A Stepping Stone to a Lifetime of Adventure
KE is the UK's foremost adventure travel operator, with more than 25 years' experience of running a worldwide range of trekking trips, climbing expeditions, mountain biking escapades, family adventures and other challenging holiday options. We have a reputation for innovation, for attention to detail and for providing great holidays.
The very first KE school group travelled to Pakistan's Karakoram Mountains in 1988 and since that time demand for school expeditions has become increasingly popular. We have a School Group Team dedicated to this aspect of our business. On this website, you will find 2 and 3-week school group itineraries to the mountainous regions of Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, as well as shorter adventures in Europe, North Africa and Arabia. As a general rule, they are designed to be suitable for students aged 14 and over.
Adventure Travel, an educational experience
School group adventures are recognised to make an important contribution to the curriculum, with adventure travel providing a great opportunity for students to learn through first-hand experience. Travelling to new and exciting geographical environments, confronting new challenges and experiencing very different cultures, students gain a better sense of perspective and a clearer understanding of their own place in the world. Other acknowledged benefits of the group travel experience are improved self-confidence and the development of leadership, teamworking, planning and communication skills.
Responsible Tourism
Ever since we ran our first trip in 1984, we have been committed to minimising our environmental impact. Recognising the fragility of the world's wilderness environments, we keep our school groups small and operate according to the 'mountain code', which is provided to all all groups, leaders, agents and staff. KE has achieved AITO 5-star status for Responsible Tourism - the highest available.
Safe Travel
Our number one concern is for the safety of all who travel with KE Adventure Travel. Recognising that there is inherent risk in any adventurous activity, we aim to minimise this risk without detracting from the adventure experience. With KE making your travel arrangements, you can experience wild and remote places, whilst enjoying the security and peace of mind that comes from choosing a well-respected company with an excellent safety record.
Your KE Leader
KE school group leaders are chosen for their professionalism, their qualifications, their energy and for a proven ability to work with groups of young people. They have each passed a CRB criminal record check. Each of them has also completed a wilderness-specific first aid course. Most KE school group leaders have considerable experience of working with trekking and climbing groups amongst the world's great mountain ranges and many have a background in teaching, a fact which gives them a useful understanding of the way pupils and teachers interact.
An Appropriate Itinerary
It is important that you choose an itinerary that is suitable for your pupils, taking into account their age group, experience and ability. In consultation with one of the KE School Group Coordinators, your itinerary will be tailored to minimise risks and to ensure that the challenge will not compromise the team's safety.
Risk Assessment
KE routinely prepares a Risk Assessment for each school group itinerary, to be used by KE staff and group leaders. However, as a part of the planning for any school expedition, your school or Local Education Authority will require that you carry out a separate Risk Assessment. This involves breaking down the trip into its various elements and stages (including pre-trip training sessions) and isolating all areas of potential risk. Alongside these hazards you will need to show the measures taken, by KE and by school staff and group members, to minimise the risk. KE will provide a sample Risk Assessment for you to adapt to your particular expedition and circumstances.
Casualty Evacuation Procedure
KE also prepares an Evacuation Procedure document for each school group itinerary, to be used be KE group leaders. This shows clearly the optimal procedure for evacuation of an injured group member at any given point on the trip.
Communications and Emergency Back-up
KE school group leaders carry a satellite telephone, enabling them to maintain contact with local services and with the wider world. Our UK base is on stand-by for emergency management 24 hours a day. We have the best possible emergency back-up in each of the countries that we operate. Well-established rescue procedures, which include helicopter evacuation (wherever practicable), are coordinated though the KE leader and our local partners. All of our local support teams are well equipped and well trained.
First Aid
KE school groups carry a comprehensive medical and first aid kit.
Contact
For further information or a personalised quote please contact - schools@keadventure.com
