RSIS UPDATE Issue 8 - August 2014

Greetings from Worldwide! We’ve had a really wonderful summer hearing about our three amazing RSIS teams, and all their adventures in , Romania and South Africa. We hope you enjoy reading about their exploits as much as we have! Liz Gray, RSIS Projects Manager

PERU Updates We were delighted to send our toilets and bathrooms was 2014 Peru team back to the Andean completed in very quick on July/Aug community of Yuncachimpa to carry on time and after a week of work that the 2013 started. Last year, hard graft, the team were projects our team built the first kindergarten rewarded with a couple of that village had ever had. This year, days in Aguas Calientes our team has built new toilets and visiting the Mondorpampa 3 projects: bathrooms for the kindergarten, rainforest and world- which will make school a much more famous site of Machu Peru, Romania, comfortable place for the smaller Picchu! children to be. South Africa During the second week of Project work However, before the hard work started, at Yuncachimpa, the team built guinea- “Yesterday we had our last the team had to get over some long pig stables for the community. Andean breakfast in Yuncachimpa. “Before we left our project, flights and acclimatize to the much people in Peru breed guinea-pigs, a Just before 9am, we said our the students shared their higher altitude. So four days were spent traditional source of food (in a similar goodbyes and presented our reflections on what they in the and Sacred Valley areas, way to how other communities breed donations to the community. had learned about the doing various activities designed to give chickens) but most of the animals are IDEALS over the course of Once again, Valerio and the the trip. They explained that them time to get to know each other, free-range around the house which as families wanted me to thank Internationalism involves get to know the culture of Peru and you can imagine is not the most hygienic the students, Round Square challenging yourself to see pit their wits against the environment of situations. So the community wants to and the parents, for making this the world from different during a tough climbing day! They be able to house the guinea-pigs more possible. It was difficult to perspectives. had a day in Cusco where they met comfortably in stables which are built avoid shedding some tears!” Democracy requires with our local tour operator, to hear out of mud bricks, wooden poles and a Project Leader patience to ensure that about the work they were going to do tiled roof. decisions are fair and just. in Yuncachimpa, and buy some much The team consisted of 22 students The team finished their time in the Environmentalism needed provisions. They then set off to who came from 16 different schools: community with a fantastic village teaches us to appreciate the Sacred Valley and the following day School, Hotchkiss celebration and blessing of the new various comforts that we spent time with our friends at Apulaya School, Vivek High School, Wellington might take for granted. buildings they had completed. The where they were taught ancient Inca College, , Felsted Adventure involves team from Apulaya came up to the myths and artistic skills, and then given School, , Cate unexpected yet intentionally village bringing traditional costumes and their own pan- pipes and taught how School, UWCSEA, Saint Andrews induced experiences with drums with them, and the whole team to play traditional music! They were to School, , Bishops the unknown. played their pipes creating a real fiesta Leadership doesn’t always put these lessons into practice later on College School, , Salem, atmosphere! mean you are in charge! during the trip….. and . Service requires significant Following their time at the village, the The next day they set off to climb the The Project Leader was Carlos and focused sacrifice.” team travelled back to Cusco for a few 300m via ferrata, a series of iron rungs Cazorla (Salem); the Deputy Leader days at the end of the trip for reviewing set into a huge rock-face overlooking was Sheila Kuyper () and debriefs, and also to visit the the Urubamba River. Our intrepid team and the accompanying adult was markets and take salsa lessons at a climbed up to the top, crossed a wire Joanne Dunn (Glenlyon Norfolk famous dance school. It was all rounded bridge and had their lunch. They then School). Maria Gracia Moran was the off by a last night dinner in descended down the other side on a Project Manager in Lima! a restaurant overlooking series of 5 long zip-wires! Truly a huge the main square with highlight for the team! Peruvian music and They then set off to Yuncachimpa dancing to see the night where the team was divided into four through! groups, each group going off to camp at A really successful trip family houses in the community. Each which has left a community family cooked breakfast and dinner with new school facilities for their little group, and our students and community guinea- helped them with chores and soon pig stables! got to know their Peruvian mothers and fathers! The building work on the

www.roundsquare.org • +44 (0) 1225 320 854 • [email protected] • Registered Charity No. 327117 ROMANIA written by Clare Coverdale (Projects Assistant)

This July, I dusted the cobwebs areas. They expertly showed us off my backpack and joined how to brush down the bark and the 20-strong team of eager lichen from trees and rocks before international students on the RSIS using stencils to paint on the fresh Romania project. We headed trail signs, and our team of bush back to the town of Baisoara in clearers cut down any overgrown the west of the country, to finish branches along the path and off the various projects that the ensured that the signs could be 2013 team had worked on last seen from a distance. The most year. Our mission was to finish physical and time consuming task the youth and community centre was installing the black and white that the 2013 team had built and striped marker poles as this involved complete the stone wall that ran digging a massive hole, extracting the length of the local primary any stubborn rocks that may be in school as well as build them a the way, wedging the pole in with sand play area. big rocks and mixing up and pouring cement into the hole for it to set. We flew into the beautiful old city of Cluj Napoca in the North West The next phase of the project was The team continued to work hard You can see a fantastic blog all of the country where Transylvania at the local primary school where in the final phase of the project about the team’s experience at College is to be found. We had we constructed the second half of work at the youth/community http://rsisromania2014.blogspot. a day to acclimatize and get the wall and by splitting into teams centre, plastering the walls with ro/ over our flights, so we took a of cement mixers, hole fillers, rock first rough cement and then fine The team consisted of 20 tour (accompanied by students movers and water bucket fillers we smooth cement and finally buffered students from 16 different schools from Transylvania College) and finished the task within a couple it so it was completely ready for - Herlufsholm Skole, Hotchkiss strolled around the historical of days. There was also the task painting. They also managed to fit School, , streets of Cluj Napoca. In no time of digging the foundations for the in painting and staining the stage Vivek High School, King’s at all we started our drive up to sandbox, and making the wooden at the major’s office which is used Academy, , Cate Transylvania College’s summer frame that was to contain the sand for town events and everyone got School, Ermitage, Gordonstoun camp in Muntele Baisoarii. En as well as painting a seaside mural a certificate of excellence from the School, Salem, Athenian School, route we made a stop at the to put behind it. Last but not least, major! UWCSEA, Bridge House awesome Turda Salt Mines which an army of gardeners cleared the During their cultural phase School, Daly College, Scindia is a vast 750 year old mine that play area of weeds. the team went on a 4 day tour School and Brookhouse School. has been turned into a tourist Our mid-project break coincided to visit some of Romania’s The Project Leader was Chad attraction complete with rowing with a local celebration of St most fascinating cities and Detloff () and lake, Ferris wheel, and mini golf! It Ille’s Day. So we dressed in our sights including Corvin Castle the Deputy Leader was Rachel has to be seen to be believed! finest clothes and visited the local (what everyone imagines is Cazabon (Lakefield College Our first day up at the summer monastery watching the service of Dracula’s castle, but isn’t!), Lake School). The accompanying adult camp consisted of going through songs and prayer on a specially Vidraru, Horezu and Polovragi was Alex Funnell from King’s all the safety briefings and playing constructed stage on the hill next Monasteries, and then a fantastic Academy in Jordan. lots of hilarious team building to the monastery. The whole town drive up the Tranfagarasan games and then we were all set had turned out and we had the Highway to the ancient city of to start our 4 days of trail work up opportunity to have some photos Sibiu. in the mountains, repainting faded taken with the local children in signs, installing marker poles and their traditional Romanian clothes. clearing the trails of overgrown As with all celebrations, there was vegetation. Our knowledgeable plenty of food, so we all tucked into guides Horatiu and Peter came plates of sarmale (traditional stuffed from local NGO Ecouri Verzi, an cabbage parcels) and candied fruit organization that is involved in cake which was being handed out to the management and sustainable everyone. development of protected natural SOUTH AFRICA

Once again we had a great team When all the school students came at Elephant’s Drift in the Klaserie of 22 students returning to South back to school in the second week Game reserve on the edge of Africa this year, to work with The they were truly amazed at how Kruger National Park. The students African Schoolroom and helping much progress our team had made! had a truly wonderful time learning to transform another township about the environment, the bush The team was lucky enough to be school. After flying into Nelspruit and wildlife in an experiential way, visited by a couple of great local next to the Kruger National Park, through a range of activities such youth groups during the evenings. the team settled into their hostel as camping out under the stars, The first was the Zwelihle Choral and after a day of orientation walking safaris and tracking, driving Project which aims to change and briefings set off to Lwaleng safaris and bush survival skills. the lives of its members (all Primary School in Spioenkop just They also had some great talks from different challenging family outside White River, Mpumalanga. from Richard Goss, the owner of backgrounds) through choral This is a wonderful school with a Elephant’s Drift who is a world- music. In no time at all they had “We are so proud of high standard of education, but renowned wildlife filmmaker and our group up on their feet, singing every participant and their their success is their downfall in photographer. He has certainly and dancing in beautiful African achievements. It is not easy that while they would love to enroll left his mark on our students, and harmonies. They were also visited to travel to a foreign country more students, they simply don’t hopefully given them a few handy by the Savuka Youth Crew one and give your all. Clearly have the facilities for them all. tips for their own pictures too! evening at the camp where they each of the participants gave There are also two classes that were treated to an energetic and To read more about this project and their all, and made a HUGE have to take place under the tree, thrilling dance performance, and to see lots more great photos and difference to the lives of and this tree is also the staff room were then taught some of the moves some awesome videos, go to the people they had never met so facilities are meager. to try out themselves with some following blog that was written by less than a month ago. Well The group was split up into very impressive moves in particular the students themselves: done. You can be so proud of several sub-groups with each from our Indian and Jordanian team yourselves; YOU have made http://rsissouthafrica2014. assigned different tasks such as members! the difference.” wordpress.com/ working on the brick-laying at the Parent During their mid-project break the classroom, re-painting the inside The team consisted of 22 team enjoyed a day of touring of some of the other classrooms students from 15 different schools: “Julian arrived well and we are through Kruger National Park and painting a huge world map on Herlufsholm Skole, Gordonstoun happy to have him back home. that was on their door-step. They one of the school walls, tending School, , Athenian No doubt that this was an saw four of the Big Five (only the to the vegetable garden and new School, , incredibly important trip for leopard remaining elusive) and orchard and of course teaching Markham College, Vivek High him and probably every one in loved their first experience of safari some of the schools’ students School, Chadwick School, Aiglon the group. Nelson Mandela in South Africa! They also went on during the second week of the College, Stiftung Louisenlund, Cate would have been proud of a township tour where they learned Project. School, Amman Baccalaureate them if he had known about about the different hardships that School, King’s Academy, Scindia this project!! We as parents “I was part of the painting face the people there. Most families School and Mayo College. felt not only comfortable crew. While we were working in the township live on around The project leader was Karen and secure that everything today, a teacher from the US$25 per month and the team Niedermeyer (UWCSEA) and the was going to be alright school visited the classroom members were astonished at how Deputy Leader was Vic D’Alton because of the fantastic that I, along with Anna and they make ends meet, and also from in , blog but we also felt very Natalie, was painting. She how much joy and happiness there who stepped in to the role on day 4 well being “taken care of” described to us how she was in people’s lives. A really great of the trip after the original Deputy ourselves by your nice and shared the small classroom life lesson for our students all of Leader had to return home due to thoughtful messages. So we were painting with another whom come from very privileged family illness. Vic did a fantastic thank you very much for class, and she told us that backgrounds compared to the job and we are really grateful for all your efforts to make the classroom we were children in the township. her energy and commitment to the this trip an unforgettable building was going to be her experience for Julian and his own. She was extremely When the project work was over, team! the team was given a wonderful friends. Our special thanks thankful. Hearing her personal And our remarkable local project farewell by the school and headed and warm regards include the side of the story really manager was Liz Mackintosh to off for their wilderness phase. After project leaders who showed intrigued me and allowed me whom we owe an enormous amount a visit to the fantastic Maholoholo so much commitment! Best to keep pushing through, paint of gratitude for organizing such a Conservation Centre (where they wishes, and again congrats for fumes and all.” fantastic project. got to see, and handle some organizing so perfectly this animals very close up!) they headed outstanding event!” off for their 4-day wilderness camp Parent We couldn’t have wished for better teams of students and better teams of leaders this July! Everyone has worked extremely hard, and become very close friends sharing challenges, laughs and incredible community experiences together. We would like to particularly thank all our leaders and Project partners, without whom none of this would have been possible. While we do all the preparation and administration before each trip, it’s the leaders and local managers who bring all our work to life, and guide students through their journey. So thank you! We look forward to having you back on more Projects very soon!

PAPF Statistics Thanks to your very kind donations to the Prince Alexander Project Fund this year, we were able to give the following funds to our July Projects to enable them to carry out the work necessary to help our partner Notice Board communities:

Romania: £4,675 which paid for trail markers to complete 2 new hiking trails in the Apuseni Mountains; materials to re-build a school wall and create a sand-box in the Teams in July completed: playground and all the materials required to finish building the youth centre that our 2013 started last year! - new toilets and bathrooms for a kindergarten; and guinea-pig hutches Peru: £4,200 which paid for all the materials needed to for the village community in the , Peru build new toilets and bathrooms for the kindergarten school that our 2013 team built. It also built guinea-pig - a new classroom and freshly stables so that Andean families can breed them in a more painted school with vegetable garden hygienic way. and orchard for a township community in South Africa South Africa: £4,000 which paid for all the materials needed to build a new classroom and restore several - 2 new hiking trails, a new others, as well as plant an orchard and vegetable garden school wall and sand-box and a for Lwaleng School near White River. finished youth centre for mountain communities in Romania Thank you from Round Square and thank you from all our partner communities! Leader Training Leading Role Workshops and With Sonia Christian, Leader for RSIS Projects Projects We are stepping up our Leader Training portfolio in 2015 and will be running a range of Workshops What do you teach and where? Why do you keep coming back to do and Projects. more Projects? I teach at Dainfern College in Johannesburg, South Africa – the An RSIS project is always such an amazing Leader Training Workshops heartbeat of the country! experience and you get such a great feeling The workshops focus on providing of accomplishment. delegates with skills relating to selection When and where was your first of suitable projects, selecting leaders and experience with RSIS? If money were no object and you could participants, risk management issues, go anywhere in the world, where would leadership, training and evaluation of December 2010, in the majestically surreal you go and what would you do there? projects. They are suitable for any teacher Chang Mai, North Thailand as deputy who is planning or leading their own leader. I was project leader in Cambodia At this stage in my life I would say South school or Regional Projects, and/or those 2011 and 2012 and I will be project leader America – I have always wanted to go there interested in leading RSIS trips in future. again in Cambodia this December. and climb Machu Picchu. Failing that… some deserted island somewhere in the Europe Region 2-day Workshop in the UK Over the last few years, you have risen middle of the bluest ocean! (held at the new Round Square office, Windsor) through the ranks from attending a November 29 - 30, 2014 Leader Training Workshop, to being a full Project Leader! What is the biggest Africa Region 2-day Workshop in South or most important lesson you’ve Africa learned on your route to RSIS Project (hosted by St Stithian’s Girls School) Leader, and what would you say to January 31 - February 1, 2015 others who are keen to go on a Project in the future? Africa Region 2-day Workshop in You have to remain true to yourself and (hosted by Brookhouse School) trust your instincts. There are always so February 7 - 8, 2015 many challenges and obstacles whilst on the trip such as climate, cultural and Americas Region 2-day Workshop in the language differences and obviously the USA (hosted by Athenian School, ) dynamics of the group. You really just February 28 – March 1, 2015 need to keep a calm and cool approach to everything. Further details of these Workshops will be I love the motto – “everything will be alright launched over the next few months, including in the end, so if it is not alright, it is not the costs and other logistics. end” Leader Training Projects What have been the most difficult, and Leader Training Projects are 2 weeks in most amazing moment on a RSIS Project length and start with a 2-day Workshop and why? followed by a 10-day Project to put the Workshop learning into practice. We have Probably boarding the plane to leave, already run two highly successful trips Which actress would play you in a film and realizing that the project and trip is all to Cambodia (in 2011 and 2013) and are about your life, and what would the title over. There have been so many amazing planning to run two Training Projects in of the film be? moments – it is hard to pick just one. 2015: Perhaps watching the little village children I would play the main role, and the title Morocco brushing their teeth for the first time, after would be ‘The travelling girl with the handing out our supplies of toothbrush and Middle two weeks of August 2015. exploding suitcase” Details will be launched in November 2014 toothpaste. It is priceless!

If you had a super-power, what would it Cambodia What’s been the funniest thing you’ve For two weeks probably from 27th December, be and what would you use it for? seen or heard on an RSIS trip? 2015. Details will be launched in May 2015 You have to love the Cambodians’ ability to To be able to fly! – The ability to just fly pack children, groceries and 3 or 4 adults though the air, enjoying the breath taking onto one scooter motorbike. It is a sight to views along the way, and be any place you see. wanted to be would be absolutely incredible!

What is your most important aim when leading students on an RSIS trip? Safety must be number one, and then ensuring that everyone plays their part and adds to the group experience. An RSIS is definitely a group project and team work is essential! Projects December 2014

Nicaragua India We are really excited to be muddy and swampy, and some We are delighted to be sending During the mid-project break, sending our team down to of the people in outlying areas another team to India this year, to the team will spend a couple of Nicaragua this December. The find it very difficult to get around. do more work in Khumbharghar, 3 days in Matheran, a cool and team will be based in a jungle This prevents some of the hours outside Mumbai. Our team beautiful hill station not far from river community down in the south children from getting to school in 2013 worked with our Project the Project and they can relax of the country, near the border easily, and makes it very hard partners at Dhirubhai Ambani there, tour the town and visit one with Costa Rica. The community for some to earn a living. So the International School, and started of the other village regeneration is El Castillo, a village founded team will be building a couple to build the 3-room school that will Projects that DAIS has almost 400 years ago and it of hundred metres of walkway be the first for this tiny community successfully run at Hassachipatti. boasts one of the oldest colonial from cement and wood, and also of 25 families. The school is not After the Project the team will buildings in Nicaragua – a fortress one or two bridges that will span far from being completed, so our take the train up to Agra and built in 1673 as a defense against some of the smaller rivers. The team will help to finish the building visit the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and English pirates! group will be in home-stays with and will then start on another other sites around Jaipur! local families all of whom are house for one of the village The team will be working used to hosting foreign visitors families. in partnership with a local and who will form an integral part organization that works with youth of the group’s community and The community is a small tribal and communities on various cultural experience. one that is caught between projects including conservation traditional ways of life, and the and environmental issues, During the trip, the team will demands of the modern world. community development, training also have some local language They don’t own any land so they and helping local economies to lessons, visits to the local school, cannot earn money through give them more sustainable long- visit to the cocoa production agricultural activity. Instead, they term earning power. cooperative and a visit to the have to collect firewood to sell a local project dedicated to in markets, or work for money The team will be building bridges conserving the Green Macaw. lenders so earning potential is and boardwalks in the outlying Mid-way through the Project, bleak and they cannot find money parts of the community. Given that the team will go on a full day’s for even the most basic houses. this is a jungle village on the edge kayaking in the Indio Maiz So the work that our teams (and of a river, the terrain is extremely Reserve and will get a fantastic others) will do is really important adventure paddling through the to help this community move jungle which hosts an enormous forwards. array of animals and plant-life. A really fantastic trip which will take adventurous students into a really unique, friendly, beautiful and environmentally diverse part Kenya of Central America! The RSIS Kenya Project will main activity will be focused be returning to work with our on learning more about what wonderful friends at Moving sustainable development really Mountains Trust Kenya. The is, understanding how long- Cambodia Trust works with communities term projects aid community We are delighted to be sending a the project work, the team will go to help develop schools and ownership go hand-in-hand team back to the beautiful country on a 3-day trek in Kulen National community projects that empower and how to bring true benefit to of Cambodia this December. The Park, walking over a plateau, local people all over Kenya. communities through service team will be working again with past waterfalls and half-buried They do a lot of work in the slum work. Camps International and will be statues and ancient temples. areas around Nairobi especially, After the work is finished, the based at two different camps, They will spend each night in providing young people with the team will have a day and two north of Phnom Penh. The first hammocks next to the monks tools and skills to take themselves nights in the Masai Mara and will camp will be at Beng Pae where houses, and go into the forest and their families out of the do a great cycling trip and walk to the team will be working on with local guides to learn about poverty trap. 90% of the Moving the gorge in Hells Gate National some reforestation projects and the flora and fauna in the area, Mountains staff are previous Park! hopefully helping a family build as well as the history of the ruins beneficiaries of the Trust’s work their house. In the second week, in the Park. This year, the team will continue the team will be based up near After the project work is over, to refurbish the classrooms at Siem Reap in a community called the team will enjoy some time Maluga Primary school where our Beng Mealea, where they will be exploring the World Heritage Site 2013 team started their work. The working with the community to of Angkor Wat! school is pretty basic as you can continue work on the teacher’s imagine – much of it made out of accommodation at the school and mud, without doors or windows also helping with the tree nursery and with virtually no resources. and experimental “jungle garden”. So the team will be repairing The local employees of Camps existing facilities, plastering and International will be with the team painting walls, installing windows, throughout providing great insights putting in new floors and hopefully into local life and overseeing links installing furniture too. The other with the villages. Mid-way through A students on community service

While spring break is usually On my first day at Los Cerros, an had prepared. After worksheets, a time of going on adventures interesting comment came to me. the kids had snack time and away from home, I found myself After walking into the front office then we were outside to take the revisiting a past home earlier this to return my volunteer badge, the children on a walk. During this year. In my RSIS trip to South woman working the office said walk, we had the children practice Africa in 2013, I spent most of my “You spent all day working in room crossing streets in between the days working with the mentally seventeen?” Astonished after I said marked walkways, pushing street disabled students at the Masoyi that I had, she went around telling crossing buttons, and respectfully Special Care Center and after all of the other faculty in the office petting animals. While some of an incredible month there, I that I, an eighteen year old on his the children may never become considered it a second home to spring break, had spent all day in fully independent, this was still me. Because of how impactful room seventeen. After seeing her great practice for the children to my experience in South Africa reaction I was somewhat confused, experience the real world. I found was, I decided to spend my spring had my day been bad? No, it this organization to contrast much break in Room 17 of Los Cerros was fairly enjoyable. Had I been of what we did at Masoyi, where Middle School working with Janet emotionally scarred or freaked the skills taught to the kids were Hughes and the special education out? Not in the least. So as you much more basic as most of them Overall, I found my experience program. During my time at Los can imagine, the front office worker will never become independent of to be very worthwhile and I Cerros, I was able to connect with was equally astonished when I said their parents/guardians. learned a lot about not only the teachers and students, and that I’d be there all day every day After lunch, the students would special education, but education hopefully help make their days a for the next week. And what a great return for their desks as the day in general. While Los Cerros may little more enjoyable. week it was. took on a less structured approach. not have been the adventure I had What I found interesting during my On my first day in classroom 17, The students would have their in South Africa, returning to the project was just how similar the I got familiar with the routine. choice of doing worksheets, field of special education gave me atmosphere at Los Cerros was At the beginning of the day, we reading, listening to music, or the same amount of insight that I to the one at Masoyi. Both used began in a group singing the same operating computer programs was granted at Masoyi. I hope to a lot of sensory learning (getting series of songs going over the designed for special education return to special education at later out, walking around, touching kid’s ABC’s, numbers, days of the students. During this time I would points in life and to draw from the things) rather than the non-sensory week, months, etc. During each go around to different students fantastic previous experiences I’ve learning used in the standard song, the functional children would and help them with their various had with it in South Africa, and at classroom. Both encouraged the go up to the board and, using a activities. While some would ask Los Cerros. disabled students to interact with pointer, match the number, letter, for me by name to help them, By Nate Borchers who other children, rather than to shut or day on the board to what was others just needed a gentle nudge graduated from Athenian them off from the real world. Both, being sung. After this, students in the right direction to pronounce School, USA this year and who most importantly, were created would go to their individual desks a word correctly or write a letter. went on the RSIS South Africa around complete acceptance and work on school related things Following free time, the students Project in 2012. and pure love. Disabled students that varied based on their abilities. would have a physical education shouldn’t be met with a cold For example, Reese, one of the session with Los Cerros’ PE shoulder or ignorance, they should more capable kids in the class, teacher and then they were off to be met with an open hand and an would go to his desk and using a their taxi’s that would take them open heart, and it’s disappointing marker, trace words and letters home. that in some places they aren’t. on worksheets that the teachers

on December RSIS Projects

We still have spaces left for students on the December RSIS Projects in Cambodia, Nicaragua, Kenya and India and after the 1st September we will be opening these spaces up to Regional Schools. So if you’re interested, send us a booking form straight away to secure your places!

We also have vacancies for accompanying adults to go to Kenya and Cambodia and you will have a 50% discount on your Project fee so grab it while it’s still going! The other two Projects already have accompanying adults on them, but if you’re interested in going please let us know as we may be able to take one more in some locations. RISK Nerds Corner Safety doesn’t happen by accident!

As you will already be aware, Round Square International Service Projects comply with BS8848, the Standard for the provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions and adventurous activities outside the UK. The Standard went through a period of consultation and re- drafting during 2013, and in April 2014 a revised Standard was published. It is shorter than the previous version and much easier to understand! You can purchase a copy of the new Standard here: http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030270872

There is also a very useful guide to the new Standard, available as a download on the Round Square website on our safety page: http://www.roundsquare.org/safety.php

Here are some seminars and courses that you may be interested in attending (if you live in these areas):

At the Royal Geographical Society in London, UK http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Fieldwork+and+Expeditions/GO+seminars+and+workshops/Workshops+Safe+and+effective +field+research+expedition.htm

Explore 2014: 14 to 16 November - Lectures, workshops & exhibits to help organize your own expeditions and field trips.

Off-site Safety Management Training: 2 and 3 December 2014. Relevant to those organizing education visits (teachers, youth leaders, trip leaders)

Educational Visits Coordinator Training: 25th November 2014 - Aimed at newly appointed EVC’s looking at roles and responsibilities, risk management, supervision and competence.

Off-site Safety Management Training, Havergal College, Ontario, 29th and 30th November 2014 [email protected]

At Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, Georgia, USA NOLS Wilderness Risk Management Conference 2014 - Pre-conference sessions begin on September 29th, with the conference following from October 1-3, 2014. http://www.nols.edu/wrmc/

Association for Experiential Education, USA - 42nd Annual International Conference, Chattanooga, TN, USA October 23-26, 2014 http://www.aee.org/

Symposium on Experiential Education in the Digital Age - Boston, MA, USA May 2-3, 2015

Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon, USA 12 – 14 November 2014 http://www.aore.org/conference

ISEEN (Independent Schools Experiential Education Network) 10 Annual Institute at Phillips Academy Andover, PA, USA January 21- 24, 2015 http://iseeninfo.com

NOLS Risk Management Training (USA) Sept 30 – Oct 1, 2014 – Atlanta, GA Oct 21-22, 2014 – St Paul, MN Nov 10-11, 2014 – Portland, OR http://www.nols.edu/nolspro/risk_management_admin_training.shtml

www.roundsquare.org • +44 (0) 1225 320 854 • [email protected] • Registered Charity No. 327117