft skills flourished. Communication with those speaking a different language had to be carefully thought out, expressed through gesture or the simplicity of a smile.

Through the senses

Hiking means looking with one’s own eyes, listening with one’s own ears, thinking with one’s own mind and feeling with one’s own heart.

The Himalayan nation of Nepal has stepped up in banning single-use plastics in the Everest region, which will take effect in January 2020 in the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu province. All plastic drinking bottles and plastics of less than 30 microns in width will be banned in the area. 

With plastic packaging accounting for about half of the plastic waste in the world, here's how we are leading the way in eliminating its use on our treks.

Fast facts: How big is our plastic problem?

•  Humans buy around 1 million plastic bottles per minute.
•  Half a million straws are used in the world every day.
•  It is estimated that almost 10 million plastic bags are consumed worldwide per minute.
•  79% of all the plastics ever produced have now been discarded. Only 21% of plastics are still in active use.
•  Each year, about 13 million tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean, with reports warning that there will be more plastic than marine life in the oceans by 2050.
•  By 2050, an estimated 99% of seabirds will have ingested plastic.
•  Because plastic is long lasting and durable, most do not biodegrade; only certain types of plastic waste can be recycled. Plastic waste is therefore either destroyed, converted to fuel or energy via incineration or pyrolysis, disposed of in waste management systems or discarded where it ends up in the natural environment.
•  Single-use-plastics frequently do not make it to a landfill.

Worst plastic offenders

1. Plastic bags

2. Coffee cups and lids

3. Straws

4. Single-use bottles

Other offenders: balloons and their sticks and ribbons, chip and snack packets, food containers, plastic cutlery and sanitary products.

What can we do about it?

Making the switch from plastic to sustainable alternatives, as well as making responsible travel choices – such as bringing along a refillable water bottle, can make a positive investment in the future of our environment. Read these eight ways to avoid plastic when you travel.

Travel sustainably: how World Expeditions Schools is eliminating plastic

Leading the way in responsible travel, our latest green initiatives in Nepal allow travellers to avoid the use of disposable and single-use plastic throughout their Nepal trip. The Kathmandu hotel we use has a water dispenser with potable water available for students to refill their reusable bottles, so that travellers aren't contributing to the plastic problem in the poor, landlocked country.

“While water on the treks has been boiled and provided to trekkers for many years, we are delighted to totally eliminate the need for plastic bottles from the moment the client arrives at the hotel.”

“Providing our clients with access to potable water throughout their Nepal experience is the final step in giving our clients the confidence to know that they are travelling green in Nepal,” says World Expeditions Responsible Travel Manager, Donna Lawrence.

In addition to phasing out single-use plastic bottles, our Nepali kitchen crew are trained to minimise plastic waste in trek kitchens, which is especially important in remote regions, when responsible disposal becomes more difficult.  We minimize the use of plastic by buying fresh produce from local farmers whenever possible, which has the dual benefit of creating income for subsistence communities and reducing the need of packaging and excess plastic.

Our credentials in eco tourism in Nepal are unrivalled:  We're proud to follow the seven principles of  Leave No Trace on all our treks and we're the founding partner of the 10 Pieces environmental initiative, which encourages trekkers to pick up 10 pieces of plastic or paper (or more!) to help reduce the litter problem through their collective effort.

Sources: Cleaseas.org, Earthday.org, Report from Science Advances, 2018 Outlook report from UN Environment.

We all need the Amazon. Now it needs you. Donate to the World Expeditions Foundation's appeal to protect the forest, its wildlife and local communities affected.

Fires are raging through the Amazon rainforest, primarily in the Brazilian Amazon, gripped by its most vigorous fire season since 2010. The media images we are seeing are devastating, showing the extent of the fires and the subsequent smoke which is impacting Brazil and its neighbours.

Donate now

NASA reports that, “while drought has played a large role in exacerbating fires in the past, the timing and location of fire detections early in the 2019 dry season are more consistent with land clearing than with regional drought.” Studies show that the rainforest is at tipping point, with large fragmented sections at risk of transforming into a drier ecosystem which could result in the severe loss of species, the acceleration of climate change and spell disaster for the indigenous populations who call the forest home.

Home to a million people and three times as many wildlife, the Amazon is also the largest piece of rainforest in the world.

Often referred to as ‘the lungs of the earth’, scientists warn that the extent of this year’s Amazon forest fires will make the Paris climate target more difficult to achieve as tree cover loss from forests is estimated to account for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, while trees are also said to provide more than 20% of climate solutions. Trees not only absorb carbon dioxide, they also then lock carbon away.

How you can help

Want to support those working to arrest the damage? Donate to the World Expeditions Foundation’s Amazon Forest Appeal and 100% of your donation will be directed to Earth Alliance to be distributed to local partners and indigenous communities working to protect the forest and its wildlife and to mitigate fire and its effects on local communities.

Earth Alliance is an environmental foundation created by climate change crusader Leonardo DiCaprio and his philanthropic friends.

Make a donation

Travel advisory information

The scale of the region is so large that the areas where we operate our jungle trips are not affected by the fires and there is no risk to our travellers or our traveller’s experience on any of our trips in Peru or Ecuador. We will continue to monitor the situation and contingency plans will be enacted if required.

As always, the safety of our travellers is our foremost priority and one we will not compromise on. We will continue to support the preservation of this vital wilderness and those who live and work in it.

First published on worldexpeditions.com on 30 August 2019.

There’s something special about embarking on a trip into the unknown and really experiencing the world. Whether it’s a trek into the mountains or cycling along rural back roads, an active school adventure can benefit a students physical, mental and emotional state.

However our community is changing. The evolving trend for more comfortable travel supports the headlines about our growing sedentary lifestyle. Most alarmingly, many of these reports point towards today’s youth. Increases in child weight gain, depression and an addiction to an electronic umbilical cord which pumps out advertisements heralding the benefits of manufactured foods and even more computer activity has seemingly caused a rapid decline in the time spent outdoors by children. 

With all the advances in modern living through an increased urban lifestyle, we’re worried that the next generation will be passed on the concept that nature is not our friend and that it offers little benefit.

It’s concerning that concepts that helped to inspire terms such as ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ and ‘Protective House Arrest’ - both coined by American author Richard Louv – have sprung into mainstream thinking. The idea that it has been a removal from nature that could be causing the health problem within kids, as well as the idea that this removal is being encouraged by parents who believe that the outdoors is a dangerous place, is something that worries many of us who have learned the exact opposite during our formative years.

While there are many types of educational travel experiences on offer for students, here's 9 reasons why we believe combining active travel elements in your school trip is a wise option.

1. Spending time outdoors reduces stress

There’s a reason why there’s a smile on everyone’s face after they’ve come back from an active adventure. 

Australians are some of the most stressed out people in the world, with a recent report reporting that stress levels have been rising around the country for the past five years. Thankfully, research suggests that nature walks can reduce stress, as well as boost levels of attention, which is very relevant for students.

Gregory Bratman, the lead author of the study, said that 'nature experiences, even of a short duration, can decrease this pattern of thinking that is associated with the onset, in some cases depression.'

2. Nature makes exercise easier

Some kids have tdifficulty motivating themselves to get fit. So, make it fun and give them a goal to aim towards.

Research conducted at the University of Essex suggests that exercise feels easier when you are viewing the colour green, such as on trees, grass and other plants in nature.

The study conducted tested cyclists pedalling in front of green, red and grey images. Those who pedalled in front of the green screen reported that they felt lower exertion during their cycling, as well as displayed less mood disturbances than the other participants.

3. Nature can rejuvenates your soul

One of the best reasons to spend time outdoors trekking and cycling is that it can reinvigorate your mental state. Studies have shown that viewing natural beauty can elicit feelings of awe, which can release endorphins and trigger a mental boost.

An interview by HuffingtonPost with a Seattle-based environmental psychologist states: 'In addition to helping decrease stress levels, spending more time with nature shows a shift toward more positive moods... the theory is that we respond positively to things that are good for us. Trees offer shade, protection and often have fruits and nuts, so they are a source of food as well as protection and comfort.'

Ultimately, we tend to be drawn and attracted to things that are beneficial to our survival, which is one of the reasons why trees and other natural elements can help lift our moods.

4. Gain a sense of accomplishment

Regardless of age and size, taking on an overseas adventure can create feelings associated with personal achievement. The greater the challenge, the more sense of achievement we feel when we accomplish those goals.

5. Travel increases your self-awareness

A bi-product of travel is raising your self-awareness and it’s one of the most beneficial parts of taking on an adventurous school trip overseas.

Adventure travel brings you closer to your “inner self”, giving you the chance to examine and challenge yourself in ways you didn’t think were possible.

Stepping into the unknown and taking a risk demands our increased attention and can bring an intense state of self awareness – one of the reasons that people, such as mountain climbers, engage in adventure activities.

6. The outdoors can make you smarter

Immersing a child in the outdoors can increase their higher order cognition in more ways than one. This study found that brain scans taken after exercise showed that the participants had greater and more focused activity in the prefrontal cortex than they did before.

What’s more, active adventures help increase activity in your hippocampus, the brain’s main “storage unit”.

7. Forge new friendships

After an adventure it's not uncommon to see bonds form between students who prior to the trip perhaps weren't as close. The common goals shared of achieving a physical challenge can bring kids together.

Embarking on a challenge with other people can bring them closer together; sharing the trials and the triumphs gives them something to bond over and forms relationships that'll embed deep in their memories for many years to come.

8. Learn new life skills

Travel develops a child in any ways. From problem solving to growing confidence and building, resilience, the experiences gained from entering new surroundings and immersing yourself in a different culture creates exciting challenges that can enable students to expand their skill set.

Taking part in a Service Learning Project only enhances the opportunity to grow as you work alongside local people to achieve a common goal for the benefit of both the host communities and visiting students.

9. Know that you're making a difference when you travel ethically

There’s more to travel than just experiencing nature’s finest spaces. Embarking on a trip to some of the world’s most remote and untouched corners puts money into the local economy and helps preserve these pristine landscapes.

As many of these far-flung destinations are located in some of the world’s poorest countries, eco tourism helps these countries in their efforts to save and preserve their land through organisations that ultimately aim to save the planet.

Adventure travellers are needed throughout the world to support these initiatives with their tourism dollars. Also, travelling with eco-friendly and responsible travel companies can have positive changes on animal welfare, waste management, porter protection, communities in need and sustainable development – check out our Thoughtful Traveller guidebook for more information.

If you would like to talk to our team about tailoring an active outdoor educational trip for your school, start designing your journey here.