In Spring 2004 the Young Explorers’ Trust, the umbrella organisation of youth exploration societies and providers, launched a Standing Forum for all organisations involved with overseas youth expeditions. It would meet regularly to share best practice in youth overseas expeditions and produce basic common denominators as a means of ensuring that all such organisations met the minimum standards necessary for the safe and effective delivery of youth expeditions overseas.
Since then the Forum has met regularly twice a year to discuss topics of interest to the whole spectrum of youth exploration, including charitable and voluntary societies, commercial providers, youth organisations and schools. By sharing ideas and good practice and by reaching jointly agreed outcomes on the major issues, our sector of the expedition scene can be more confident in our future development.
The YET, in partnership with these organisations, has produced papers on:
- Selection of Leaders
- Overseas Expedition Leader Development
- Youth Expeditions and Personal Development.
- YET Environmental Fieldwork handbook
The Forum has been part of the development process for:
- The BSI Standard for Youth Expeditions
- Skills Active – National Occupational Standards in Expedition Leadership
Recent Forum topics include:
- Sharing Learning from expedition incidents
- Use of IT on Expeditions
- Psychological aspects of youth expeditions
- Expeditions and sustainability
Membership of the Forum is open to all who have an interest in youth exploration whether or not they are members of the Young Explorer’s Trust.
Forum normally meets in Spring and Autumn at various venues in the south and further north.
Previous Forum topics and outcomes
21. Youth Expeditions in a post-Covid environment
Sunday 28 March 2021, 2pm
More details
Outcomes
- Live webinar from guest speakers
- Q&A with guest speakers
18. Inclusivity
May 2013
Download notes for the 18th Forum
16. Psychological Aspects of Youth Expeditions
May 2012: King Edward VIth School, Handsworth
Outcomes
- Presentations
- Discussion
- Workshops
15. Sustainable & Ethical Expeditions
April 2011: World Challenge, High Wycombe
Outcomes
- Case studies
- Sharing views
14. IT on expeditions
October 2010: The Grammar School at Leeds
Outcomes
- Discussion
- Hands-on examples
13. Career Development & Transferable Skills in Expedition Leadership & Management
June 2010: Skills Active, London
Outcomes
- General discussion on proposals which may lead to qualifications
12. Expedition Incidents
October 2009: Solihull School
Outcomes
- Types of incidents and why they occur
- Case studies
11. National Occupational Standards; BSI 8848 & EPA Badges; Inspiring Britain’s Teenagers
March 2009: RGS
Outcomes
- NOS: Update
- BSI 8848 & EPA Badges: Update
- Inspiring Britain’s Teenagers: Address and discussion
10. Skills Active; Practice, Policy & Research, making connections; Environment
October 2008: The Grammar School at Leeds
Outcomes
- Skills Active: Update
- Practice, Policy & Research, making connections: Information on current research
- Environment: Launch of YET Environmental Fieldwork Handbook
9. Skills Active, National Occupational Standards; NVQs on Expeditions
March 2008: Skills Active, London
Outcomes
- Skills Active, NOS: Discussion on proposals
- Update on NVQ
8. Environmental Responsibility & Projects for Expeditions; Youth Expeditions & Personal Development; Food Hygiene
October 2007: Bolton School
Outcomes
- YET Booklet subsequently produced on environmental responsibility
- Good Practice Paper on personal development
- Food Hygiene Paper
7. BSI Development; EPA Badge scheme
March 2007: RGS
Outcomes
- Progress reports
6. BSI Standard Discussion; NVQs on expeditions
September 2006: King Edward VI School, Handsworth
Outcomes
- Outline of proposal for BSI 8848
5. Current initiatives BSI, NVQ, NOS
March 2006: Thornbridge Hall, Bakewell Adventureworks
Outcomes
- Resume of present initiatives
4. Benchmarks for overseas expedition providers
September 2005: Lifesigns, Aldershot
Outcomes
- Summary of recent developments
3. Leader development; Mountain Sickness; Regulation
April 2005: Buxton World Challenge
Outcomes
- Leader Development Good Practice Paper
- Mountain Sickness Guidelines developed
2. Leader Development
October 2004: RAF Cranwell
Outcomes
- Wide-ranging discussion
1. Leader Selection
April 2004: RGS
Outcomes
- Good Practice Paper