About Expedition Class

Expedition Class is an online adventure learning project.

By collaborating with educational agencies and conducting small footprint journeys, Expedition Class aims to provide a free adventure learning opportunity for teachers and students worldwide. Annually, Expedition Class runs a new journey and a fresh focus for learning. In 2008 the journey was paddling around PNG by sea kayak with a focus on climate change and culture. In 2009 the focus was Australian geography and the expedition traversed 15000km of Australia by bike, kayak and foot. Last year we went searching through SW Tasmania and Papaua New Guinea on the 'Tassie Tiger Hunt' with a of biodiversity curriculum. This year the isolation of a deserted island will engage students in a new world of Crusoe-like adventure.

The main goal of the project, apart from coming home in one piece, is to deliver an educational product that motivates teachers and students in classroom situations. The nature of a real-life-, real-time expedition engages students because it doesn't have a scripted ending, answers aren't in the back of the book, and some problems have no easy solutions. There are actual risks, real discoveries and deeply felt accomplishments.

As well as the main themes of each journey there are ongoing opportunities and challenge activities designed to get students self motivated and moving. The learning projects are aimed at students from 8-16 years old, the adventure surrounding it is for everyone.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2012 expedition later in the year.

Adventure and education are central to my idea of a good life.

As a teacher I want to find new and exciting ways to engage students and provide quality learning experiences. As an adventurer I seek places and people that stretch my own understanding and abilities. Growing up in Tasmania provided many opportunities to explore the landscape with a backpack and a sturdy pair of boots. As a teenager and through my twenties I traversed thousands of kilometers through the bush and along mountain ranges. From 1997-99 I studied geology at university, and in 2001 tried my luck down a remote Western Australian goldmine.

In 2002, with my brother James, we walked the length of Tasmania over 50 days and summited more than 35 peaks. Around this time I began doing some serious bicycle touring, culminating in a 16 000km circumnavigation of Australia.

After operating a bushwalk guiding business for a few years and then going back to university to gain a Bachelor of Teaching, I bought a sea kayak. Four months later, in March 2006, I departed Hobart in it and paddled nearly 5000 kilometers to the top of Australia at Cape York. Running parallel to this journey was the inaugural adventure learning program with hundreds of students and teachers following along. In 2008 Expedition Class was developed to document the successful 2300km paddle around Papua New Guinea. Since then it has been one adventure following another!