Learning Journeys was started as New Zealand Odysseys in 2001. The directors, Michele and Simon Beaton, are former teachers with more than 30 years experience between them in UK, Cyprus and New Zealand.

Michele Beaton, BSc Hons, PGCE (DipTchg) Dip Ed

Michele’s background is in secondary science teaching and specialist nature tour guiding. She spent a number of years doing both in Cyprus before moving to New Zealand in 1993. She originated the Learning Journeys concept which arose out of a fascination   for nature’s complexity and inventiveness and an enthusiasm for sharing this with others, both younger and older!

Simon Beaton, BSc, PGCE (Dip Tchg)

Simon's career has been divided between secondary science teaching (including filling the role of deputy principal in a international school) and the business world. Within Learning Journeys, his focus is on grounding Michele's vision and dreams in practicality and managing strategies for growth.

Philosophy

We all long to make sense of our cultural and natural worlds and how we fit into them. Visiting new places provides new experiences and excitement but also gives us a new perspective on our lives at home, new tolerance of cultural differences, courage to face new challenges and a greater sense of personal responsibility for our planet’s social and environmental challenges.

Travel is education in every sense and New Zealand’s natural environment is an amazing classroom.

Environmental Principles

The New Zealand Ministry of Education’s Environmental Education Guidelines formalise the potential of education outside the classroom under three headings:

“Education ABOUT the environment” covers knowledge and understanding of how the natural environment works and the challenges that living in harmony with it presents.

“Education IN the environment” is about the outdoor experience that consolidates understanding and develops field skills.

“Education FOR the environment” is concerned with the sense of personal and social responsibility created by interactive experiences in stunning settings that touch the soul.

Environmental policy

The principles above summarise our practice of promoting environmental awareness through the programmes we deliver to our clients.

Recently we’ve begun working on ways to “walk the talk” better in terms of our infra-structure, as well as making sure that everything will be properly documented. This is in line with Qualmark’s® new Responsible Tourism criteria, against which we’ll be assessed next time our accreditation is due for reconsideration.

These are the areas we’re looking at

· Sustainability of main suppliers

· Supporting local environmental projects

· Minimising waste of energy and materials in office and on tour

· Surveying visitor expectations and satisfaction in relation to environmental criteria

· Maximising efficiency of company vehicles

· On-going refinement of environmental policy and procedures

Safety

Safety is always paramount in our trip planning and delivery. As parents ourselves, we’re very aware of the responsibility of being entrusted with other people’s children and know very well that their commonsense and nose for danger are not yet likely to be fully developed!

Our Health and Safety Plan deals with every aspect of our operations and training. Hazard identification is carried out for every new activity and a RAMS (Risk Analysis and Management System) form is prepared. This process has been audited both by a Department of Conservation approved Safety Auditor and as part of our Qualmark® accreditation.

Our teacher-facilitators are trained in safe practice and all have First Aid qualifications. The suppliers we use are fully qualified and experienced in their specialties and where available we choose to work with Qualmarked® operators. Their sound safety records are further guaranteed by the Qualmark®, accreditation process.

Qualmark®

Qualmark® is New Zealand tourism's official mark of quality. All accommodation and tourism businesses carrying the Qualmark® have been independently assessed as professional and trustworthy, so you can book and buy with confidence.

The Qualmark® can help you identify quality places to stay, things to do and ways to get around no matter where you are in New Zealand.