Get a Life!
Planning an expedition
Carrying out an expedition involves a lot of pre-departure and post-return work. It includes:
- Choosing the team and defining everyone’s roles.
- defining your objectives
- devising your plan and methodology to achieve your objectives
- researching and implementing the logistics required to achieve your objectives
- considering the safety, insurance and environmental implications of your proposed trip
- fund raising
- writing your prospectus (needed to gain funds)
- writing your final report (to satisfy your sponsors).
If you are intending an expedition with a research element, you might want to talk to relevant members of LEC staff who could help or advise you.
The “Gold Star” of expeditions is recognition by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS). If successful at interview, your expedition is entitled to call itself “Royal Geographical Society Approved” (this aids fundraising) and in addition may qualify for a Geographical Fieldwork Grant, specifically designed (although not exclusive to) undergraduate university expeditions. Two application deadlines per year, max award £3000.
www.rgs.org/OurWork/Grants/Expedition+and+fieldwork+grants/Geographical+Fieldwork+Grants.htm
The Royal Geographical Society website also has:
- information on leading and planning your expedition, writing reports and fundraising.
- a database of all past RGS approved expeditions, which you can search by region, and contact the expedition leader for advice
- a database of organizations that fund expeditions, to which you may be eligible to apply.
- Access to the Expedition Handbook, which you can buy, or download as a pdf from their website.
Additional funding opportunities might be:
- Lancaster University College grants. Different colleges have different eligibility criteria. Check.
- Rotary clubs
- LEC Expedition and Extra-curricular activities award. LEC has a small fund assigned to help students with extra-curricular activities. Click on the tab marked “Funds” on the home page of this website. Or download the word file directly.
- your home local council
- Mount Everest Foundation (exploration, research or mountaineering / climbing). Includes links to funding bodies relevant to mountaineering objectives.
- your old school (some schools have funds for alumni).
- Local companies.