If your son or daughter is coming on a TrekCo visit, we expect you'll want to know as much as possible about who we are and how we operate.

TrekCo is a company run by two ex-teachers, Steve Ranger and Paul Morley - so we understand how schools and students operate, and what their needs are. We work closely with the school staff to ensure that we're providing the best care for your children. Both Steve and Paul are still very active and involved with the daily running and instruction of TrekCo, even though we are now one of the largest independent outdoor pursuits companies in the country with 40 instructors.

There are some common areas of concern for parents, so we'll answer those straight away in the 'Frequently Asked Questions' section lower down this page.

Outdoor companies now need a Licence to operate issued by the Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority. This is issued annually, and you can check our Licence by searching at www.aala.org.uk for the Trekking Company in the 'South and West of England' section.

You may be interested in the 'Governing Bodies' and 'Qualifications' pages in this site. These give information for both teachers and parents about how to check out our Licence and Qualifications. Some of the information in the 'Teachers Information' pages may also be useful to you as parents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all of your staff Police Checked? - Anyone working with children now has a Criminal Records Bureau check when they apply for a job, and that applies to TrekCo staff. This system replaces the old 'Police Check' system. Ours are currently run through Kent County Council (our local 'umbrella organisation').

Are your staff ever in charge of the children? - No, the school staff are always in pastoral care of the school students. Instructors are there to organise the camp and provide the activities. Any personal, social or disciplinary problems are handled always by school staff.

My child has a special diet - can you provide this? - Usually, yes. We have catered for tens of thousands of students, and have rarely encountered a diet we can't provide for. We have fridges available for the storage of special foods/medicines that students bring with them. Please let the school know well in advance of any dietary requirements/ allergies and we will let them know if this poses a problem.

Does everyone have a First Aid Certificate? - Yes. Outdoor instructors have to have a First Aid Certificate in order to gain their outdoor qualification - so every member of our staff is First Aid trained.

What kit does my child need for camp? - Teachers are provided a kit list, based on the page on this website. However the school may specify some extra items, so please refer to their kit list always. You are free to refer to our list as a basic guideline.

Is the camp secure at night? - No campsite can have locked doors. However, Blackland Farm is a national site for the Girl Guides. We provide a security person at night if schools request it, and teachers camp right next to the students. The site is in the middle of the countryside.