Going Local
Feedback from school groups this summer has again highlighted the incredible expertise, professionalism, care and knowledge that a well trained and experienced in-country expedition leader can bring to a trip.
Many teachers and students have taken the time to tell us just how vital their leader was in making their trip such a success. Thank you – it means a lot to us, our operators and your leaders!
Sadly though, forward-thinking expedition companies that promote, train and invest in overseas leaders are being restricted in how they can promote themselves to schools. They cannot, currently, apply for the Learning Outside the Classroom Expedition Badge due to a couple of rules within the Badge’s code of conduct which exclude the use of overseas leaders.
Whilst the Badge is not the only way for schools to find suitable operators, it is being ‘sold’ by the government and Outdoor Education Advisers as the easiest way for schools and teachers to gain access to approved suppliers. As such, schools are less and less likely to look for alternatives outside of the Badge scheme and that means schools are missing out on some fantastic opportunities.
Our regular readers will no doubt be aware of our long term campaign to try and get this changed, and we have previously been asked to speak on the topic by the Young Explorers' Trust.
This summer, we have written to the Quality Badge Development Manager at the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, The Schools Minister, Outdoor Education Advisers and also the Chair of the Expedition Providers Association (EPA) – the awarding body for the LOTC Expedition Badge - to press for a change to the rules. We believe more schools should benefit from the expertise of local leaders.
.jpg)
Our campaign goes beyond just this though, as we think EPA and the LOTC should make more of a commitment to ensuring a responsible approach to tourism.
Employing local expedition leaders is one of the best ways to ensure this. It creates employment and many associated economic benefits. It also raises aspirations and opportunities amongst the host communities by providing obvious career paths within small communities at risk of rural to urban migration. In addition, the training and investment required from UK tour operators further benefits the whole community. This is where tourism is at its most powerful to bring change and is something that the expedition community urgently needs to address.
Then there is the educational potential.
By inhibiting the use of overseas leaders, the LOTC / EPA’s current Code of Conduct is stifling the enormous educational potential offered by an in-country expedition leader. With an experienced local leader at the helm, students have the opportunity to tap into their leader’s enthusiasm and knowledge of the local culture, history, politics, religion, flora, fauna, language, contacts and so forth. The educational outcomes are enormous. Yet in the current Learning Outside the Classroom Badge Scheme, such opportunities are beyond reach.
When you consider the sheer experience of some local leaders, there could be a safety benefit too. We recently had a school group climb Mt Kenya. The two chief guides on the trip had, between them, over 30 years guiding experience and had climbed Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro over 700 times.
Local leaders are not always the answer, but to have a system where they are NEVER the answer, is completely non-sensical. There are different educational benefits associated with different expedition approaches, and that includes whether UK or local leaders are used. One is not necessarily better than the other. They are different, yet equally valid, and schools should be able to choose the educational outcomes they wish to achieve from a trip.
The next few months see some potential re-structuring of health and safety guidance, Badge Scheme governance and EPA policy, so we are looking to forward-thinking companies, organisations and those in decision making positions to do the right thing.
In the meantime, you can be sure we will do everything possible to keep up the pressure so that more schools can access some of the best leaders and expedition companies in the world.
0 Comments
There are no comments for this entry yet. Be the first to comment...