STC Expeditions FAQs.

About STC Expeditions

1. Who are STC Expeditions?

STC Expeditions is the trading name of The Specialist Travel Consultancy Ltd, a school travel company based in Exeter. We've run school expeditions and educational tours since 2006. We're registered in England and Wales, company number 05700491 (Companies House), and have been a Certified B Corporation since May 2026 (B Lab).

Our work is guided by five values (Values):

• Better business: business should make the world a better place, with fair prices, ethical tourism and real benefits for our staff, clients and the communities we visit.
• Celebrate diversity: we embrace and protect the cultures, environments and wildlife of the places we travel to.
• Adventure for all: the benefits of travel and adventure should be open to every young person, whatever their background.
• Education can change the world: travel and adventure create passionate young people who are open to new ways of thinking.
• Empowerment: we aim to empower everyone we work with, from our team in Exeter to the students on our trips and the communities they visit.

2. Why do schools choose STC Expeditions?

Because of how our trips are run. Every trip is run to BS 8848, the British Standard for overseas expeditions, and our conformity has been externally audited. Each group travels with a local, bilingual, first-aid-qualified STC leader, and our UK office is on call 24 hours a day while groups are away (What's included).

Teachers travel free, with free places matched to the staff ratio your school needs. Flight dates are confirmed 10 to 11 months ahead, as fixed dates rather than a date window (Why choose us).

3. Why should I trust STC Expeditions with my child's trip?

We've been organising school expeditions and educational trips since 2006. Our trips are run to, and have been externally audited against, BS 8848, the British Standard for overseas expeditions. Flight-inclusive trips are ATOL protected, and STC Expeditions has been a Certified B Corporation since May 2026. Every group travels with a local, first-aid-qualified STC leader alongside its teachers, and our UK office is on call 24 hours a day while groups are away. Call us to ask for references, or read our Google reviews. You can also check out our Case Studies here too. This is what teachers have said about the trips they have been on with STC Expeditions.

4. Where do STC Expeditions trips go?

We run trips to a wide variety of destinations around the globe. Our past and present destinations include the Azores, Borneo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Peru, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam. See every country currently available on our Destinations page.

5. What's the difference between a school expedition and an educational tour?

A school expedition is built around challenge and personal development, often with trekking and responsible project work. An educational tour is linked to a subject, such as geography, biology, religious studies or business, and takes that subject abroad.

6. Do you run sports tours?

Yes. Our sports tours combine training sessions and competitive matches overseas with cultural and adventure experiences. You focus on coaching the team while we run the trip to the same safety standards as our expeditions (Sports tours).

7. Do you run trips focused on girls' and women's experiences?

Yes. We run girls' school adventures, where students discover their destination from a local woman's perspective, meeting women from business leaders to fair trade olive growers and hearing about their lives and work.

8. Can STC Expeditions support Duke of Edinburgh expeditions?

Yes. We're approved to run Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions. We don't deliver the award's other sections.

9. How long are STC Expeditions trips?

As a rule of thumb, our itineraries last anywhere between 5 and 28 days.

10. Which year groups do trips suit?

We run expeditions from Year 7 onwards, and we've also run a Kenya expedition with a prep school.

11. How do you grade trips for difficulty?

We grade every itinerary twice, from 1 to 5 for physical demand and from 1 to 5 for cultural difference, so you can match a trip to your group. Physical grade 3 (Moderate), for example, means good health and reasonable fitness, some walking at up to about 2,500m and occasional 5 to 7 hour days. Cultural grade 4 (Immersive) means English is unlikely to be widely spoken and accommodation can be basic (What's included).

12. What do the physical and cultural grades mean?

Every itinerary has two grades: one for how physically demanding it is, and one for how different the culture will feel from home (What's included).

13. How do I contact STC Expeditions?

Call 01392 660056 or email enquiries@thestc.co.uk or info@thestc.co.uk. Our office address is Bank Chambers, 65-67 High Street, Exeter EX4 3DT.

Safety and BS 8848

14. Are the expeditions we run safe?

Every STC Expeditions trip is run to BS 8848:2014, the British Standard for overseas visits, expeditions and adventurous activities, and our conformity has been externally audited (Safety). That doesn't mean there's no risk. Expeditions are more challenging than a standard school trip, and accommodation, transport and healthcare abroad may be more basic than at home. BS 8848 means those risks are assessed, managed and planned for, through risk assessments, trained leaders and contingency plans.

"We felt safe, supported and informed at all parts of this trip." Teacher, Costa Rica expedition

15. Can an expedition be completely risk-free?

No. Part of the value of adventure travel comes from its challenges. Risk assessments, expert local leaders, careful planning and contingency arrangements reduce risk, but they can't remove it altogether (Parents).

16. What is BS 8848?

BS 8848:2014 is the British Standard for organising visits, fieldwork, expeditions and adventurous activities outside the UK, published by the BSI. It sets requirements for planning, risk management, leadership and emergency procedures. Schools and local authorities often look for it when approving overseas trips. We're externally audited against BS 8848 by the Young Explorers' Trust (YET).

17. Why is BS 8848 important?

It gives schools an independent benchmark. Rather than relying on a travel company's own word, BS 8848 shows that its planning, risk management, leadership and emergency procedures meet a recognised national standard. That makes it easier for EVCs, senior leaders and local authorities to approve an overseas trip, and it reassures parents that the risks of an expedition have been assessed and planned for before anyone leaves the UK.

18. Who checks that STC Expeditions meets BS 8848?

The Young Explorers' Trust (YET), acting as an independent "other party". YET declared our conformity based on the operating procedures and safety management systems it reviewed on 18 March 2024, and a sample of trips examined to the end of 2023 (Safety).

19. What does BS 8848 compliance cover in practice?

• Risk and threat assessments shared early, to help with your school's approval process
• A local, bilingual, first-aid-qualified STC leader with every group
• A permanent operations team in each destination, and our UK office on call 24 hours a day while groups are away
• A comprehensive first aid kit with every group, and an STC medical pack, which needs a refundable deposit
• External, confidential medical clearance for participants
• 24-hour access to remote medical support
• Where appropriate, personal locator beacons for teams in remote areas
• A partnership with PHAROS Response for crisis support
• A bespoke training framework for the most demanding expeditions: those graded 4 or 5 out of 5 for physical challenge or for how different the culture is from the UK, as shown on every itinerary page

20. Can we see your Safety Management System?

Yes. Our Safety Management System sets out how we keep students and staff safe, covering trip selection, transport, accommodation, threat assessments, incident response, leader selection, communications, child protection and the school's responsibilities. Contact us for a copy (Safety).

21. Who leads the trips overseas?

Every group travels with a local STC leader from the destination, who speaks English and the local language and is first-aid qualified. Teachers stay in charge of their students; the STC leader handles logistics, local relationships and safety management (What's included). We require our leaders to hold relevant qualifications and at least three years' experience leading groups, and we train each one individually. We also require a police check for every Expedition Leader, because not every country has an equivalent of the UK's DBS check. Some of the checks our local leaders go through are stricter than those in the UK.

22. Who is in charge of students during the trip?

We have overall responsibility for the trip, including health and safety, and the Trip Leader's decisions are final. The leader team acts in loco parentis while the group is away, and the school's teachers remain responsible for supervising students and their behaviour (Terms and conditions).

23. What happens if there's an emergency on a trip?

Every group has a trained local STC leader with it, backed by our operations team in the destination and our UK office, which is on call 24 hours a day. Our duty phone is staffed by a member of the STC team at all times while a group is away. We also work with PHAROS Response for 24/7 crisis management support. Every group gets ICE (in case of emergency) cards in its final travel pack. They list the STC duty phone, the PHAROS 24-hour emergency line and the FCDO's 24-hour emergency line, with space to add the local British Embassy, ambulance, police and fire numbers and the teacher and leader numbers. Groups carry a comprehensive first aid kit and the STC medical pack. During the trip, the STC Trip Leader has the final say on decisions within the leadership team, which also includes the school's teachers.

24. How do groups stay in contact in remote areas?

Every group carries satellite, radio or mobile communications, depending on what the itinerary and terrain need, so the group can make contact in any situation (Safety).

25. What safety support do schools get before the trip?

We share initial risk and threat assessments early to help with your school's approval process, and provide trip-specific risk assessments before booking (Why choose us).

26. What happens if the FCDO advises against travel to our destination?

We don't travel to places the FCDO advises against travelling to. If the advice changes after booking, we'll usually offer a change of plan, depending on what the school wants.

27. Is STC Expeditions LOtC accredited?

No. STC Expeditions doesn't hold the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge. Our safety management has been externally audited to BS 8848 instead, which is the same standard LOtC uses.

Next step: risk assessments for any trip are available to view; ask us on enquiries@thestc.co.uk.

Booking, payments and financial protection

The school books the trip, so the contract, payments and cancellations all run through the school rather than individual families (booking conditions).

28. Who is the booking contract with?

The school. Our booking conditions are a contract between the school and The Specialist Travel Consultancy Ltd. Parents with questions about payments, or about their child withdrawing, should speak to the lead teacher at their school first. They can also read our booking conditions.

29. How much does a trip cost?

Every trip is quoted as one price per person, built around your group, dates and itinerary, so there's no fixed price list. The price depends on group size, time of year, how many free teacher places you need and how far ahead you book (Teachers).

30. What's included in the price?

Included (What's included):

• International flights, and all accommodation, transport and activities in the itinerary
• Meals as shown in the day-by-day itinerary (on most trips, three a day once you've arrived)
• A local, bilingual, first-aid-qualified STC leader, a permanent operations team in the destination and 24-hour UK support
• BS 8848 safety management, risk assessments and ATOL financial protection
• A launch presentation for parents and students at your school, pre-travel training sessions, pre-departure information, kit lists and teacher travel packs
• A free Fairtrade t-shirt for every participant and teacher who wants one, and a donation to two carbon and conservation charities

Not included: getting to the UK airport, tips for guides and drivers, visas, vaccinations, insurance and personal spending money. We can advise on each.

31. Are meals and drinks included?

Meals are included wherever the itinerary marks them (B, L, D); on most trips that's three meals a day once you arrive. Where a meal isn't marked, the group is usually travelling or has free time, and your leader will point you to good, safe options. Drinks aren't included, but we give advice on water purification (What's included).

32. Is transport to the UK airport included?

No. Most schools book a coach to the airport. We're currently contributing up to £1,500 towards UK airport transfers for trips travelling in 2028 (What's included).

33. Do we need to tip guides and drivers?

Tips for guides, drivers and porters aren't included in the price. We give guidance and a suggested amount for your destination (What's included).

34. Is travel insurance included?

Not as standard. Our What's included page lists insurance as something schools budget for separately. When a trip's price does include our travel insurance, it covers emergency medical treatment, repatriation and personal liability, plus cancellation, though not for pre-existing medical conditions, and it doesn't cover personal belongings (booking conditions).

35. What's the deposit and Planning Fee?

The deposit is usually £400 per person, which includes the £250 Planning Fee. The Planning Fee covers the training and services we provide before the trip. If we're forced to cancel the trip, we keep the Planning Fee in recognition of the work already done. Neither is refundable unless the booking conditions say otherwise, and the Planning Fee isn't refunded even if the trip can't go ahead.

36. When are payments due?

Each trip has its own payment plan, set out in the pre-booking information pack: the deposit and the Planning Fee, then one or more interim payments, then the balance. Each has a due date in that plan (booking conditions). Families can pay in instalments, and the balance is usually due around eight to ten weeks before departure.

37. Can the price change after booking?

Only if costs change for one of three reasons: fuel, third-party taxes or fees such as airport charges, or exchange rates. If those costs fall, the price can come down too. No surcharge is added within 20 days of departure. If a surcharge is more than 8% of the Trip Cost, the school can cancel by telling us in writing within 14 days. If it does, it gets a full refund of the Trip Cost, less the Planning Fee.

38. What if fewer students sign up than planned?

The price assumes the group reaches the minimum number agreed at booking. If numbers fall below that, we offer an adjusted price for the smaller group where the trip can still run. If the trip can't run with a smaller group, we look for an alternative of equivalent value.

39. Can a place be transferred to another student?

Yes, with our agreement. The school must ask in writing at least 7 days before departure, the new student must meet all booking and insurance requirements, and there's a £50 administration fee per place. It also depends on availability, of flights for example.

40. What happens if a student withdraws or the school cancels?

The school tells us in writing. The charge depends on how long before departure the notice arrives:

A £50 administration fee is added unless the charge is 100%. The deposit and Planning Fee aren't refunded, and charges can be higher for some arrangements, such as non-refundable flights. More than 360 days before departure, the charge is loss of the deposit only.

41. What if STC Expeditions has to change or cancel the trip?

If we have to make a major change, we tell the school in writing and offer alternatives or a full refund of the Trip Cost. No compensation is paid when the cause is outside anyone's control, such as a natural disaster, pandemic or civil unrest, and the Planning Fee isn't refunded.

42. What is ATOL protection?

ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) is the UK's financial protection scheme for holidays and trips that include flights, run by the Civil Aviation Authority. If a company with an ATOL stops trading, the scheme makes sure travellers aren't stranded abroad and can get money back for trips they haven't taken. Every protected booking comes with an ATOL Certificate listing what's covered (CAA).

43. Is our money protected?

Yes. Every STC Expeditions expedition includes flights, so every expedition is ATOL protected. We hold ATOL licence 11054, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority and listed on the CAA's register under The Specialist Travel Consultancy Ltd. When a flight-inclusive trip is booked, the school receives an ATOL Certificate listing what's protected. If we stopped trading, money paid for flights and the package is protected, and anyone already abroad would be brought home (Financial protection).

44. Will we get an ATOL Certificate?

Yes. When you pay, we issue an ATOL Certificate. Check that everything you booked, including flights, hotels and other services, is listed on it. Our ATOL number is 11054 (Financial protection).

45. Is STC Expeditions a member of ABTA?

No. We're not an ABTA member. Every expedition includes flights and is protected by our ATOL licence, 11054, and our safety management has been externally audited to BS 8848.

46. How do I make a complaint?

Talk to us first, as most issues can be sorted quickly. If you want to make a formal complaint, send us the details in writing within 28 days of the trip ending (Terms and conditions).

Next step: read our full booking conditions, or ask for a quote on 01392 660056.

For teachers

47. How do I start planning a trip?

Call 01392 660056 or email enquiries@thestc.co.uk. We'll talk through your plans, then send a tailored proposal and quote with the information your senior leadership team needs to decide (Teachers).

48. How far in advance should a school book?

It varies. Some schools book three years ahead, and others around a year before they travel. Flight dates are confirmed 10 to 11 months before departure.

49. How far ahead are flight dates confirmed?

10 to 11 months before departure, as fixed dates rather than a date window, so families can plan around them (Why choose us).

50. How big are STC Expeditions groups?

There's no fixed minimum or maximum. Groups usually have at least 10 students, with the odd exception, and go up to around 50. Each quote is based on a minimum number agreed at booking, and groups of more than 25 may be split across flights (booking conditions). Even with a smaller group, we offer free teacher places, and we're always happy to discuss teacher-to-student ratios.

51. Do teachers travel free?

Yes. Every trip includes at least two free teacher places, whatever the size of the group. Larger groups get more free places, usually based on a ratio of 1:8 or 1:10: a group of 20 students has two free teacher places, and a group of 100 students at 1:10 has ten (Teachers). We can advise on the ratio, but the decision is the school's.

52. How does STC Expeditions help us get a trip approved?

We share initial risk and threat assessments early to help with your school's approval process, and our quotes include the information your senior leadership team needs to decide (What's included, Teachers). Risk assessments for each trip are available to view. We're happy to meet you, and we can supply all the paperwork your EVC needs to approve the trip, including information for the Evolve system. We can also provide references from long-standing client schools.

53. What happens after we book?

Once your senior leadership team approves the proposal, we help you launch the trip, deposits are taken and services confirmed. Preparation then runs through to departure, including pre-travel information sessions, a responsible tourism workshop and travel safety training for the group (What's included).

54. What help is there to launch the trip to students and parents?

A launch presentation for parents and students, at your school or online, is included as standard (What's included). We can also provide the itinerary, slides and posters, and can give the launch talk ourselves.

55. What briefing do teachers get before departure?

Teachers get their own briefing before departure, covering the leader team's roles, emergency procedures and in-country arrangements. They also get a final travel pack with ICE cards, the STC medical pack, a Travel Survival Guide covering what to bring and more, a language guide of key phrases to fill in, and free t-shirts for anyone who wants one. The whole group gets pre-travel information sessions and a pre-departure brief.

56. Can students gain a qualification from their trip?

Yes. With the Centre for Global Citizenship Studies, we offer the Diploma in International Volunteering, an Ofqual-regulated Level 3 qualification worth 16 UCAS points. It's an online, portfolio-based course of 41 hours that students build around their trip, and it costs an extra £425 (Diploma).

57. Can students take on responsibility during the trip?

Yes. Students can take on roles such as student leader, finance officer, or health and morale officer. They can also help plan the trip, from researching the destination and learning some of the local language to setting fundraising goals (Personal development).

Next step: for a tailored proposal and quote, call 01392 660056.

For parents

58. What preparation do students and parents get?

Before departure, we deliver a pre-departure brief for students and parents. It covers risk management, health and hygiene, water filtration and what to do if something goes wrong. Groups also get a Travel Survival Guide, with advice on what to bring and more, and a language guide of key phrases. Families can also use our online portal, with vaccine information, fundraising tips and the kit list (Planning and preparation).

59. Is there an online portal for parents and students?

Yes. We post resources to an online portal/ booking form including vaccination information, fundraising tips and the kit list (Planning and preparation).

60. Is a parental consent form needed?

Yes. We need a completed Parental Consent Form, online or on paper, confirming your child will follow our policies and procedures. We can't confirm a place until we've received it (Terms and conditions).

61. How can I help my child before, during and after the trip?

Before: help with fundraising and preparation, such as practice walks to break in new boots and reading about the destination. During: try not to message too often, as it can make homesickness worse. After: expect some reverse culture shock, and make time to hear their stories.

62. How fit do students need to be?

It depends on the trip. Every suggested itinerary has a physical grade from 1 to 5, and we assess each student's fitness to take part from their booking and health form (booking conditions). Treks at altitude, such as in Peru and Nepal, are demanding, and previous students recommend training walks in broken-in boots beforehand.

63. Does my child need to buy specific kit?

We give every group a mandatory kit list for its destination, and students are responsible for getting that kit and making sure it's of suitable quality. Where we supply equipment, students need to take reasonable care of it (Terms and conditions).

64. What should students wear?

Many destinations expect modest dress: shoulders and chest covered, and clothing past the knee, for everyone. Lightweight, quick-drying fabrics help in the heat. Our Travel Survival Guide and kit list cover the details for each trip.

65. How much spending money should students bring?

It depends on the destination and the length of the trip. Most students spend far less than they expect, because meals and activities are already covered. We give a realistic figure for your itinerary in the pre-departure information (What's included).

66. Will accommodation and facilities be like home?

Usually not. Standards of accommodation, transport, health care, hygiene and service are generally lower than in the UK, so flexibility and patience help a lot (Parents).

67. Will students camp?

Some trips include camping, for example in the desert in Jordan, beside rivers in Costa Rica, in the mountains of northern India and Nepal, in the Sahara, in the Borneo jungle and in the High Atlas. Ask us which nights of your itinerary are camping.

68. What are the toilets like on an expedition?

Often basic. Squat toilets are common in many destinations, and in some, such as Costa Rica, toilet paper can't be flushed. Previous students recommend packing a small kit with tissues and hand sanitiser. Each destination page has more tips from earlier groups.

69. Can students take their phones?

It depends on the trip and your school's rules. On the Finland expedition, for example, students leave their devices at the lodge from the second day until the canoeing ends, while they canoe and wild camp on the lakes (STC blog). There's no general ban, but we advise students to use their phones as little as possible and to keep contact with home to a minimum. Our research shows that many students find a break from their phone is a major bonus of the trip.

70. Will students have wifi or phone signal?

Not always. Previous groups found the internet patchy in remote areas, so expect gaps in contact.

71. How will parents hear from the group while it's away?

If anything happens, we'll be in touch. Otherwise, we encourage families to keep contact to a minimum during the trip, because frequent messages can make homesickness worse (Parents). It's advice rather than a rule. Many schools send parents regular updates while the group is away; these are arranged by the school, not by STC Expeditions. In a family emergency at home, call our duty phone, which is staffed by a member of the STC team at all times while a group is away. We give families the duty phone number before the group leaves. We also have an agreement with Holafly that lets you buy an eSIM through our link. It can be reassuring to have, but we still recommend students use their phones as little as possible.

72. What happens if a student has to come home early?

It depends why. If a student becomes ill and has to leave the trip, one of the school's teachers goes with them for as long as is reasonably practical, while the rest of the group carries on. Travel insurance covers medical repatriation, and parents are told either through the school or by us. If a student's behaviour is unacceptable, the STC Trip Leader can withdraw them from the trip; the school then becomes responsible for them, and the school and the student cover any costs (booking conditions).

73. What if my child needs to withdraw?

Speak to the lead teacher at your school. The booking is the school's, so the school tells us in writing, and any charge depends on how close to departure that happens (see the cancellation table under Booking).

Next step: questions about your child's trip? Start with the lead teacher at your school, or email enquiries@thestc.co.uk.

Health, passports and travel documents

74. What passport does my child need?

Usually one valid for at least six months after the return date, but rules vary by country. The school and each family must check entry and visa rules for every country on the route, including transit stops, and for coming back to the UK, using GOV.UK foreign travel advice. Visas aren't included in the trip price.

75. Can students without a British passport come?

Yes. Students of any nationality can join an STC expedition, but entry and visa rules vary by passport, and we only give visa advice for British passports. Our booking conditions make the school and each participant responsible for checking entry rules, including for coming back to the UK. Families with other passports should check their own requirements on GOV.UK and with the embassies of the countries they're visiting.

76. Do the new EU entry rules affect our trip?

They do if your trip visits a Schengen country, such as Finland. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is being introduced across the Schengen area, so on arrival students may be asked to register fingerprints and a photo, free of charge. Passports for Schengen countries must have been issued less than 10 years before arrival and expire at least three months after the day you leave (GOV.UK). A separate online travel authorisation, ETIAS, is planned but not yet required.

77. What vaccinations or health precautions are needed?

It depends on the destination, and requirements can change close to departure. Check with your GP or a travel clinic at least six weeks before travel, and see TravelHealthPro or NHS Fit for Travel for each country. Our booking conditions make the school and participants responsible for this, and vaccinations aren't included in the trip price. We give general guidance on the online portal, and we don't send groups anywhere with a serious health risk that can't be managed with vaccinations or similar precautions.

78. What if my child has a medical condition or reduced mobility?

Tell us before booking. Every student, with a parent or guardian, completes an STC booking and health form before enrolling, so we can assess whether the trip suits them. The school must also tell us about any disability, medical condition or injury that could affect a student's ability to complete the trip safely (booking conditions). Not disclosing a condition can affect insurance and whether your child can travel. Some trips also need sign-off from a GP or an independent medical adviser.

79. Can STC Expeditions cater for dietary needs, allergies and additional needs?

Tell us on the booking form. Our operations team reviews every form and checks with our partners in the destination that each need can be met before the group travels.

Next step: check GOV.UK foreign travel advice for every country on your route.

Responsible travel, B Corp and sustainability

80. Is STC Expeditions a B Corp?

Yes. The Specialist Travel Consultancy Ltd, trading as STC Expeditions, has been a Certified B Corporation since May 2026, with an overall B Impact Score of 98.1 against the 80 needed to qualify (B Lab). B Corp certification is awarded by the non-profit B Lab to businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. It follows an independent assessment of a company's governance and its impact on workers, communities, customers and the environment, and companies must recertify to keep it.

81. Why did STC Expeditions become a B Corp, and why does it matter?

One of our values is that business should make the world a better place. B Corp certification holds us to that: it means our treatment of our team, the communities we visit and the environment is independently checked against a demanding standard, rather than resting on our own claims. For schools and families, it's a simple way to know that a company's ethical promises are backed by evidence.

82. Are you a Living Wage employer?

Yes. In 2025 we became an accredited Living Wage employer with the Living Wage Foundation and signed up to the Better Business Act. Our office runs on 100% renewable electricity and uses only Fairtrade tea and coffee (What do we do?).

83. How does STC Expeditions make sure trips benefit local communities?

We only arrange sustainable, ethical project work in communities that need it (Why choose us), and our leaders are local people from each destination (Expedition leaders). Communities is one of the three pillars of our goals, alongside Diversity and Carbon Reduction (goals). Our Philanthropy Statement sets out how we support communities and nature where we work.

Projects are developed with local communities, NGOs and conservation organisations. Examples include building vegetable greenhouses with the NGO Ecosphere in Ladakh, planting mangroves in Borneo, rubbish clean-up treks on Morocco's Atlantic coast and Mount Kenya, and learning batik with the Global Mamas in Ghana (Volunteer projects).

84. Does STC Expeditions arrange volunteering at orphanages?

No. We won't arrange project work at orphanages or anywhere whose purpose is looking after children, because short-term visits aren't in those children's best interests (Orphanage tourism).

85. What is Days for Girls, and can boys take part?

Days for Girls is a not-for-profit that makes and distributes menstrual hygiene kits. On our Girls' School Adventure programme, students work alongside local women on kit distribution, after completing Days for Girls' online Ambassadors of Women's Health training. It isn't limited to girls' groups: we think everyone should be involved in removing the stigma (Days for Girls).

86. Which charities does STC Expeditions support?

The Sir Francis Chichester Trust, Days for Girls, Dreamaway, Cool Earth and Trees for Life (goals). Every trip also includes a donation to two carbon and conservation charities (What's included). These are Cool Earth and Trees for Life.

87. What is your policy on animal welfare?

None of our itineraries include elephant rides, and they never will. Where working animals such as donkey porters are used, we aim to make sure they're properly cared for, and we won't work anywhere we believe animal welfare isn't considered (What do we do?).

88. What do you do about litter and plastic?

We follow a zero-litter "pack it in, pack it out" approach, and our leaders encourage students to carry litter until it can be disposed of properly. Itineraries include an environmental clean-up where it's needed, in places including Costa Rica, Borneo, Vietnam, Kenya, Morocco and Thailand. We also encourage reusable and biodegradable products (What do we do?).

89. What is a carbon label?

Every STC Expeditions itinerary carries a carbon label showing its estimated emissions, calculated with carbon consultancy eCollective, so schools and families can compare trips. In line with Science Based Targets initiative guidance, we aim to cut the emissions of our trips and business by 5% a year (Carbon labels).

90. Why is carbon labelling important?

It lets schools, teachers, parents and students make informed decisions about the trips they book, and take ownership of the carbon their travel creates. Labels make trips easy to compare: a six-day Morocco trip comes to 837kg CO2e per person, for example, against 4,031kg for ten days in Cuba. For us, labelling every trip gives a baseline to measure our 5% yearly reduction against, and we report on our progress each year (Carbon labels).

Labelling also keeps the focus on cutting emissions at source, which independent research suggests is far more reliable than offsetting them (see question 91).

91. Does STC Expeditions offset its carbon?

Our focus is on measuring and cutting emissions rather than offsetting them. Every trip includes a donation to two carbon and conservation charities (What's included), and through our partnership with Trees for Life we plant a tree for every traveller (What do we do?).

Why not offsets? Independent studies have found that many carbon offset credits, particularly forest protection credits, deliver far smaller emission cuts than they claim. So we don't describe our trips as "carbon neutral" or treat our donations as cancelling out a trip's emissions. They're a contribution to climate and nature projects, made alongside our work to reduce emissions year on year.

92. What are STC Expeditions' sustainability targets?

We publish targets to reduce our waste, energy use, water use and carbon footprint, currently a 5% cut in each, on our goals page. If we miss a target, we've committed to saying so.

Next step: read our Philanthropy Statement.

Fundraising

93. Should my child pay towards their trip?

We encourage students to contribute, even a small part. Owning part of an educational experience makes it far more powerful, and it has the added bonus of building budgeting, saving and entrepreneurial skills.

94. How does STC Expeditions help students fundraise?

We run a fundraising seminar for every booked expedition, and can advise on shorter trips (Parents). We also offer fundraising tips on the online portal, and workshops, printed materials, and cashback and discount incentives through our Learn to Earn programme.

95. How much can a student raise?

In some cases, the whole cost. We've seen students fully fund expeditions costing well over £3,000 themselves. A good starting point is to agree a split, such as the family paying 60% and the student 40%; with a fundraising and savings plan, some students end up covering 80% (Parents).

96. Do you offer discounted places for students from lower-income families?

Yes. Our Philanthropy Statement commits us to offering discounted trips to students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Talk to us about whether your students are eligible.

Next step: see how Learn to Earn helps students raise money for their trip.