Our vision is to be the most effective voice and the most active organization in developing a world of understanding. We seek to create communities of people devoted to sharing the world - not to changing it. To do so we will work with like-minded organizations to shape the future of the world through service, education, and authentic travel.
These learning communities must be defined by a distinctive set of values that include:
• A lively intellectual life of inquiry
• A recognition of individual differences that are prized and respected.
• Where diversity is emphasized as an avenue to creative innovations and perspectives.
• a community in which members are encouraged for their achievements and strongly supported when they need assistance.
• It is an environment that provides opportunities for leadership and collaboration.
• It is a community that shares a common belief that creative friction is necessary at times in order to develop the necessary skills of collaboration in solving community problems.
• A learning community requires honesty, high integrity, and personal responsibility of its members and expects that they hold one another accountable for living up to these values.
• It is an environment that is active and varied in the context of healthy fun, but that is also spontaneous and finds joy in the unexpected.
• It shares a belief that while the community may find strength in its relative isolation, it can not accomplish its mission without meaningful connections that link it to the global community and to the ideals of social justice.
• And finally the community must celebrate it's legacy. Affirmation of the Expedition Club's history gives value and meaning to our current mission.
In 2002 ten Port Townsend High School students and myself, Jim Roberts created the Expedition Club in partnership with the Jefferson County YMCA. Our original goal was to create experiential programs for youth 14 to 20 years old. In the last 10 years over 400 students have participated in 30 expeditions. We currently have the Global Community Project in a village in Northern Thailand.
During the last ten years, beyond fostering the many durable benefits of experiential learning and team building, the Expedition Club has aimed to assist young people in developing those perspectives and skills necessary to both honor their traditions and sustain their communities. We work diligently to continue to create a legacy of hope and understanding.
