FAQs for Expedition Leaders
1. How is World Challenge different from other expedition companies?World Challenge isn’t simply a trip overseas; it’s a leadership program that involves 8-18 months of preparation and planning on the part of participants before departure. We encourage students to take complete ownership of their expedition – from planning their itinerary and earning money to pay for their own adventure to taking an active leadership roll within their team while in-country. For a more thorough description of the World Challenge program, see What is World Challenge?
2. What is my role as an Expedition Leader?
Expedition Leaders are responsible for the overall health and safety of the team abroad. World Challenge encourages a ‘lead from behind’ approach, in which Expedition Leaders allow the students to make key decisions, while also ensuring that the expedition stays on track. For a more thorough description of the role, see What is an Expedition Leader?
3. How many students are on each team?
Team size generally ranges from 12 to 20 students, who are between the ages of 14 and 17. World Challenge has a maximum student to adult ratio of 8:1, so depending on the team size you will be travelling with one or two chaperoning teachers. Occasionally an Assistant Expedition Leader or a member of World Challenge staff will also travel with the group.
4. What sort of experience do I need to be an Expedition Leader?
World Challenge asks that leaders have developing world travel experience, have led previous outdoor education trips for young people, and have a current WFA (Wilderness First Aid), WFR (Wilderness First Responder), or WEMT (Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician) certification. For a more thorough list of the qualifications and certifications that World Challenge requires, please reference Leader Qualifications.
5. My CPR and WFA is expired; can I still apply?
Even if your WFA or CPR is expired, you are still welcome to apply to be an Expedition Leader. However, you should indicate on your application when you are planning on renewing these certifications, as you will need them in order to lead a team.
6. How do I get approved to lead?
In order to begin the approval process, you must first fill out an application. If we review your credentials and decide you’re a good candidate, you’ll be invited to one of our Potential Leader Courses. During this course your technical abilities, decision making skills, and ability to interact with young people are all evaluated. You will be approved to Lead based on your performance at this course. For more thorough instructions on how you can apply to be an Expedition Leader, see Leader application and selection.
7. What is my involvement with the program prior to departure?
Though you will not meet your team until Build-Up Day, we do want you to engage with them beforehand! Once we have matched you with a team, you will write them a letter and complete your World Challenge bio. These documents will be posted on the team specific “My World Challenge” site, which you will also be able to access.
After your team has reviewed the letter and your bio, we will encourage them to post questions and discussion topics on the message board of the site. We hope you’ll check the site frequently and respond to their posts! They may also want to set up a Skype call, so you’ll be able to chat face-to-face. We’ll also ask you to write a post for our blog, so that parents and students can learn a little bit more about you.
8. Can I help plan the itinerary for my team?
The role of planning the itinerary is for the students themselves – not even teachers are allowed to help make these decisions. World Challenge really wants to encourage a sense of ownership among participating students, and in order to accomplish this we leave the itinerary decisions in their hands (and then we have a dedicated team of Expedition Planning Managers who work full time in our UK office to risk assess and approve the kid’s decisions).
9. What role would I have in setting up community service projects for my team?
Our full-time Expedition Planning Managers in our UK office are responsible for setting up each expedition’s community service project. You will receive contact information for the organization or person that your team will be partnering for your project prior to departure, and you are welcome to contact them with any questions (though keep in mind they are in a developing country, and may not have consistent access to email/phone!). However, please keep in mind that this is really the student’s expedition – so you will have to let them take the lead on the project phase.
10. Do I need to bring my own equipment?
You will need to bring all your own personal gear for expedition. But world Challenge will provide the rest. World Challenge provides all team equipment. Depending on your destination, team equipment will include tents (though you may bring your own), safety equipment (ropes, harnesses, team shelter, throw line, survival bag), a comprehensive medical kit (including sterile supplies, malaria and altitude emergency medication – only Expedition Leaders and teachers can carry this), cooking equipment, water purification, and buoyancy aids. You will also be provided with a Satellite Phone and an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons).
11. What expenses should I expect to have as an Expedition Leader?
On expedition, World Challenge will cover your flights and all in-country costs. You will also be reimbursed for any R & R activities that the team elects, though this does not cover food (as there should be ample room in the team budget to cover all your meals) or souvenirs.
World Challenge will also cover up to $250 of travel expenses for Build-Up Day and EPC (our Expedition Preparation Conference), and your visa expenses (if applicable for your destination). For more information on pay and expenses, please see our current Leader Pay Matrix.
12. Can I request to lead for a specific destination or a specific team?
World Challenge will work to match you with the team that we think will be the best fit for you, the teacher, and the students. In regards to destination preference, though we do try and take preferences into consideration it’s impossible to match every Expedition Leader with their requested destination.
13. Can I apply to be a Leader with my partner?
Though you are welcome to apply for the position with your significant other, World Challenge will not staff you on the same expedition. World Challenge staffs one Expedition Leader per team.
14. Can I lead multiple expeditions in the same year?
Depending on timing and availability, World Challenge is happy to staff you on multiple expeditions. However, it should be noted that priority for multiple expeditions is given to our veteran leaders.
15. I haven’t attended a Potential Leader Course but I know that I’m a great Leader, will you staff me anyway?
Unfortunately in order to be approved to Lead any expedition for World Challenge, you must first attend a Potential Leader Course.
16. I don’t know if I’ll be available to lead in the next expedition season, should I still apply?
Yes!
17. Why does World Challenge not use the co-Leader system that I’m used to with other companies?
On a World Challenge expedition you’ll have leadership help from the teacher that will also be travelling with your team (though they may be an expedition novice just like the students). You will also have support for an extended network of in-country guides and local project hosts, so during the most tricky parts of your expedition you’ll have all the extra help you need. But in general, all World Challenge Leaders have the skills and experience to manage their teams on their own. If you’re worried about not having a co-Leader to rely on during expedition review our back up and support information.
18. Is World-Challenge a non-profit organization?
World Challenge is a for-profit company; we are owned by TUI Travel, PLC, the largest travel company in the world.
19. What demographic are most students? Does World Challenge target expeditions at at-risk students?
Though we get many different types of students, a typical World Challenge student is highly motivated and driven to succeed. They typically come from highly ranking high schools (public and private) and are frequently involved in numerous extra-curricular activities. As an organization we do not target at-risk students.
20. I need to take a year off from leading; can I lead again at some point in the future?
Many of our Leaders take a year or two off. As long as your certifications remain current, you are welcome to lead at any point. Though if you take more than 2 years off, we will ask that you re-attend an weekend Training Course to brush up on World Challenge protocol.
21. Can I meet my team in-country?
Though there have been exceptions, typically World Challenge does not allow Expedition Leaders to meet their teams in-country. Not only is it important to spend Build-Up Day with your team, but teachers also appreciate not being the only adult chaperoning students in transit.
22. Can I stay in-country after my team departs?
Leaders do have the option of staying in-country, but this is pending approval of the teacher and the school. Teachers also have this option, and if they choose to stay in-country they will be given priority over Leaders.
23. When will I know if I’ve been placed on expedition?
World Challenge aims to staff Expedition Leaders roughly 10 months before departure, though this timeframe may vary. When you are placed on a team depends on when you’ve been approved to Lead.
24. When should I expect to hear back from World Challenge after sending in my application?
World Challenge will aim to contact you within 1-2 weeks of submitting your application.
25. I’d like to talk with some Alumni Leaders, can you put me in touch with them?
We are happy to put you in touch with our current Expedition Leaders or you can view their Bios online. Simply contact us at leaders@wcexpeditions.com and we will give you their contact information.
26. I want to cancel my expedition contract for this season; what should I do?
If you need to cancel your current contract, contact the World Challenge Leader Team at leaders@wcexpeditions.com ASAP! Please don’t make this decision lightly as your leaving prior to expedition will leave your team without a confirmed Leader and will also make it unlikely that World Challenge will staff you again in the future.
27. Can I lead British and Australian Teams?
If you are based in the US or Canada, World Challenge will ask you to lead American teams during the American season. Outside of the American season, if our other offices are looking for Leaders we will let you know about how to apply for those expeditions. If you are planning on relocating to either Britain or Australia, we are happy to put you in touch with those offices.
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