Expeditions

This Society was set up in 2005 to give Wykehamists the opportunity to travel and work in remote locations around the world. There are two main features that make these expeditions different from other School trips.  

The first lies in the level of responsibility given to the team members. They plan the expedition, raise the finances to fund it and, in the country, are responsible for all aspects of the venture. They control the budget and are also expected to arrange the accommodation, the food, the navigation, the travel, and the project work. They are accompanied by a School don and a leader from World Challenge - but the role of these adults is to ensure that the team is not placed in danger, nor the success of the trip compromised. It is also their obligation to help the team members derive the most benefit from their experiences. In modern educational parlance, they "facilitate experiential learning". When the team first arrives in a country, there is a steep learning curve: mistakes are made and systems evolve. Team members usually take turns as leader, bursar, travel agent, interpreter, cook, health and safety advisor, and a host of other country-specific roles. They learn to look after each other and anticipate each other's needs. In short, they become a team.  

The second unique selling point is the inclusion of a Community Service Project. We accept that it is a great privilege to attend Winchester. This Project provides an opportunity for Wykehamists to "give something back" to those less privileged than themselves. When we were in Brazil, we stayed in a remote village deep in the Amazonas and helped to rebuild a dilapidated village hall. For many, the project phase is the highlight of the expedition as it provides the best opportunity for cultural exchange.

An expedition like this requires enormous preparation. The team works together for well over a year before their departure. They plan, research, gather equipment, and raise funds. The trips usually cost around £40 000 - a phenomenal amount to raise for a team of schoolboys.