About 4 — High Points

EXPEDITIONS

We passionately believe that children and young people should be given opportunities to take charge of their own lives, to make mistakes and to learn from them, initially through play and then through progressive programmes of incrementally increasing uncertainty and risk.

We’ve run expeditions with schools for over 20 years, most recently to the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains in both summer and winter, Morocco’s Jebel Sahro region, Sweden’s remote lakes and rivers; as well as adventurous canoe and mountain journeys in Scotland.

The big challenge for young people whilst on expedition is in coping with life away from civilisation and solving the daily problems that living in the wilderness throws at you. Team members soon learn to work together; listen to and follow advice, take responsibility for themselves and others, and start feeling proud of their achievements…

We are looking to develop self-reliance, resilience, confidence, responsibility, the ability to make the right choices, but also the fortitude to live with the consequences of the wrong ones. Our job as leaders is to anticipate the hazards, keeping everyone safe, but ensuring that things seem on the edge when they need to be to give the team new challenges to work on. People learn by being exposed to new situations and being allowed to have a go.

We would love to discuss ideas with you and help realise them.

Determined to reach the summit - Sgurr na Ciche, Knoydart.JPG

Expedition testimonials

“It is wonderful to see Tim and his team giving individuals the opportunities to take charge of their own lives, making the right decisions and encouraging teamwork, co-operation and cheerfulness in challenging circumstances. There have been some remarkable performances by young people on this trip and I am sure that it will be seen by most as one of the defining moments of their school careers.”

Andy Murphy - Head, Tower Wood Outdoor Education Centre
“Just wanted to say thank you for an amazing trip! Really enjoyed it and hope we can do it again!” “...we were encouraged to try challenging activities and felt safe in a dangerous environment thanks to the teachers and other members of staff…” “...I liked the fact that we were treated as adults and given independence and responsibility – it teaches us valuable skills for when we do it alone…”

Student Feedback - Queen Katherine School Atlas Mountain Expedition
“A massive thank you to you and the rest of the team for organising and running the trip. Maddie had an amazing time. It was her best trip ever – above any family holidays! This type of excursion gives them so much more than a ‘normal’ school trip. They are challenged to do something they wouldn’t normally do and with a small group of people they have the opportunity to get to know them all. She has returned with even more confidence and is hoping you are going to organise another one soon!”

Parent’s feedback - Queen Katherine School
“The staff team intuitively established an appropriate set of educational values, aims and expectations and worked in extremis to create a spirit which percolated down to the young people.”

Andy Murphy - Head of Outdoor Education
Tower Wood Outdoor Education Centre
“Just a quick note to say a huge thank you for taking the group out to Toubkal and organising everything. Jonah had a fantastic time. Last night he showed us the footage of him sprinting summit! By all accounts everyone got on really well and we know how much hard work will have been involved to make sure they all enjoyed themselves.”

Parent’s feedback - Queen Katherine School
“…the adventurous programmes of personal and social development that are organised by Tim and his team are something very special. The expeditions have, for me, come to define what is the very best in outdoor education provision.”

Andy Murphy - Head, Tower Wood Outdoor Education Centre
“Thank you for such an amazing trip, it was honestly one of the greatest experiences. While being physically the hardest thing I have done it was also an incredible experience to spend such a focused time with different people without the distractions of school work, pressure and a phone constantly buzzing or without noticing it taking time away from amazing moments which we would have otherwise missed. In reflection it has made me evaluate and consequently delete social media so I can now appreciate the empty moments which would have once been filled on a phone."

Student Feedback - Queen Katherine School Atlas Mountain Expedition
“The benefits of taking pupils out of their everyday, urban surroundings to Glencoul, was absolutely invaluable. I saw our pupils shine. The experiences gained have, without a doubt, developed them into more independent and motivated young people.”

Mrs D Cleary - Head of Year 11 Achievement
Palatine Community Sports College
"For me the two most fulfilling moments were reaching the summit in such lovely weather and the kindness and happiness of the people. I was nervous before leaving but now it feels like such a positive, proud memory! Thank you!”

Student Feedback - Queen Katherine School Atlas Mountain Expedition
“What a brilliant expedition! …an amazing time with such a lot of fun and challenges galore. Lucy is buzzing for the next adventure. Thanks for your vision in leading such a bold trip for 6 th formers, with freedom for them to push their limits in terms of safety, climb Toubkal, and explore Morocco along with you and the leader team. What a lucky group they are… a massive thank you to you and all adults involved.”

Parent’s Feedback - Queen Katherine School Atlas Mountain Expedition
“…a challenging programme built on the best traditions of experiential learning and social education – the views of young people are not only sought, but they are encouraged to think for themselves and to take responsibility for the decisions that they make.” “All the Health and Safety aspects are taken very seriously with enough opportunities for young people to be outside of their comfort zones but within very capable and experienced hands.”

Bal Gill - Operations Director - Blackpool Youth Service
“No-one does anything as adventurous as this but it is amongst the most safely organised – this really does set the benchmark for real outdoor education.” “…real situations demanding real levels of commitment in appropriately challenging environments…” “…rather than being offered solutions to real problems in challenging environments, Tim, with perfect timing, proffers the question “what shall we do now?”

Andy Murphy - Head, Tower Wood Outdoor Education Centre
“Tim’s work organising and delivering expeditions has provided life changing experiences for our students (and staff!)”

Graham Little - Head of Outdoor Education Palatine Community Sports College
“No-one does anything as adventurous as this but it is amongst the most safely organised – this really does set the benchmark for real outdoor education.”

Andy Murphy - Head, Tower Wood Outdoor Education Centre

EXPEDITIONS

We passionately believe that children and young people should be given opportunities to take charge of their own lives, to make mistakes and to learn from them, initially through play and then through progressive programmes of incrementally increasing uncertainty and risk.

“The staff team intuitively established an appropriate set of educational values, aims and expectations and worked in extremis to create a spirit which percolated down to the young people.”

“…the adventurous programmes of personal and social development that are organised by Tim and his team are something very special. The expeditions have, for me, come to define what is the very best in outdoor education provision.”

“The benefits of taking pupils out of their everyday, urban surroundings to Glencoul, was absolutely invaluable. I saw our pupils shine. The experiences gained have, without a doubt, developed them into more independent and motivated young people.”

"For me the two most fulfilling moments were reaching the summit in such lovely weather and the kindness and happiness of the people. I was nervous before leaving but now it feels like such a positive, proud memory! Thank you!”

“Tim’s work organising and delivering expeditions has provided life changing experiences for our students (and staff!)”

“No-one does anything as adventurous as this but it is amongst the most safely organised – this really does set the benchmark for real outdoor education.”